791-390 Animal Health and Nutrition

One animal management elective.

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 utilisation 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.

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

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