Subject description for 2024/25
Sustainable Animal Nutrition
HUS5001
Subject description for 2024/25
Sustainable Animal Nutrition
HUS5001
The course will provide theoretical background and hands-on experiences on different experimental techniques and the utilization of alternative feeding ingredients, focusing on the development of sustainable livestock production.
The world population is rising, and the demands for livestock products are increasing. The livestock sector is currently facing two major challenges: 1) The livestock productivity should be improved in light of the rising population and availability of limited natural resources, such as land and water, and 2) The livestock sector should be more environment-friendly as it is one of the contributors of harmful greenhouse gas emissions. This course aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the nutritional physiology of major production animals with a focus on nutritional biochemistry, feed formulation and planning, animal experiments, and alternative nutritional strategies. The course will provide theoretical background and hands-on experiences on different experimental techniques and the utilization of alternative feeding ingredients, focusing on the development of sustainable livestock production.
Students must meet current admission requirements for the associated study program.
After completion of the course, students are expected to possess the following knowledge, skills, and general competence:
Knowledge:
- understand basic animal nutrition and physiology of monogastric and ruminant animals
- analyze feed ingredients and assess various feed evaluation systems
- review ongoing studies in the field of alternative feeding ingredients and nutritional strategies
Skills:
- identify nutritional factors important for a sustainable livestock production
- conduct basic feed analysis and develop feeding plans
- assess possibilities and limitations of alternative nutritional strategies
General competences:
- interpret results from animal experiments related to sustainable livestock production
- identify solutions for real-life problems associated sustainability of livestock production
- implement knowledge and skills towards research and innovation
In addition to the semester fee and curriculum literature, it is assumed that the student has a laptop computer at his disposal.
Elective
The course deals with five major topics that are important for sustainable livestock: 1) Nutritional biochemistry, 2) Feed analysis, 3) Feed formulation and feeding systems, 4) Alternative feeding strategies, and 5) Planning and design of animal experiments. The major learning activities include various laboratory techniques, theoretical calculations, demonstrations, and student presentations. The specific details on learning activities may change from year to year depending upon the ongoing research activities at the Animal Science Division.
Evaluated annually by students through course surveys. These evaluations are included in the university’s quality assurance system.
Portfolio: Three mandatory assignments including presentations, reports, or calculations (30%)
Final oral exam (70%).
Pen, ruler, up to 2 bilingual dictionaries and calculator.
Generating an answer using ChatGPT or similar artificial intelligence and submitting it wholly or partially as one's own answer is considered cheating.
Basic knowledge of animal science, nutrition, biology, physiology, or equivalent.
Subject language
English
Credits
10
Study location
Steinkjer
Teaching semesters
Spring 2025
Responsible faculty
Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture
Course coordinator
