B8395 - Animal Feed and Nutrition

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student knows the principles of animal nutrition and feeding and its relationship to animal physiology. In particular, the student: knows the basic principles of nutrition and feeding of livestock (small ruminants, bovine, buffaloes and pigs) and companion animals (cat, dog and horses), and the interactions between nutrients, digestive process and the intestinal environment and the microbiome; knows energy and nutrients requirements as well as the characteristics of the principal feedstuffs utilised in farming and companion animals; knows how to apply the fundamentals of gastrointestinal microbiome in relation to animal nutrition.

Course contents

This Course is part of the Integrated Course "Nutrients, Digestion, and Metabolism".

The integrated course "Nutrients, digestion, and metabolism" aims to provide the student with adequate knowledge of the anatomical organization, function, and biochemical mechanisms underlying the metabolism of the digestive system, essential for recognizing normal clinical aspects in veterinary species. Additionally, the student is familiar with the basic principles of nutrition and feeding in veterinary species.

The Integrated Course "Nutrients, Digestion, and Metabolism" contributes to the achievement of the following ESEVT Day One Competences: 1.1, 1.5, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 1.17, 1.21, 1.22, 1.24.

Specific Course contents:

• Definition and roles of different nutrients
• Nutrients requirements and digestibility
• Characteristics and use of principal feedstuff
• Function and characteristics of gastrointestinal microbiome

Readings/Bibliography

• McDonald P., Edwards R.A., Greenhalgh J.F.D., Morgan C.A., Sinclair L.A., Wilkinson R.G., 2022. Animal nutrition. Pearson Ed.
• Animal Nutrition: from theory to practice, Philip I Hynd 2019

Teaching methods

The course is composed of lectures (16 hours) and practical activities (4 hours).

Practical activities will focus on requirements estimation and feeds recognition.

During the course, group discussion on scientific papers covering topics of the CI. will be organized.

Assessment methods

The final exam of the Integrated Course "Nutrients, Digestion, and Metabolism" consists of two parts.

• The first part is a written test comprising 60 multiple choice questions, covering topics from all components of the Integrated Course, and is designed to assess the student's comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter.

  Each correct question will earn 0.5 points; no points will be subtracted in case of wrong answer or unanswered question. The use of supporting material or devices such as calculators, books, notebooks, class notes, etc. is not authorized during the test. If needed, a follow-up discussion will allow the Candidate to comment on the wrong answers.

  The test assignment will last 1.5h and will be considered as successful with a minimum grade of 18/30.

• The second part is a practical examination held in the Clinical Skills Lab or at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, including the execution of manual procedures of the physical examination and the description and interpretation of images or videos related to the different imaging techniques, allowing the evaluation of the acquisition of practical and verbal competences. To pass the practical examination, the student must demonstrate sufficient competences, obtaining a minimum grade of 18/30.

The final grade for the Integrated Course is calculated as the weighted average of the written test (60%) and the practical assessment (40%). Students can register for the exam through the online AlmaEsami platform (http://almaesami.unibo.it/ ). In case of failure, the exam may be retaken after a minimum of three weeks. In accordance with Unibo teaching regulations, Article 16, Paragraph 5, students are entitled to refuse a passing grade on one occasion.

In compliance with Law 104/1992 and Law 170/2010, and in alignment with institutional inclusion policies, students with certified disabilities or specific learning disorders—as well as those with recognized special educational needs—will receive appropriate accommodations during assessments. Such students should promptly contact the course instructor and inform the University’s Disability and SLD Support Service [https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en] . A faculty member is appointed to oversee this service within the Department [https://scienzemedicheveterinarie.unibo.it/it/dipartimento/organizzazione/referenti-istituzionali] .

Teaching tools

Slides presented during lessons.

Ration calculation Excel spreadsheet.

Scientific articles and reviews published on international journals.

Teaching materials are available on the Virtuale platform and could be reached through the link on the teacher webpage.

Office hours

See the website of Ludovica Maria Eugenia Mammi