Animal Nutrition

Approval in Chemistry and Biochemistry and Animal Anatomy and Physiology Curricular Units is desirable.

Exposition of theoretical concepts.

Questions for the students during the exposure.

Videos and slideshows.

Practical laboratory demonstration for nutritional characterization of foods and their use.

Calculation of the different nutrients in food, and interpretation of the results in class.

Analysis of food nutritional and animal requirements tables.

Case studies on the impact of metabolic disorders on animals and farm productivity.

1. To understand the structural and functional relationships between plant and animal components.

2. To identify animal species according to their anatomical and physiological peculiarities, either at the digestive or metabolic level.

3. To recognize the nutritional requirements of different species.

4. To know the methods and systems of food evaluation.

5. To recognize metabolic disorders.

1. Food composition and systems of food analysis.
2. Classification, structure, function, and metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nitrogenous compounds, vitamins, and minerals in animal nutrition.
3. Anatomy, physiology, and microbiology of the digestive system of different animal species and main digestion products.
4. Digestibility of food. Methodologies for measuring and estimating digestibility.
5. Energy value of food and energy partition within the animal.
6. Feed energy evaluation systems and energy requirements of animals.
7. Importance of amino acids balance in protein synthesis for monogastric and polygastric species.
8. Feed protein evaluation systems and protein requirements of animals.
9. Etiology, physio-pathological mechanism, consequences on farm productivity, and prevention of the most important metabolic disorders in animal production.

NAO