HFX132 Livestock Biology

The course consists of three parts, breeding/genetics, nutrition, and ethology. Each part is taught for 4-5 weeks and during the course students are working in groups on an interdisciplinary project. Students choose the topic of their project and it should focus on a current issue related to animal biology.

Knowledge:

Breeding/genetics (responsible Bjørg Heringstad)

• Understand the principles of animal breeding
• Know the basics of breeding theory and methods for selection animals for breeding
• Know practical breeding and conservation

Nutrition (responsible: to be specified later)

• Understand the major differences in nutrient content of common feedstuffs
• Understand similarities and differences between the gastrointestinal tract of different animals
• Understand similarities and differences between digestion of feeds in different animals
• Understand why nutrients and the digestive tract influences the energy value of different feedstuffs

Ethology (responsible: Judit Vas)

• Understand the most important theory and definitions related to ethology
• Understanding the basics of evolution and behaviour, social, development of behaviour, learning and memory, motivation and animals choices, signals and communication and emotions
• Understand the interaction basic behaviour of animals in relation to production and welfare

Skills:

• The student can identify and describe an interdisciplinary research topic within animal science and use the right terminology within breeding/genetics, nutrition and ethology

Competences:

• The student can use knowledge and skills in dissemination and discussions within topics related to animal science at professional and nuanced level

• The student can set up and describe a project according to university standards