B6084 - Nutrition and Feeding of Aquatic Animals and Feed Techniques

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student acquires at a theoretical and practical level the necessary skills for the choice of concentrated feed, forages and other feedstuffs, based on their main nutritional characteristics and the presence of anti-nutritional. In particular, the student is able to interpret the indications regarding the nutritional requirements of domestic animals, adapting them to their different production phases and their capacity to consume food, also foreseeing the effects of technological treatments.

Course contents

The course consists of two modules, one concerning the nutrition of aquatic animals and the raw materials that are used in aquaculture (Prof. Biagi, verbal lecturer) and one about aquatic animal practical feeding and feed technology (Prof. Bonaldo).
Regarding nutrition, the program includes the importance of energy in the metabolism of aquatic animals, sources and utilization of energy, the protein-sparing effect, energy and protein requirements, essential amino acids and fatty acids, the limiting amino acid, the nutritional requirements of lipids, antinutritional factors, the nutritional requirements of vitamins and minerals, and the use of pigments.
The portion of the course regarding the raw materials includes nutritional characteristics and quality of fish meal and fish oil, plant-based protein foods (soybean, pea, peanut, etc.), animal and plant-based fats, grains, and dietary supplements aimed at the well-being of the gut microbiota of fish.

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials for this course are available on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en ).

Supplementary reading:

ASSALZOO, Normativa sugli alimenti per animali, Edagricole, Bologna, 1997.

GUILLAUME J., KAUSHIK S., BERGOT P., METAILLER R., Nutrition and Feeding of Fish and Crustaceans, Springer Praxis, 2001.

JOBLING M., Fish Bioenergetics, Chapman and Hall, , 1994.

Mc DONALD P., EDWARD R.A., GREENHALGH J.F.D., Nutrizione animale, Ed. Tecniche Nuove, 1992.

Teaching methods

Teaching consists of theoretical lectures and exercises. Frontal lessons will regard the basics of nutrition and feedstuffs in aquaculture. Students will be asked to interact with the teacher about the subjects in progress.

Assessment methods

The exam aims at verifying the achievement of the teaching objectives and the acquisition of the knowledge provided by the course program. The final grade originates from the student's demonstration of having acquired the knowledge and skills required, and the ability to link the various issues.

Verification of learning takes place through a final examination consisting of two oral interviews with the lecturers in charge of the modules. The final grade originates from the average of the grades given by each lecturer. The exam is considered passed if a minimum final grade of 18/30 is obtained. The verbal lecturer for this Course is Prof. Giacomo Biagi.

At the end of the lectures concerning the topics of Nutrition, an intermediate test will be carried out (two open questions and 12 multiple choice questions) to which students will be able to participate on a voluntary basis (the test lasts two hours). One point will be awarded for each multiple choice question answered correctly (a wrong answer does not reduce the final score), for each open question 9 points are available.

Regarding the Nutrition and Food module, the final examination is oral with a question concerning a topic of nutrition and one about a feedstuff (on this occasion the student who has passed the test in itinere can decide whether or not to answer the question of nutrition, therefore accepting or refusing the vote received at the test in itinere). The final grade for the module will be represented by the average between the grade received for the nutrition part and that for feedstuffs.

In the presence of a preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical skills that emerge only with the help of the teacher, with the use of an overall correct language, the result will be a grade between 18 and 19. With a preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course, autonomous analysis skills only on purely executive matters, with the use of a correct language, the grade will be between 20 and 24. With a preparation on a large number of topics addressed in the course, the ability to show critical analysis and the mastery of specific terminology the grade will be between 25 and 29. With exhaustive preparation on the topics addressed in the course, independent choices of critical analysis and connection, full mastery of specific terminology and ability to argumentation and self-reflection, the result will be a grade between 30 and 30 cum laude.

Students can register for exams through the AlmaEsami platform (http://almaesami.unibo.it/ ).

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Power Point presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Giacomo Biagi

See the website of Alessio Bonaldo