| Module Title: | Animal Nutrition |
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| Language of Instruction: | English |
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| Module Delivered In |
No Programmes
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| Teaching & Learning Strategies: |
Learners will be encouraged to actively partake in class discussions and group work. Site visits to farms to discuss nutritional management will be in discussion group format. Case studies, (e.g. IFA smart farming) will be used to demonstrate nutritional management strategies that improve the performance of the farm business. Practical lab sessions will explore the chemistry of feed and how nutritional composition is determined. Students will have the opportunity to visit feed compounders and nutrition service providers in the south east as part of their course. |
| Module Aim: |
The aim of this module is develop the learners understanding of nutrition as it applies to animals with a particular emphasis on farm animal production. The various sources of feed and the relative inclusion levels in monogastric and ruminant diets will be explored as well as some of the nutritional management considerations in a well-run animal production system. Students will also have an understanding of the consequences of animal nutrition on the wider environment including the impact on consumer health. |
| Learning Outcomes |
| On successful completion of this module the learner should be able to: |
| LO1 |
Describe and illustrate the structure and organization of the digestive systems of monogastric and ruminant animals |
| LO2 |
Demonstrate a knowledge of animal nutrition as it applies to various farmed animals and the interaction between nutrition and management of the animal |
| LO3 |
Describe the inter-relationship between nutrients and the consequences of these interactions for the nutritional wellbeing of the animal |
| LO4 |
Explain how a typical on-farm and commercial ration for monogastric and ruminant animals is formulated |
| LO5 |
Be capable of completing a feed budget for an animal production system |
| LO6 |
Demonstrate an understanding of the environmental impact of animal nutrition and strategies to minimise this. |
| LO7 |
Demonstrate a knowledge of the link between animal nutrition and the health of those consuming animal products, including the role of nutritionally enhanced animal products (e.g. high vitamin D eggs). |
| Pre-requisite learning |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
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| No recommendations listed |
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. |
| No incompatible modules listed |
Co-requisite Modules
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| No Co-requisite modules listed |
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. |
| No requirements listed |
Module Content & Assessment
| Indicative Content |
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Digestive Systems of Monogastric and Ruminant Animals
Digestive and Nutritional Disorders, their diagnosis, prevention and treatment
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The Main Food Groups
Carbohydrates, proteins and fats • Minerals and Vitamins
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Ration Formulation
•Production and procurement of quality ingredients – grain, industrial by-products (such as brewers and distillers grains, citrus pulp), silage, hay, straw, protein crops - for on-farm rations • Assessing quality/price ratio of bought-in protein and other ingredients
• Feeding systems, automatic feeders, use of Feeder Wagons.
• Formulation of rations for dairy cows, cattle, sheep and pigs.
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Addressing nutritional problems
Conducting a full scale trouble shooting exercise to determine pinch points within the animal production system from the quality of the soil, plant and subsequently the animal
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| Assessment Breakdown | % |
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| Continuous Assessment | 10.00% |
| Project | 25.00% |
| Practical | 25.00% |
| End of Module Formal Examination | 40.00% |
| Continuous Assessment |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Multiple Choice Questions |
A MCQ on aspects of animal nutrition will take place on material covered. |
1,2 |
10.00 |
Week 14 |
| Project |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Project |
Conduct a complete feed budget for a species of the students choice. The project can be based on the students own farm or that of a neighbouring farm. |
2,3,4,5 |
25.00 |
Week 24 |
| Practical |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Practical/Skills Evaluation |
Practical labs will be conducted as part of this module. Labs will focus on determining the nutritional composition of agricultural food / feed and field reports |
1,2,3,4,5 |
25.00 |
n/a |
| End of Module Formal Examination |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Formal Exam |
Terminal Examination |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
40.00 |
End-of-Semester |
SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
| Workload: Full Time |
| Workload Type |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
| Lecture |
26 Weeks per Stage |
2.00 |
| Practicals |
26 Weeks per Stage |
1.00 |
| Independent Learning Time |
26 Weeks per Stage |
2.00 |
| Total Hours |
130.00 |
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