UNDERSTANDING ANIMAL NUTRITION & BIOCHEMISTRY

Nutrition nutrient composition, availability and utilization of macro-nutrients and micro nutrients in the major categories of feed-stuffs used in non-ruminant and ruminant animal species feeds is essential to allow the correct design and formulation of practical rations. Animal nutrition is highly specialized and requires the blending of knowledge of the composition of the feed with the design and management of the feeding program for the animals. This involves the correct implementation of the appropriate diet with the appropriate feed management systems which is essential to ensure optimum efficiency, at all stages of production, and the profitability of animal enterprises. The module content will include: feed classification, gastrointestinal tract anatomy of domestic mammals, nutrients and their functions, digestion and metabolism, feed regulations. The practical consideration of nutrition specific to different animal species will be reserved for the Applied Nutrition module. This module will examine the chemical composition of animal feeds and develop an understanding of how the chemical components in feed contribute to nutrient supply for enhanced animal productivity.