A good livestock diet can make or break profitability on a farm. Well fed animals are healthier, and more productive in terms of both quality and quantity. They are also more likely to live longer, and less likely to incur costly veterinary bills.
- Understand animal foods and food components.
- Learn how to evaluate food and digestibility for animals.
- Learn to classifying foods and calculate rations.
Study with Courses Direct – to help you improve your farm, or further your job and business opportunities in the agriculture industry.
COURSE STRUCTURE AND LESSON CONTENT
Course Duration: 100 hours.
Lessons: The course comprises 10 lessons as detailed, below.
- Introduction To Animal Foods
Terms and Definitions; Groups of Foods; Other Terms That Are Used; Food Processing Terms; Water.
- Food Components – Carbohydrates and Fats
Carbohydrates; Carbohydrates as a Source Of Energy; Fats and Oils; Adipose Tissue Deposits in Animals; Fat Deposits in Different Animals.
- Food Components – Proteins, Minerals, and Trace Elements
Composition of Proteins; The Build Up Of Proteins; Biological Value of Protein; Protein Content of Foods; The Function of Protein; Feeding Urea to Ruminants; Major Minerals; Trace Elements; Vitamins.
- Evaluating Foods and Digestibility
Analysis of Feed Stuffs; Calculating Digestibility; Protein Value; Energy Value; Nutrient Value of Some Common Foods.
- Classifying Foods Part, A
Cereals and Cereal By-Products; Brewing By-Products; Grasses, Legumes and Succulents; Lucerne; Sainfoin; Other Succulent Foods; Roughage, Hay, Silage and Dried Grass.
- Classifying Foods Part B
Oil and Legume Seeds; Oil Seeds and Their Products; Legume Seeds.
- Classifying Foods Part C
Fodder Trees and Animal Products; Fodder Trees and Shrubs; Animal Products.
- Calculating Rations Part, A
The Object of Rationing; Nutritional Requirements of the Animal, calculating a Maintenance Ration; Cattle at Pasture; Working Out Rations for a Herd.
- Calculating Rations Part B
Nutrient Requirements for a Dairy Cow; Working Out the Total Requirements; Feeding a Ration to Meet Nutrient Needs; The Dairy Ration.
- Calculating Rations Part C
Ready Mix Feeds; Using Protein Contents; A Summary of Rationing; Further Considerations in Rationing.
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are ten lessons as follows:
Introduction to Animal Health
Learn to describe common diseases affecting farm animals and the circumstances under which animals contract these diseases – the healthy animal, causes of ill health, preventing ill health.
Signs and Symptoms of Diseases
The physical symptoms of diseases in farm animals – common methods of handling animals during health assessments, recognising ill health, restraining a horse, sheep handling facilities.
Disease Classification
Methods used in classifying animal diseases -Viral diseases, bacterial diseases, parasitic diseases, protozoal diseases. Disease types in beef cattle, diseases in sheep.
Causes and Diagnosis of Disease
The causes of disease and the relevant methods of diagnosis – examining cattle, examining a horse, ticks, tick-borne diseases, diagnosis of diseases.
Treatment of Disease
Methods used in the treatment of diseases in farm animals – vaccination, the animal first aid kit, tetanus antiserum, animal nursing, quarantine, slaughter, post mortem, disease prevention in cattle, disease prevention in sheep, treatment of parasites in sheep.
Inflammation
Outline the nature and causes of inflammation in farm animals – the inflammatory response, causes of inflammation, types of inflammation, symptoms of inflammation, inflammatory exudate, treatment of inflammation.
Fever and Immunity
The biological mechanisms underlying fever and the immune system in farm animals – the fever mechanism, other temperature related disorders, effect of temperature on enzymes, immunity.
Tissue Repair
The biological mechanisms underlying tissue repair in farm animals – healing of a clean incised wound, healing of an open wound, common horse ailments to recognise.
Wounds
The biological mechanisms of wounds in farm animals and address different treatment methods for repair of common ailments – types of wounds, first aid treatments, bandaging horses, emergencies.
Cell changes
The causes and biological mechanisms of cell change in farm animals – neoplasms, tumors and cancers, the course of an infectious disease, death, cancers etc.
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school’s tutors, and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
LEARNING AIMS
On completing the Animal Feed And Nutrition course, these are some of the things you will be able to do:
- Describe the range of livestock feeds and feeding methods available for animal production, using accepted industry terminology.
- Explain the role of energy foods, including the sources and functions of those foods, in animal diets.
- Explain the function of the major nutritional groups, including proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements in animal diets.
- Explain the on-farm methods used to evaluate feeding, including selection of feeds and feed digestibility.
- Evaluate the dietary value of pastures, including grasses, cereals, and other edible plants, and their by-products for animal feeds.
- Explain the dietary value of seeds, including oil seeds, legume seeds and their by-products as food sources for animals.
- Evaluate the dietary value of fodder plants, including trees and shrubs and their by-products, as a food source in animal production.
