HFX256 Small Ruminants: Breeding, Nutrition and Ethology

After the course, the students will know the scope and structure of meat production and milk production on small ruminants in Norway, also wool production. The student should be familiar with the principles of feed planning and be able to set up feed plans for sheep and goat farmers. The students will also have knowledge about feeding and care through a pregnancy and lactation cycle, meat and milk quality, pasture and cultural landscape care, body condition assessment as a tool in feed planning and some important conditions that affect the economy of sheep and goat productions.

In applied breeding, students will understand the Norwegian breeding programs for sheep and goats, have knowledge of breeding goals and the breeding organization.

Within farm animal environment and ethology, the students should have knowledge of the animals' thermoregulation, their requirements for climate and animal welfare and how different environmental factors affect behavior, health and welfare. Students will have an overview of housing systems and buildings for sheep and goats.