58183 - Animal Nutrition

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students will understand the basic principles of animal nutrition, their nutritional roles, the dietary properties of feed ingredients, and the interactions between nutrients, digestive and metabolic processes, and production performance.

Course contents

The Animal Nutrition course is part of the Animal Nutrition and Feeding (IC). The objective of the Integrated Course is to provide students with knowledge of the nutrition and feeding of livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo, and pigs) and pets (dogs, cats, and horses). Students will understand the energy and nutritional requirements of different animal species and the foods that can be used to meet them. The interactions between nutrients, digestive and metabolic processes, and production performance will be addressed. Students will learn to formulate rations to support livestock production in terms of quantity and quality, as well as the welfare of all animal species. The regulations regarding feed, as well as the characteristics, technological and conservation treatments, and potential contamination of raw materials, will also be covered. The Integrated Course is divided into 4 modules: - Animal Nutrition (theoretical lectures and practical activities taught by Professor Andrea Formigoni and Dr. Ludovica Mammi, respectively) - Livestock Nutrition (theoretical lectures and practical activities taught by Professor Andrea Formigoni and Dr. Ludovica Mammi) - Companion Animal Nutrition (theoretical lectures taught by Professor Giacomo Biagi and practical activities taught by a contract instructor) - Feed Techniques (theoretical lectures and practical activities taught by Dr. Damiano Cavallini) At the beginning of the course, detailed information will be provided regarding the internal organization of the theoretical and practical lecture schedule, the exam procedures, and the related reporting. Specifically, in addition to the introduction and objectives, the Animal Nutrition course will cover the following topics:

- The Roles of Animal Nutrition in Veterinary Education (1 hour).

- Feeds: Classification, Roles, and Composition (2 hours).

- Water (2h).

- Feed digestibility (2h).

- Nitrogenous substances. Determination and biological value. Amino acids and ideal protein (3h).

- Lipids: classification, determination, qualitative evaluation, and nutritional roles (2h).

- Carbohydrates: classification, determination, and roles (2h).

- Fibrous carbohydrates: nutritional and dietary roles in monogastric animals (1h).

- Minerals: classification and nutritional roles (2h).

- Vitamins: nutritional roles (2h).

- Unconventional roles of minerals and vitamins (1h).

- Feed utilization in ruminants and rumen fermentation processes (2h).

- Carbohydrate, nitrogen, and lipid nutrition in ruminants (4h).

- Dietary and nutritional role of fiber in ruminants (2h).

- Fermentation disorders and pathologies (3 hours).

- Energy in food and its availability to animals (2 hours).

The course includes 16 hours of practical work focused on the use of a free and available rationing program (Razionare). The practical work will be led by Professor Ludovica Mammi. The course syllabus and the list of Day One Competencies indicated by EAEVE that it contributes to are available on the dedicated page. http://corsi.unibo.it/singlecycle/VeterinaryMedicine/course-units-syllabi-and-day-one-competences

Readings/Bibliography

Recommended readings:

Ronchi, Savoini, Trabalza Marinucci. Manual of Dairy Ruminant Nutrition. Edises University. 2020. Antongiovanni M. and Gualtieri M.: Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Edagricole McDonald-Edwards Greenhalgh: Animal Nutrition, New Techniques.

Reference texts for specialized in-depth study:

INRA Feeding System for Ruminants. INRA. Wageningen Academic Publisher. 2018. Alimentation des bovins, ovins & caprins. INRA.

Pulina G., Feeding Dairy Sheep. Avenue Media, Bologna.

Mordenti et al., Manual of Swine Feeding. Edagricole.

Miraglia N., Catalano A.L., Practical Feeding of the Sport Horse. Tip. Poliglotta, Milan.

Hand, Thatcher, Remillard, Roudebush: Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. Walsworth Publishing Company, USA.

NRC: Nutrient Requirements of 1) dairy cattle; 2) swine; 3) Horses 4) Beef 5) sheep

Teaching methods

Lectures and practical exercises with individual and group work.

Students with special needs are encouraged to contact the instructor by email to best organize teaching and exam procedures

Assessment methods

The final exam covers the entire integrated course (Animal Nutrition and Feeding) and consists of a practical component and a written test: 1. The exam begins with a computer-based rationing test (lasting 40 minutes), which involves formulating a diet for livestock or pets using dedicated software. In this context, the student is asked to address a practical case study regarding a feeding issue: these may involve issues related to livestock productivity as well as specific clinical conditions of livestock and pets. 2. The written test (lasting 30 minutes) consists of 54 multiple-choice questions as well as the identification and description of a food of animal interest (students have 10 minutes to complete). The 54 questions will be distributed according to the 10 credits of the integrated course. Students will be admitted to the written test only after passing the rationing test. Up to 27 points will be awarded based on the answers to the 54 questions (0.5 points for each correct answer; there is no penalty for an incorrect answer), up to 3 points for the computer-based rationing test, and up to 3 points for food identification. The exam is passed with a minimum score of 18/30. A failing grade does not result in a grade being awarded, but only a grade (withdrawn or rejected) reported on the electronic report compiled on Alma Esami (https://virtuale.unibo.it); this grade does not affect the student's academic career. The student may reject the grade within 5 days of the exam date, and the examining professor will publish the results within 5 working days and communicate them to the interested parties via email. The examining professor is Professor Andrea Formigoni. Students can register for exams through AlmaEsami (http://almaesami.unibo.it). Exam sessions are scheduled within the timeframes shown in the academic calendar. Additional exam sessions may be scheduled for students who are behind schedule. Students with learning disabilities (LD) or disabilities are advised to contact their instructor at least one week before the exam to make any necessary adjustments.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be conducted with the aid of PowerPoint presentations available online. Exercises will be conducted using the "rationing" program provided at the beginning of the course and include rationing exercises.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Formigoni

See the website of Ludovica Maria Eugenia Mammi