SASK23001U Nutrition and Management of Companion Animals

Volume 2023/2024
Education

MSc Programme in Animal Science - semi-compulsory/Restricted electives

Content

Nutrition and management of the healthy animal:

  • Energy and nutrient requirements of dogs and cats as affected by life stage (maintenance, growth, reproduction, lactation).
  • Energy and nutrient requirements of dogs and cats for health, performance and longevity.
  • Causes for malnutrition disorders and their prevention (incl. growth disturbances and obesity) in dogs and cats.
  • Feeding management of dogs and cats.
  • Nutrition and management of common exotic companion and hobby animal species (e.g. small mammals incl. rabbits and rodents, petbirds and reptiles).
  • Feed manufacturing and appropriate feedstuffs for companion animals (incl. nutritional value, quality and feed technology).
  • Evaluating commercial diet formulations (incl. raw food/vegan diets).
  • Formulating balanced diets for companion animals.
  • Legislation regarding nutrition and management relevant to companion animal species.
Learning Outcome

This course will focus on nutrition and management of companion animals. The core of the course will be the quantitative aspects of companion animal science. Students will obtain knowledge of optimal nutrition and management practices, including legislation, to ensure health, longevity and performance. The focus will be on nutrition and management of dogs and cats, and to some extent, nutrition and management of common exotic companion and hobby animal species (e.g. small mammals incl. rabbits and rodents, petbirds and reptiles).

The aim is to educate graduates with academic competence to become consultants and with an option to work in areas within this sector, incl.:

  • Pet food companies
  • Veterinary support industries
  • Pet shop management
  • Pet breeder organisations
  • Companion animal advisory services
  • Government advisory service
  • Local government advisory service/registration
  • Research
  • Teaching

 

The aim is to educate graduates with the following competence profile:

Knowledge
The student is able to:

  • Account for quantitative nutrition and feeding of dogs and cats in different life stages (maintenance, growth, reproduction, lactation) to optimize health, performance and longevity and prevention of malnutrition.
  • Account for nutrition and management for common exotic companion and hobby animal species (e.g. small mammals incl. rabbits and rodents, petbirds and reptiles).
  • Account for principles of different feedstuffs and feed manufacturing.
  • Account for legislation relating to nutrition and management, relevant to companion animal species.
     

Skills
The student is able to:

  • Apply methods for evaluation of the interactions between animal nutrition and health and advice within this area.
  • Quantify and model animal life processes, from cellular to whole body level, including nutritional, biochemical and physiological processes.
  • Apply methods to evaluate feed formulation and feed quality.


Competencies
The student is able to:

  • Understand relevant scientific principles and to analyse, and critically evaluate scientific literature.
  • Use relevant scientific principles to evaluate and analyse the animals' nutritional- and health status.
  • Formulate and optimize diets for companion animals in different life stages and under different physical activity or training conditions to optimize performance and prevent malnutrition.
  • Evaluate the nutritional composition of commercial diets.
  • Apply principles of important food processing methods, how they influence the nutritive value and applicability of diets in different life stages and under different physical activity.
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Lectures, seminars and project work.
The course is centred around group based project work, seminars and oral presentations. Throughout the course, the students will be working in groups. Lectures, exercises and seminars will support the case-based project work. The project work should result in oral presentations, colloquia and written reports covering the key areas of nutrition, including relevant perspectives to management and legislation.

Evaluation model: Survey-based model
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Class Instruction
  • 24
  • Project work
  • 331
  • Guidance
  • 14
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Total
  • 412
Oral
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination, 20 minutes
Type of assessment details
Written assignments/project reports covering the key areas of nutrition, including relevant perspectives to management and legislation, demonstrating a satisfactory insight into the project areas must be submitted. Final submission deadline is Friday 4 PM in block week 8.

Oral examination based on the written assignments/project reports and pensum accounting for the general principles regarding nutrition and management of companion animals.

Weight: Oral examination 100 %.

Students in the same group cannot participate in their fellow student’s individual oral exam unless they have already had their own individual oral exam.
Aid
Only certain aids allowed

written power-point reports: All aids

Oral examination: No aids

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:

Knowledge

  • Account for quantitative nutrition and feeding of dogs and cats in different life stages (maintenance, growth, reproduction, lactation) to optimize health, performance and longevity and prevention of malnutrition.
  • Account for nutrition and management for common exotic companion and hobby animal species (e.g. small mammals incl. rabbits and rodents, petbirds and reptiles).
  • Account for principles of different feedstuffs and feed manufacturing.
  • Account for legislation relating to nutrition and management, relevant to companion animal species.

 

Skills

  • Apply methods to evaluate feed formulation and feed quality.
  • Apply methods for evaluation of the interactions between animal nutrition and health and advice within this area.
  • Quantify and model animal life processes, from cellular to whole body level, including nutritional, biochemical and physiological processes.

 

Competencies

  • Understand relevant scientific principles and to analyse, and critically evaluate scientific literature.
  • Use relevant scientific principles to evaluate and analyse the animals' nutritional- and health status.
  • Formulate and optimize diets for companion animals in different life stages and under different physical activity or training conditions to optimize performance and prevent malnutrition.
  • Apply principles of important food processing methods, and how they influence the nutritive value and applicability of diets in different life stages and under different physical activity.
  • Evaluate the nutritional composition of commercial diets.
  • Perform evaluation of nutrition and management relevant to legislative issues in companion animal species.