Course Coordinator:            Dr P.H. Mugabe

 OBJECTIVES

The course aims to expose students to a variety of topics which
are important in Animal Production Systems but lie outside the
scope of the topics covered in nutrition, breeding and physiology.
The topics will vary from year to year depending on new developments in Animal Production Systems. However, the outline below gives the general areas.

 COURSE ORGANIZATION

 Lectures:                        40 x 2 h
 Field Classes and labs:     13 x 4 h
 Assignments:                  Field Class Reports:
                                      Seminars
 Tests:                            One at the end of each
                                          six-week block
 Final Examination:          1 x 3 h written

 GRADING

         Continous assessment              30%
         Field Class Reports
         Seminars and Tests

         Final written examination         70%

 COURSE OUTLINE

 1. MODELLING TECHNIQUES  (6 h lectures, 4 h lab) Dr F Mhlanga

  1.1   Role of Modelling in Animal Studies
  1.2   Whole animal modelling
  1.3   Compartmental modelling
  1.4   Use of computer packages

 2.   ON-FARM EXPERIMENTATION-FARMING SYSTEMS RESEARCH (FSR)
      (4 h lectures, 4 h lab) Dr S Sibanda

  2.1   Definition of concept of FSR
  2.2   Procedure  for  on-farm  research  with  a  farming-systems
          perspective

            * Target area selection
            * Description and diagnosis
            * Design, Testing and Evaluation
            * Comparison of Crop and Livestock on-farm research
            * On - station and on-farm linkages

3. GIT MICROBIOLOGY   (Mrs F Gandiya) (8 h lectuers, 4 h lab)

      - Comparison  of  GIT anatomy  and function  between species
      - GIT microflora
            * establishment
            *     predominant species
            *     factors affecting population composition

4.    ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN HVMAN NUTRITION AND HEALTH
      (8 h lecturess, 4 h lab) Mrs F Gandiya

  4.1   Effects of foods of animal origin on human health
            - positive effects, effects unique to animal products
            - negative effects
            - socio-economics and socio-cultural trends
  4.2   Effects of Animal health drugs and food additives on human
          health
  4.3   Effects of changing production methods on quality of milk,
          meat and eggs
           -  current developments

 5.   NON-CONVENTIONAL ANIMAL PRODUCTION  (10 h  lectures, 8  h lab)
      Dr P.H. Mugabe

  5.1   Principles of Wildlife Management
       *     Wildlife biology and population dynamics
       *     Habitat types and management
       *     Wildlife policy

       Examples of utilisation systems
             -     Game farming - Ostriches and crocodiles
             -     Game ranching - multispecies systems
             -     Safari hunting
             -     Protected areas
             -     CAMPFIRE

  5.2   Aquaculture    }             Dr J Kusina
  5.3   Rabbit rearing }

6.    ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, ANIMAL WELFARE and WASTE MANAGEMENT
      (14 h lectures  8 h lab)

   (a)   Animal Behaviour and Welfare (8h) Dr Mutisi/Dr N Kusina)

   6.1   Welfare of farm animals and ethics of animal     production
   6.2   Effect of stress on meat quality
   6.3   Animal handling and behaviour
   6.4   Techniques for recording behaviour
   6.5   Application of behaviour, physiological measurements    and preference tests (e.g. poultry) to welfare     assessment
   6.6   Application of behaviour to housing design
   6.7   Foraging behaviour

  (b)   Waste Management (6 h) Dr J Kusina

   6.8   Problems of animal waste
   6.9   Fertilizer value of manure
   6.10  Methods of manure handling
   6.11  Technologies to reduce nutrient content in animal    waste

7.    ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY (12 h lectures, 8 h lab)

  7.1   Animal Nutrition  (4 h) Dr P.N.B. Ndiweni
         Improvement of the nutritive value of animal feeds

            * Protein fraction of cereals
            * Digestibility of roughage
            * Nutritive value of conserved feeds
            * Removal of undesirable constituents
            * Addition of enzymes and digestive modifiers
            * Modification  of  rumen  fermentation  and  microbial
               populations

  7.2   Manipulation of mammalian metabolism (4 h Dr L.R. Ndlovu)

         *     Transgenesis
         *     Use of natural hormones
         *     Use of beta agonists

  7.3   Animal Health (Dr Kairo, 4 h)
          Rapid diagnostics - by use of
          *     Monoclonal antibodies
          *     Nucleic acids
          *     Antigens
          *     Vaccine production and quality

8.    AGROPORESTRY  (4 h lectures, 4 h lab) Dr L.R. Ndlovu

  8.1   Role of forage trees in livestock systems
  8.2   Principal forage tree species in Zimbabwe
  8.3   Animal production from tree legumes
            - Nutritive  value,  use  in  feeding systems, anti
             nutritive and toxic factors
8.4  Experimental techniques

9.    ANIMAL DRAUGHT POWER (4 h lectures, 4 h lab)
      Dr L.R. Ndlovu

  9.1   Nutrition of draught animals
  9.2   Management of draught animals
  9.3   Research techniques
            -  animals
            -  implements

10.   ECONOMICS OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
      (10 h lectures, 4 h lab) Mr G Mudimu

  10.1  Introduction

            (a)   Economic importance of livestock in Zimbabwe
            (b)   Structure of the livestock industry
            (c)   Role of livestock in the farming system

  10.2  Economics of livestock production systems in Zimbabwe

            (a)   Costs and returns analysis of
                   1.    Beef production systems
                   2.    Dairy production systems
                   3.    Pig production systems
                   4.    Poultry production systems
                   5.    Small ruminants productions systems
                   6.    Multispecies production systems              e.g. wildlife farming

  10.3  Economic Analysis of Livestock Research Trials

(a)   Analytical techniques for evaluation livestock research trials and alternative management systems e.g. Partial budgeting Gross Margin Analysis
(b)   Case studies of economic analysis livestock research

  10.4  Institutional, socio-economic and Technical factors
   influence Livestock Production in Zimbabwe

      This sub-section will refer to current issues facing
      the livestock industry in Zimbabwe e.g. marketing systems,   pricing policy, costs and price relationships, prevailing
   economica conditions, risk assessment.