LECTURERS:      Dr N.T. Ngongoni, Dr S Sibanda and Dr LR. Ndlovu Mr I. Mpofu (Course
                                       Co-ordinator)
OBJECTIVES

The course introduces students to a study of the basic principles of  Animal Nutrition. The students will also be exposed to an understanding  of the applied aspects of livestock nutrition and practical feeding at  the farm level in the different animal production systems.  Students are  also offered the opportunity to develop practical skills in measuring  nutritive value of feeds through digestibility trials, chemical and biochemical assays and in viva and in vitro methodology.

COURSE ORGANIZATION

Lectures:                 52 x 1 hour (Semster 1 and 2)
Practicals:               16 x 6 hours (Semster 1 and 2)
Field Visits:             2 x 6 hours (Semester 2)

Assignments:       4 essays
                          4 short answer types
                          Seminar/Tutorials
                          Tests: Individual Lecturers will give short test at the end of the sections they
                                        teach.

Term Test:                At end of Semester 1

Final exam:                1 x 3 hours (at end of Semester 2)

COURSE ASSESSMENT (GRADING)

(i)  Continuous assessment (30% of Final Grade)

      Students will be assessed through semesters 1 and 2 on their performance at the practicals, essays, assignments and term tests.

Weighing of marks for continuous assessment

Essays                          10
Practicals                      30
Short Answers               20
Term Tests                 40
                                    100
Final Grade

Continuous assessment semester 1: 15%
Continuous assessment semester 2: 15%
                                                    30%
(ii) Final Examination:                   70%
                                                   100%

LECTURES

SEMESTER I: WEEK 1-6: 24/03-02/05/97 (Mr I. Mpofu)

SECTION I: THE ANIMAL AND ITS FOOD (10 LECTURES)

(i)  Classification of Animal Feeds:

      Dry Forage and roughages, pastures, range plants, silages. Energy contributing feeds, protein
      supplements, mineral and  vitamin supplements, feed additives.

(ii)  Composition of feeds:
      Water, dry matter, organic constituents, inorganic constituents.

(iii) Analysis of feeds:
      Proximate analysis scheme, Van Soest and Moore Systems.

(iv)  Digestion and Absorption of nutrients:
      -in monogastrics and ruminants.

(v)  Voluntary feed intake: WEEK 6: 28/04-2/05/97 (Dr LR. Ndlovu)

      Chemostatic, thermostatic, and Lipostatic theories. Sensory appraisal. Physical and physiology
        factors.

SEMESTER 1 Week 7-8 (Mr I. Mpofu) 5/5/97-16/5/97

Section II: Digestibility of Feedstuffs (6 lectures)

(i) - measurement of dry matter, organic matter, NDF digestibilities in viva, in vitro (Tilley and Terry), gas production technique and using enzymatic methods.
    - Validity and limitations of digestibility coefficients,
    - Factors affecting digestibility
    - Indicator method, Nylon bag method, mobile nylon bag technique.

(ii) Kinetics of digestion and Passage: WEEK 8: 16/5/97:(Dr L.R. Ndlovu)

Flow rates, rumen evacuation technique, Use of marker to estimate passage rate, Continuous dosing with chromium-mordanted straw.

SEMESTER 1: WEEK 9-13: 19/05/97-20/06/97: (Dr Ngongoni)

Section III Evaluation of feeds-: ENERGY COMPONENT (10 lectures)

(i)  Bioeneraetics and Partitioning of feed energy:

      Demand for Energy, Gross energy (GE), Bomb calorimetry, partitioning of feed energy, Digestible Energy (DE), Metabolisable Energy (ME), Factors affecting ME of feeds, Heat Increament (HI), Energy retention.

(ii)  Calorimetry and Respirometry:

      Direct calorimetry, indirect calorimetry and respiratory exchange. Measurement of energy retention - carbon and nitrogen balance, comparative slaughter.

(iii) Energy Systems:

      Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN), Starch Equivalent (SE), Metabolisable Energy (ME), Net Energy (NE). The new ME/NE system. Comparison of the  systems. Energy Systems for ruminants and monogastrics.

(iv)  Efficiency of utilisation of metabolisable energy (EUME):

EUME for maintenace, fattening, growth, lactation, fermentation patterns and EUME.

