Course

HFX407 Emissions and Microbiota: a path to sustainable animal production

Credits (ECTS):5

Course responsible:Angela Schwarm

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:

10 (max.)

With 6 or more enrolled students, the course is conducted with practical in vitro experiments, i.e. incubation of rumen fluid and feed and writing of an article with own/these data.

With 5 or fewer registered students, a simplified teaching programme is offered (demonstration of incubation equipment and sampling of rumen fluid, writing an article with old data or an overview article).

Course frequency:Every second year (2026,2028,..)

Nominal workload:125 hours (25 hours per credit point), consisting of class contact hours and work with compulsory activities outside scheduled instruction.

Teaching and exam period:

Two weeks (week 34 and 35) of the August block

09.00 - 14.30 h.

About this course

Qualify the students to conduct, evaluate and discuss experiments and concepts in (animal nutrition) research related to feed digestion by microbial fermentation and emissions of methane

Learning outcome

KNOWLEDGE. The student shall:

-know methods and factors determining and measures reducing methane emissions from ruminant livestock

-know genomics data processing to characterize microbial functions

-have knowledge about life cycle analysis

SKILLS. The student will:

-be able to conduct in vitro experiments with rumen fluid (sampling, laboratory analyses)

-be able to evaluate and interpret the data generated in this course and to write a joint manuscript

-be able to contribute in investigation of methane emissions from ruminant livestock

GENERAL COMPETENCE. The student will:

-be able to inform professionals about own research results

-be able to contribute to measures aiming at reducing methane emissions from ruminant livestock production

  • Learning activities
    Hands on experience in rumen content sampling and in vitro batch culture, GreenFeed system, self study, student lectures, exercises, individual and group work, paper writing and cross-reading.
  • Teaching support
    Course responsible/teachers supervise lab work, data interpretation, paper writing and individual and group work. Powerpoint presentations and literature are available in Canvas.
  • Prerequisites
    Master in animal science, biology, veterinary science or equivalent
  • Recommended prerequisites
    interest for ruminants and rumen
  • Assessment method
    Portfolio assessment: presentation, paper writing, and presence and active participation in the course. Passed / not passed.

    Portfolio assessment Karakterregel: Passed / Not Passed
  • Examiner scheme
    Course responsible/teacher and fellow students conduct portfolio assessment
  • Mandatory activity
    Presence and active participation in the course and in the group work are prerequisites for participating in the exam. Participation in min 80% of the teaching time.
  • Notes
    Join! We will have fun!
  • Admission requirements
    PhD students