Class Nutrition and Animal Feeding

Animal Nutrition and Feeding is a basic curricular unit in Veterinary Medicine. In this subject, knowledge involves notions about animal nutrition and the nutrients needed for animal development, production and maintenance; the nutrients contained in the food (raw materials) offered to monogastric and herbivorous animals (in this group also ruminants).

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1. Nutrition and feeding, general concepts and their fractions, according to Weende (crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract, ash and non-nitrogenous extractives). 2. Macronutrients definition, structure, function in the body. Concentrate feeds and bulky feeds (silage, hay and pasture), classification and characteristics of feeds. 3. Digestion and digestibility of feeds according to Van Soest's classification: carbohydrates and proteins.  4. Feed energy (digestible, metabolizable and net energy). Nutritional needs of animals and energy balance in the animal body. 5. Feed mills: flowchart, equipment, formulation and quality control.  6. Specific features of the nutrition/feeding of ruminants (dairy cows, beef cows and small ruminants), herbivores (horses and rabbits), monogastrics (pigs and poultry) and pets (dogs and cats). 7. Nutritional therapies triggered by or associated with feeding in companion animals; monogastric or herbivorous production animals.  

Relatively new technologies: on the university platform, students have access to the moodle space specific to the subject in question. In this virtual space, students receive all the information about the course, such as how it works; bibliography, syllabus, etc., and a) material for developing subjects in the syllabus used by the teacher in the classroom (powerpoint slides) and supplementary material; b) an assignment submission form; c) virtual tests; d) a link to study addresses; e) a link to the virtual classroom;  Regarding new methodologies: in the theoretical-practical component, fieldwork allows subjects related to nutritional strategies to be approached in groups, so that group members can develop the subject, with joint research, discussions and joint conclusions. This space allows students to build their knowledge with tutorial guidance.

McDonald et al., 2011. Animal Nutrition . 7a. Ed. 714p. Fascetti et al., 2012. Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition, Wiley-Blackwell.