Learning objectives
1- Knowledge and understanding:
- acquire knowledge about the chemical and biological evaluation of animal feed.
- to know the organizational and management aspects of feed mills
- Possess the techniques for proper diet formulation.
- show mastery of factors that affect the digestibility and use of foods
- must know the additives and supplements according to need and function criteria.
- Acquire the concepts of food ration and nutritional requirements for different domestic species at various production and reproductive moments.
- to know the laws governing the preparation and trade of all substances of nutritional interest for pets.
2- Applied knowledge and understanding:
- To be able to recognize, within each species of animal interest, the different categories of animals.
- Being able to describe the general characteristics of the breeding and the structures that characterize it.
- Be able to interpret and evaluate data on productivity and productivity efficiency, fertility and reproductive efficiency, nutrition status, and health status in animal husbandry.
3- Judgment autonomy:
- show mastery of factors that affect the digestibility and use of foods
- to carry out an analysis of the various phases of the productive / reproductive cycle of animals of animal interest, highlighting their criticalities mainly on the nutritional level and proposing any corrective action.
4- Communicative Skills:
- Know how to communicate clearly to less experienced and less accredited respondents the correct nutrition and nutrition techniques and how to operate in breeding farms.
- Being able to interact positively with the various professional figures working in the farms.
5- Learning Skills:
- Be able to adapt their own indications to the different production contexts and to the different managerial levels that can be found at farms.
- Being able to properly interpret the results of scientific research on animal nutrition
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
The first part of this course takes into account animal feeds and subsequently the main aspects that regulate energy metabolism, protein, vitamin and mineral putting particular emphasis on all the factors that may affect the performance and health status of the animals.
In the second part are examined aspects of nutritional requirements and techniques of formulating rations for the main farmed species.
At the same time, the major livestock diseases resulting from dietary errors, incorrect use of animal feed as well as feed additives are considered.
Full programme
FEEDS’ COMPONENTS
The animal and its food
a. Water
b. Dry matter and its components
c. Feed characterization
Carbohydrates
a. Classification
b. Monososccharides
c. Oligosaccharides
d. Polisaccharides
e. Lignin
f. Analytical aspects
Lipids
a. Classification
b. Fats
c. Glycolipids
d. Phospholipids
e. Waxes
f. Steroids
g. Terpens
h. Analytical aspects
Protein and nitrogenous compounds
a. Proteins
b. Amino Acids
c. Peptides
d. Structure and proprerties of protein
e. Classification of proteins
f. Analytical aspects
Vitamins
a. Fat-soluble vitamins
b. Water-soluble vitamins
Minerals
a. Function of minerals
b. Acid-base balance
c. Major elements
d. Trace minerals
Main antinutritional compounds
THE DIGESTION AND METABOLISM OF NUTRIENTS
Nutrient digestion and metabolism
a. Feed intake
b. Digestion in monogastric
c. Microbial digestion in ruminants and other herbivores
d. Energy metabolism
e. Protein synthesis
f. Fat synthesis
g. Carbohydrate synthesis
EVALUATION OF FEEDS
Digestibility
a. Measurements of digestibility
b. Digestibility in different sections of the digestive tract
c. Factors affecting digestibility
Energy content of food and partitioning within the animal
a. Energy requirements and supply
b. Animal calorimetry
c. Metabolizable energy
d. Energy systems and models for different species
Protein
a. Crude protein
b. Digestible crude protein
c. Measures of protein quality for monogastric and ruminant animals
ANIMAL FEEDS
Hay forage production
Production of silage fodder
Evaluation of the nutritional value of forage
Cereal grains and by-products
Protein and oil concentrates
Additives
BASICS OF FEEDSTUFF PRODUCTION
Industrial treatments. General effects.
Grinding. Mixing. Pelleting. Flaking.
Extrusion and other treatments
Legal issues in the feedstuff area: definitions
Feed labelling. Official sampling.
Swine nutrition and feeding
a. Nutrient requirements for maintenance
b. Nutrient requirements for growth
c. Plane of nutrition for better reproductive performance
d. Nutrient requirements for lactating sows
Sheep and Goat nutrition and feeding
a. Nutrient requirements for maintenance
b. Nutrient requirements for growth
c. Plane of nutrition for better productive and reproductive performance
d. Nutrient requirements for lactating animals.
