Educational offer - University of Padova

Information on the course unit

Degree course	First cycle degree in ANIMAL CARE AV2378, Degree course structure A.Y. 2017/18, A.Y. 2018/19	bring this page with you
Degree course track	Common track
Number of ECTS credits allocated	6.0
Type of assessment	Mark
Course unit English denomination	BASICS OF ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEEDING
Website of the academic structure	http://www.agrariamedicinaveterinaria.unipd.it/
Department of reference	Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science
Mandatory attendance	Sì
Language of instruction	English
Branch	LEGNARO (PD)
Single Course unit	The Course unit can be attended under the option Single Course unit attendance
Optional Course unit	The Course unit can be chosen as Optional Course unit

Syllabus

Prerequisites:	Students are required to have solid knowledge of biochemistry, anatomy and physiology of the gastro-intestinal tract of vertebrates. Required foundation courses: none
Target skills and knowledge:	To develop theoretical knowledge on the basis of animal nutrition in vertebrates. The course will provide students with opportunities to get knowledge and practical tools useful to assess energy and nutrients requirements of laboratory and wild animal species, feed evaluation and feeding management.
Examination methods:	Written test with multiple choice and open questions. Some exercises will be included.
Assessment criteria:	The examination will cover both practical and theoretical learning objectives. Student is expected to gain experience in animal nutrition and feeding with regard to laboratory and wild species and to use appropriate technical language.
Course unit contents:	The course lecturers will cover: - the classification of animals based on their feeding habit; - the concepts of essentiality, minimum requirements, recommended dietary allowance; - nutritional role, functions, interactions and natural sources of macronutrients (water, fat, carbohydrates, protein) and micronutrients (minerals and vitamins); - nutritional evaluation of feeds (chemical composition, digestibility, nutritive value, biological value); - factors affecting palatability and voluntary intake; - energy and nutrients requirements (maintenance, growth, pregnancy, lactation); - regulation on feed and additives used in animal nutrition, labeling, contaminants - feed classification, processing, storage, preparation and distribution Laboratory sessions and practical activities will cover: - laboratory sessions of chemical, physical and biological analyses of feeds, which will be organized by dividing students into 3 groups; - interpretation of feeds labels; - identification of vegetal-origin ingredients by using dedicated collections; - visit to a natural zoological garden and visit to an enclosure with laboratory animals in order to evaluate the adopted feeding management and the preparation of diets addressed to both healthy and sick and recovering animals
Planned learning activities and teaching methods:	The course includes 32 hours of lectures and 16 hours oriented to external visits and practical activities to learn basic knowledge on the identification of raw materials and chemical analyses of feeds. Practical activities will be performed by dividing the students into small groups.
Additional notes about suggested reading:	Detailed learning objectives and weekly program are available on Moodle (https://elearning.unipd.it/scuolaamv/). Office hours: daily by appointment with the teacher.
Textbooks (and optional supplementary readings)	National Research Council, Nutrient requirements of laboratory animals. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press, 1995. Fourth Revised Edition D. G. Kleiman, M. E. Allen, K. V. Thompson and S. Lumpkin, editors, Wild Mammals in Captivity. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1996. Robbins C.T., Wildlife Feeding and Nutrition. --: Academies Press, 1996. Second edition Fowler M. E., Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, 1978. McDonald P., Greenhalgh J.F.D., Morgan C.A., Edwards R., Sinclair L., Animal Nutrition. Pearson Canada: e-book, 2010. Hand M.S., Thatcher C.D., Remillard R.L., Roudebush P., Novotny B.J., Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. Topeka, Kansas, USA: Mark Morris Institute, 2010. 5th Edition Cheeke P.R. and Dierenfeld E.S., Comparative animal nutrition and metabolism. --: CAB international, 2010.