Animal Nutrition and Feed Science

Objective

The first objective is to make students understand the nutritional value of animal feed and nutritional needs of animals through understanding of chemistry, digestion and metabolism of nutrients.

The second objective is to enable students to learn to assess nutritional value of different feed for each type and category of animals as well as to assess their nutrient requirements by application of the main nutritional systems in the EU.

The third objective is to acquire knowledge and skills in applied nutrition necessary to independently assemble safe for humans, market-competitive, technologically feasible, environmentally friendly and acceptable (in terms of animal welfare) ration/mixture for main types and categories of animals according to their productivity and nutritional value of available feed.

After completion of the study programme, students are primarily qualified to independently formulate animal feed, manage production and technological processes at animal feed factories and pet food industries as well as to manage family farms and integrated national or international feed production and trade. Furthermore, students are qualified for starting self-employment, for jobs in secondary and higher education institutions, research institutes, or for further education at the postgraduate study level in the field of biotechnology. Moreover, students are trained to perform complex tasks and counselling in extension services and animal feed analysis laboratories, to work in state administration associated with animal feed safety or in production planning and animal feed consumption at local community or the EU level.

Learning outcomes

1. Enumerate and differentiate the biological role of nutrients
2. Recognize the features in nutrient content between feeds and differences between animals in the nutrient requirements
3. Identify undesirable and harmful substances in feeds and their effects on animals, factors changing nutritional value of feed and animal needs, chemical and physical principles in the analysis and in the use of nutrients
4. Explain the relationshipof chemical composition of feed with its nutrient value and the relationship of chemical composition of animals and their products with the animal needs
5. Describe the process of food digestion and metabolism of nutrients in evaluation of feed and animalneeds and to explain the impact of nutrition on animalwelfare (health)
6. Distinguish needs of ruminants, poultry, pigs, horses, pets and fish
7. Distinguish and quantify the chemical and physical factors of feed, processing and treatment that determine the energy and protein value of feed,animal and feed factors that determine health and hygienic value of animal products
8. Estimate nutritional value of feed and nutritional requirements of animals in preparation of rations and independently assemble the ration for each type and category of domestic animals according to their weight, productivity, physiological state and keeping conditions
9. Devise rations/mixtures with optimal effects for production, cost, environmental impact, animal and human health
10. Calculate daily and annual food requirements using the nutrient balance from the farm to the state level
11. Assess the impact of daily nutrition on the level and profitability of animal productivity, animal and human health and the environment
12. Demonstrate the ability of independent and team work and presentational skills in education of students and farmers, marketing and sales of feed
13. Followall moral values ​​and good practice (HCCP) in making mixtures/meals to protect human and animal health, and correct relations with customers and recipients of knowledge
14. Develop ability of independent and lifelong learning from the informal farm / factory level to formal and non-formal vocational training in the country and abroad