791-390 Animal Health and Nutrition

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

One Animal Management Elective.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this subject is to enable students to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the principles of, and the techniques employed in the recognition of animal diseases;

• describe and explain the mode of action of pathogens and the relationship of pathogenic mechanisms to the incidence of disease and to clinical signs;

• demonstrate and understanding of digestion and utilization of nutrients in monogastrics and ruminants;

• and devise basic animal health management programs and formulate rations for animals in various stages of development and production.

The content includes:

• the normal anatomy and physiology of farm animals with particular reference to circulatory, respiratory, nervous, endocrine, digestive and urinogenital systems;

• the normal parameters of animal performance in relation to physiological processes - the nature and assessment of departure from the normal parameters of animal performance;

• evaluation of foods - digestibility, its measurement and factors affecting it, energy content of food and systems of its expression, energy retention, protein content and systems of measuring and expressing protein quality;

• feed intake and factors affecting it;

• growth stimulants and feed additives;

• the nature and action of pathogenic agents, interaction with host physiology and the implications for disease and diagnosis;

• animal management programs;

• practical demonstrations of clinical examinations and collection of pathology samples;

• and evaluation of feeds.

Assessment

Two assignment of 1500-2000 words (20%); three hour examination 50%). Satisfactory practical reports will be required (30%)

Prescribed Texts

• McDonald, J.W., Animal Health. (1999), (notes available from Accounts Office).
• McDonald, P., Edwards, R.A. & Greenhalgh, J.F.D., Animal Nutrition. (1988), Longmans. New York.