SEMESTER 2 WEEK 1-5: 18/08-19/09/97: (Dr N.T. Ngongoni)

Section IV Evaluation of Protein. CP. DCP and True Protein.(10 lectures)

(i)  Evaluation of protein:

Crude protein, digestible crude protein, true protein.

(ii)  Protein quality for monogastrics:

      Protein efficiency ratio, gross protein value, protein replacement value, nitrogen balance, biological value, chemical score.

(iii) Protein quality for ruminants:

      Importance of rumen microbes, Metabolism of nitrogenous material in rumen. Rumen degradable protein. Undegradable protein. Factors affecting degradability. Non-protein nitrogen (NPN). Evaluation of protein for ruminants. Estimation of microbial synthesis and supply to the small intestines. Protein systems.

SEMESTER 2 WEEK 6-9: 22/09 - 18/10/97: BOI' I.D.T. Mpofu)

Section V Metabolic role of the Micro-nutrients (Vitamins and Minerals) (6 lectures)

(i)  Vitamin nutrition:

      Structure, physiological and metabolic role of  the fat  soluble and water soluble vitamins. Requirements and deficiency diseases.

(ii)  Mineral Nutrition:

      Physiological and metabolic role of the macro, micro, and trace minerals. Requirements, deficiency diseases. Micronutrients interactions.

SEMESTER 2: Week 10-13: 20/10-14/ilier: Dr S. Sibanda

Section Vl Feeding standards and Ration Formulation (8 lectures)
 

(i)  Nutrient requirements for maintenance growth, reproduction and production for ruminants and non-ruminants.

(ii)  Formulation of rations for ruminants and non-ruminants, principles, techniques and methods (manual/computer based).

(iii) Practical and field trip to a stockfeed manufacturing company.

RECOMMENDED TEXT BOOKS

Animal Nutrition by McDonald, Edwards and Greenhalgh 5th Edition.

Improved Feeding of Cattle and Sheep by Whittemore and Elsley.

Nutrition of the Chicken by Scott, Nesheim and Young.

Animal Foods of Central Africa by Topps and Oliver.

Nutritional Ecology of the Ruminant by Peter J. Van Soest.

Protein Nutrition in Ruminants by Orskov

NUTRITITIONAL BICCHEMISTRY AS203
2.0     PRACTICALS

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS

The practical classes are an essential component of the Nutritional Biochemistry Course and a complement to the learning of principles, concepts and theory at the lectures. Practical exercises on analytical  techniques, animal experiments are part of your training as Animal Scientists and Nutritionists. It is also a training in good work
methods.  Develop good working habits by setting about your experiments   in a systematic and intelligent manner.  Students are expected to prepare themselves adequately before appearing for the practicals.  Read the instructions in the practical handouts and get an understanding of  what you will be doing at the practical sessions.

Remember student numbers have increased and we are working with limited
facilities both in the Animal House and Nutritional Biochemistry  Laboratory. Please co-operate in the sharing of facilities and equipment.  Be conscious of the cost and difficulties in obtaining chemicals, reagents, materials, glassware and equipment and therefore  the USE of these should be in a reasonable and sensible manner. DO NOT WASTE REAGENTS. If you are in doubt on procedures or use of equipment,  consult a Demonstrator or one of the Technicians in attendance.

Take your practicals seriously and put in your best effort for full benefit from the practical course. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR WORK PLACE TIDY.  Attendance at practical class is compulsory.

ASSESSMENT

IMPORTANT:

Each student must keep a PRACTICAL RECORD BOOK.  All raw data and  calculators must be entered in the record book.  Demonstrators are authorised to checK the records from time to time.

Practical work will be assessed on the reports submitted on each of the  practicals or a series of practicals as indicated by the instructors.  The grades earned are part of your continuous assessment marks.

REPORTS

Practical reports should be presented in a neat and concise manner and to the following forms:

Title of Experiment
Objectives
Materials and methods (be brief and refer to practical handouts)
Results (tabulated and described where necessary)
Discussion
References (use Journal of Animal Science Style)

All practical reports are to be handed in by dates stipulated by the instructors. Late submissions will not be accepted.