RATIONATION OF RUMINANTS: Peculiarities of the digestive process and use of nutrients by ruminants
Feeding, nutrition and rationing of the dairy cow:
- Rationing of calves and heifers
- Principles and bases of cow rationing in the different physiological phases
- Nutrition, fertility and qualitative production
- Formulation of rations for lactating and dry cows
Feeding, Nutrition and Rationing of beef cattle
- Principles and bases of the rationing of beef growing and finishing
- Formulation of rations for growing and finishing cattle
Feeding, Nutrition and Rationing of the buffalo
Feeding, Nutrition and Rationing of
sheep and goats
- Principles and bases of rationing of meat and dairy sheep and goats
- Formulation of rations for meat and dairy sheep and goats
Feeding, Nutrition and Rationing of Equidae
- Principles and bases of horse rationing in the various physiological phases, of the sport horse and of the horse in particular conditions
- Formulation of rations for horses
Rationing of domestic carnivores: Peculiarities of the digestive process and use of nutrients by domestic carnivores
Feeding, Nutrition and Rationing of the dog
- Healthy adult dog nutrition
- Dog nutrition during the different stages of life and in particular conditions
Feeding, Nutrition and Rationing of the cat
- Healthy adult cat nutrition
- Nutrition of the cat during the different stages of life and in particular conditions
- Feeding and nutrition of laying hens and broilers
- Rabbit feeding and nutrition
- Notes on unconventional animal nutrition
Bibliography
P. McDonald; R.A. Edwards; J.F.D. Greenhalgh; C.A. Morgan; L.A. Sinclair; R.G. Wilkinson. Animal Nutrition, seventh edition, 2011. Pearson education limited.
- CEVOLANI D. "ALIMENTI PER LA VACCA DA LATTE E IL BOVINO DA CARNE" Edagricole 2014.
- AGHINA C. e MALETTO S."Tecnica Mangimistica" Soc. Ed. Esculapio
- ANTONGIOVANNI M., GUALTIERI M.:Nutrizione e Alimentazione Animale, Edizioni Agricole della Calderini s.r.l.,Bologna, 1998.
- CAVANI, CASTELLINI, ecc. “Avicoltura e Coniglicoltura” 2008 Point Veterinaire Italie.
- BERTACCHINI F., CAMPANI I.: Manuale di allevamento suino, Edizioni Agricole della Calderini s.r.l., Bologna, 2001.
- BITTANTE G., ANDRIGHETTO I.,RAMANZIN M.: Fondamenti di Zootecnica, Liviana Editrice s.r.l., 1990.
- CASE L.P., CAREY D.P., HIRAKAWA D.A.: "L'alimentazione del cane e del gatto". Mosby-Year Book, Inc.
(1997) Edizione riservata IAMS.
- NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (NRC): Nutrient requirement of domestic animals: n. 1 Poultry (1994), n. 2 Pigs (1998), n. 3 Dairy CattIe (2021), n. 4 Beef Cattle (2000) Nat. Acad. Sci., Washington. D.C. - SUCCI G.: "ZOOTECNICA SPECIALE" Ed. Cittàstudi Edizioni 1995.
- VERSTEGEN M:W:A:, MOUGHAN P.J., SCHRAMA J.W.: The lactating sow, Wageningen Pers, Wageninge, The Netherlands,1998.
Teaching methods
The course of ANIMAL FEEDING, NUTRITION AND FEEDSTUFF TECHNOLOGIES provides for the holding of lectures by the projections of power point slides and other materials to help engage the student in the different phases of the educational activity. Classroom activities are designed to raise awareness of the current computer applications for animal feed as well as tutorials at farms with the aim of identifying practical solutions to the problems outlined theoretical.
Assessment methods and criteria
Learning evaluation will take place through summative assessment.
Mode and type of test: interview with a maximum duration of 30 minutes, consisting of no. 5 questions. During the course of the test, the knowledge and understanding of the theoretical (Question 1 - Descriptor 1) and applied (Question 2 - Descriptor 2) themes, the ability to analyze hypothetical cases (Question 3 - Descriptor 3) the communication skill (Question 4 - Descriptor 4) and the ability to interpret scientific results (Question 5 - Descriptor 5) will be verified through the presentation of specific questions, pictures, case study and tables of data.
Scale of assessment: the scale of assessment ranges from 0 to 30 cum laude.
Weights and evaluation criteria: Each satisfactory answer has the maximum value of n. 6 points; unanswered or wrong answers have a value of 0; punctuality, completeness, and language ownership in all responses allows the achievement of laude.
Materials useful to support the test: no paper or electronic material is allowed.
Methods for returning test results: The oral result is communicated immediately at the end of the test.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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