260017 Experimental Animal Nutrition and Physiology - Practical

Details
Department of Bacic Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Earliest Possible YearMSc. 1 year to MSc. 2 year
DurationOne block
 
Credits15 (ECTS)
Course LevelMSc
Samundervises med PhD kursus i Animal Nutrition and Physiology - Experimental
 
ExaminationFinal Examination

written examination and oral examination


All aids allowed

Description of Examination: A project report will be elaborated by groups of students based on the experimental set-ups presented in the course. The oral examination is based on the written report and the physiological and nutritional background underlying the experimental demonstrations.

Weight: Written report: 50% Oral exmination: 50%



13-point scale, external examiner
 
Requirement For Attending ExamParticipation in 75% of experimental demonstrations, elaboration of project report covering all experimental demonstrations presented in the course
 
Organisation of TeachingPractical demonstrations, lab work, lectures. Students will throughout the course be working in groups. Part of this course (3 weeks) will take place at the experimental facilities at Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences.
 
Block PlacementBlock 2
Week Structure: Outside schedule
 
Teaching LanguageEnglish
 
Optional PrerequisitesExperimental Animal Nutrition and Physiology - Theoretical Diploma course fullfilling EU educational requirements for persons working with experimental animals (included in the above-mentioned course). Tema Husdyrvidenskab 1.
 
Restrictions15
 
Areas of Competence the Course Will Address
The following competencies will be obtained by the students:

Basic scíences:
Principles necessary for planning, implementing and evaluating data obtained from in vivo scientific investigations according to formulated aims and hypothesis. It is a pre-requisite that students fullfill the EU educational requirements for persons working with experimental animals.

Technology and Production:
Extensive hands-on experience with major techniques involved in in vivo studies of animal nutrition and physiology of relevance for animal science and pharmaceutical industries.

Ethics and Values
1) Ethical issues in relation to animal experimentation will be addressed.
2) Necessary tools to plan an animal experiment based on formulated aims and hypothesis and subsequently prepare a scientific manuscript based on obtained results will be provided.
 
Course Objectives
1) To introduce experimental principles and provide students with extensive hands-on experience with key methods applied in animal physiology and nutrition (whole body and selected organ level) and hence the tools necessary to carry out and evaluate results obtained from animal research under different physiological and nutritional conditions
2) Introduce students to scientific facilities and scientists within animal nutrition and physiology at KVL and Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences
 
Course Contents
Knowledge of quantitative nutrient and energy metabolism is fundamental for the evaluation of nutrient utilization and requirement in different life processes and for the development of nutritional strategies and methods of feed evaluation in relation to the optimisation of production, product composition/quality as well as various environmental factors. The experimental methods introduced will focus on the evaluation of whole animal function and the metabolism of nutrients at both the whole animal and organ level (in vivo). Collated information from experimental research will be used in conjunction with biological models describing metabolic responses to a variety of nutritional and environmental conditions. Students will be provided with the principles necessary to; (1) plan and implement in vivo scientific investigations where attention is given to the identification of specific scientific questions of relevance to the selected field of research and the selection of appropriate methodological approaches, including such aspects as protocol planning, experimental design, sampling, data collection and evaluation, (2) assimilate and write a scientific manuscript - literature overview, aims, methodology, results + graphic presentation, interpretation, discussion including a retrospective assessment of the suitability of the methodological approach adopted, conclusions and applications/perspectives.
Students will spend considerable time at experimental animal facilities where they will be offered opportunity to obtain extensive hands-on experience with pre-selected animal experimental techniques. Experimental animal facilities are located at KVL (Rørrendegård, Høje Tåstrup, and Frederiksberg) and 3 full weeks will be spent at the Danish Insitute of Agricultural Sciences, Foulum. Accomodation at Nørresøkollegiet in Viborg will be paied for, but students must cover travel expenses themselves.
Occasional evening/night and week-end work must be anticipated.
 
Teaching And Learning Methods
Practical experimental course with participation in planning and practical conduct six different small nutritional and physiological experiments involving experimental animals (ruminants, monogastrics). Three of the experiments will take place at experimental facilities at KVL and three at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Foulum. Students will throughout the course be working in groups, and on a group basis prepare the report to be handed in for examination, which will consist of 6 individual papers structured as scientific papers (1 6-page paper and 5 2-page papers)covering each of the demonstrations. Weekly seminars will be arranged with the aim to review selected scientific papers and present the results of the practical experimental work. Emphasis will be on experimental design and protocols, data analyses, interpretation of results and presentation technique.
 
Course Litterature
List of relevant scientific papers to be obtained by students will be handed out at the beginning of the course.
 
Course Coordinator
Mette Olaf Nielsen, mon@life.ku.dk, Department of Basic Animal and Veternary Sciences/Animal Nutrition, Phone: 35333065
André Chwalibog, ac@life.ku.dk, Department of Basic Animal and Veternary Sciences/Animal Nutrition, Phone: 35333044
 
Attendance Fee
For external students there will be a charge of 12000,00 DKK per student for participation to cover course expenses associated with practical demonstrations
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Course Scope
lectures10
theoretical exercises60
practicals160
project work120
supervision10
preparation40
examination2
Colloquia10

412