VSC432 Advanced Animal Nutrition And Biochemistry (8)
CSU Discipline Area: Animal and Vet Science (ANVET)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
The subject extends the student to more advanced concepts in the study of applied ruminant nutrition, the analysis of rations and the management of the major nutritional disorders of ruminant species. The nutritional requirements of companion animal species (dogs, cats and horses), performance animals, (horses, working/sport dogs) and animals of intensive production (pigs, poultry and farmed fish) are investigated as well as discussion of nutritional deficiencies, imbalances and potential toxicities in these species. For the farmed species, the relationships between health, nutrition and production including immune function, growth, reproduction, lactation and egg production, are examined. For the performance animals, the specifics of feeding for optimum performance are investigated, including the common nutritional disorders of this group. The nutrition of the companion animal species are discussed in relation to the management of special needs patients including the obese, geriatric or chronically diseased animal.
The subject is clearly differentiated from the paired subject, ASC332, in that the learning objectives and assessment clearly reflect the higher level offering appropriate to Master's level learning.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
| Session 1 | |
|---|---|
| Internal | Wagga Wagga |
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: VSC432
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Assumed Knowledge:
Animal physiology, biochemistry and general animal nutrition
Enrolment restrictions:
Restricted to students enrolled in the
Master of Animal Science
Diploma of Animal Science
Certificate in Animal Science
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
- Be able to formulate rations for farmed and companion animals and aquaculture species for various physiological states, based on the nutrient requirements of the species and the nutrient content of potential feed ingredients.
- Be able to list the limitations to the inclusion level of specific ingredients and/or nutrients in rations and describe the reasons for these limitations (to inclusion) in the rations of various animal and aquaculture species.
- Be able to analyse rations and commercial foods fed to farm and companion animals and aquaculture species and comment on the suitability of the ration/food
- Be able to recognise and describe the interaction between disease or reduced production and nutrition, and recommend potential changes to nutrition that will positively enhance either immunity and/or production in animals.
- Be able to provide advice to clients on the nutritional requirements of companion animals, including those with special needs
- Be able to identify plants and their associated toxic agents that commonly cause poisoning of farmed and companion animals
- Be able to describe the mode of action of plant toxins, the required intake for toxicity for a range of animal and aquaculture species and the ultimate effect of these toxins on the health of these species
- Be able to list potential contaminants of feeds and describe their mode(s) of action when animals and/or aquaculture species ingest these contaminants
- Be able to list the diagnostic tools that are used for plant poisonings and mycotoxicoses in animals
- Be able to apply and assimilate knowledge from disparate sources to novel situations
- Be able to criticially evaluate scientific literature and complex concepts presented in a scientific format
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
- General nutrition: livestock and companion animal and aquaculture feed industries; feed contaminants and toxicants; plant toxins and antinutritional factors; nutrient interactions; and econutrition (including sustainable nutrient use).
- Ruminant nutrition: interactions between nutrition and disease; metablic disorders including ketosis, pregnancy toxaemia, acidosis, hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia; and nutrient requirements of goats, cervids and camelids.
- Pig nutrition: nutrient requirements, feeds and feed additives; and nutrition-related health disorders including gastroenteritis and gastric ulcers.
- Equine nutrition: nutrient requirements of mares and foals, stallions, growing horses and performance horses; and nutrition-related health disorders including laminitis, gastric ulcers, hyperlipaemia, equine metabolic syndrome and exertional rhabdomolysis.
- Companion animal nutrition: nutrient requirements of cats and dogs including life-stage nutrition (pregnancy, lactation and growth); nutrition management associated with obesity, joint problems, skin sensitivities, gastro-intestinal disease, renal and urinary problems; and nutrition management of geriatric, cancer and critical care patients.
- Poultry nutrition: nutrient requirements of layers; nutrient requirements of broilers; and nutrition-related disorders.
- Aquaculture nutrition: nutrient requirements for production and organoleptic characteristics; and nutrition-related disorders.
The information contained in the 2013 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 24 April 2013. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.