AP3A83-Practical Animal Nutrition

Module Provider: Agriculture
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites: AP2A67 Animal Nutrition
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Caroline Rymer
Email: c.rymer@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Often nutritional composition of an animal’s diet is determined in a laboratory. However, if two diets are shown to have near identical nutrient compositions in the lab, do they elicit the same response (in terms of growth, milk yield etc) in the animal? Small changes in the concentration or availability of key nutrients can often have a profound effect on animal performance. This module adopts a practical experimental approach to determining the effect of altering either the supply or source of a key nutrient, in a diet formulated to meet the nutritional needs of the animal, on the animal’s response.

Aims:

This module aims to provide the student who already has knowledge of nutrition theory, with the opportunity to expand this into practice. This will be achieved through the undertaking of a practical nutrition exercise involving animals or birds. The exercise will provide a sound understanding of the need for accurate diet formulation and preparation and the impact of nutrient supply on factors such as efficiency of growth and composition of the animal food product.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the impact that nutrient availability has on animal response.


• Collect, statistically analyse and interpret data generated from an animal nutrition experiment and present findings both orally and in the style of a scientific paper.

Additional outcomes:

It is expected that students will gain experience of managing animals/birds during the course of a nutritional study. They will also become aware of the importance of animal welfare and the legal requirements associated with many studies and have an appreciation of the importance of having accurate and relevant data on the nutritional composition of feeds and of correct diet formulation in animal nutrition.

Outline content:

Although most of module will be devoted to practical work, lectures will cover:

• Introduction to practical studies with animals


• An outline of the theory behind the practical study


• Design and statistical analysis of experiments


• Legal requirements associated with animal studies


• Diet formulation


• How to write a scientific paper

A practical nutrition stud y will be undertaken under supervision. The nature of this study will be dependent on available facilities.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

There will be a three hour session each week giving a total of 30 hours. Four hours will be devoted to lectures, with the balance available for practical work, tutorial time and presentation of results by students.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		4
Tutorials		4
Practicals classes and workshops		22
Guided independent study:		70
Total hours by term	0	100	0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	70
Oral assessment and presentation	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:

N/A

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
70% of the module marks will be awarded for the written report in the form of a scientific paper and 30% for the oral presentation.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of coursework.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 30 July 2021