- Determine suitable feed rations for a farm animal maintenance program.
- Analyse the method(s) to determine suitable feed rations in a farm animal production program.
- Evaluate the dietary value of protein in an animal production program.
- Explain the factors affecting the composition of feed rations in animal production.
WHAT THE COURSE COVERS
Here are just some of the things you will be doing:
- Explain the importance of feed quality in livestock production.
- Describe the various food groups that animal foodstuffs are based upon.
- Define relevant industry terms related to livestock feed, feeding and feed processing.
- Explain the role of water in animal nutrition.
- Describe different, commercially available, animal feeds, including the composition and appropriate uses for each.
- List the chemical names of different carbohydrates which are of importance to animal production.
- Evaluate the roles of different carbohydrates in animal metabolism.
- List the important sources of carbohydrates for different types of farm animals.
- List the chemical names of different fats which are important to animal production.
- Compare fat deposition patterns in three different animals.
- Explain the role of lipids in animal metabolism.
- List the important sources of fats and lipids used in livestock feeds.
- Explain the importance of proteins to animal production.
- Describe the chemical composition of naturally occurring proteins.
- Explain the differences in protein requirements for different animals.
- List minerals and trace elements of importance in livestock nutrition, including their source foods, requirement levels, physiological functions, deficiency symptoms.
- Prepare a one page chart or table comparing the vitamin, mineral, protein and trace elements components of different commercial animal feeds.
- Distinguish between the ‘protein value’ and ‘energy value’ of specified animal feeds.
- Explain the concept of ‘digestibility’ as it relates to animal feed.
- Describe the techniques used to calculate digestibility of animal feeds.
- Perform a calculation of digestibility for a specified feed.
- Describe the dietary value of forage crops, including grasses, used in animal production.
- Explain the dietary value characteristics of harvested feed products including hays, roughage and silage used in animal production.
- Explain the dietary value of a growing pasture, on a farm you visit.
- List legume seeds used as feeds in animal production.
- Evaluate the dietary value of different legume seeds, as animal feeds.
- Collect and compare small samples of three oil seeds and legume seeds.
- Compare the nutritional value of different fodder plant species.
- Explain the objective of maintenance rationing in different farm situations.
- Design different types of animal feeds/rations.
- Explain differences in production feed ration given to the same type of animal on two different farms.
- Calculate a ‘production feed ration’ for a specified farm animal.
- Develop a production feeding program for a herd of milking dairy cattle.
- Describe the role of acids in specified animal diets.
A Statement of Attainment in Animal Husbandry with a focus on feed and nutrition can benefit various individuals and groups involved in the care and management of animals, particularly in the agricultural and animal-related industries. Here are some examples of who would benefit from such a qualification:
- Farmers and Ranchers: Farmers and ranchers who raise livestock such as cattle, sheep, poultry, or pigs would benefit from this qualification. It would help them understand how to provide appropriate nutrition to their animals, which can lead to improved health, growth, and productivity.
- Livestock Managers: Individuals responsible for managing and overseeing the well-being of livestock on farms or in agricultural operations can benefit from this knowledge. They can make informed decisions about feed and nutrition programs to optimize animal health and performance.
- Animal Nutritionists: Professionals specializing in animal nutrition can use this qualification to enhance their knowledge and expertise. It can be a valuable addition to their credentials, allowing them to provide more effective nutritional guidance to farmers and animal owners.
- Veterinary Professionals: Veterinarians and veterinary technicians can benefit from a background in animal husbandry and nutrition as it can help them diagnose and treat animal health issues related to diet and nutrition.
- Animal Science Students: Students studying animal science or related fields can gain a strong foundation in animal husbandry and nutrition, which can be beneficial for future career opportunities in agriculture, research, or veterinary medicine.
- Livestock Extension Agents: Extension agents working with agricultural communities can use their knowledge in animal husbandry and nutrition to provide valuable guidance and support to local farmers.
- Animal Welfare Organizations: Organizations and professionals focused on animal welfare and rescue can benefit from understanding animal nutrition to ensure the well-being of animals in their care.
- Animal Owners: Individuals who keep pets or hobby animals, such as horses, rabbits, or exotic pets, can also benefit from this knowledge. It can help them provide the proper diet and nutrition for their animals’ health and longevity.
- Entrepreneurs and Agribusiness Owners: Individuals starting or managing businesses related to animal feed production, distribution, or sales can benefit from a deeper understanding of animal nutrition to develop and market their products effectively.
- Government Regulators: Regulators and policymakers in the agricultural and food industries can benefit from knowledge in animal husbandry and nutrition to develop and enforce regulations related to animal welfare and food safety.
In summary, a Statement of Attainment in Animal Husbandry with a focus on feed and nutrition is a valuable qualification for anyone involved in the care, management, or study of animals in various sectors, including agriculture, veterinary medicine, and animal welfare. It provides essential knowledge and skills to ensure the well-being and productivity of animals.
