260016 Experimental Animal Nutrition and Physiology - Theoretical

Details
Responsible DepartmentDepartment of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences   90 %
Department of Veterinary Disease Biology   10 %

Earliest Possible YearMSc. 1 year to MSc. 2 year
DurationOne block
 
Credits7.5 (ECTS)
 
Level of CourseMSc
 
ExaminationFinal Examination

written examination and oral examination


Some Aid allowed
Written examination (to obtain EU approved diploma): no aids allowed. Oral examination: all books, reports etc. allowed


Description of Examination: Written examination (20 min.) to obtain EU approved diploma for persons working with experimental animals. Oral examination (time for preparation) regarding other topics covered in the course, where the student will draw a question based on demonstrations covered in the course.

Weight: It is required to pass the written examinationas well as the oral examination.



pass/fail, internal examiner
 
Requirement for Attending ExamParticipation in 75% of practical demonstrations
 
Organisation of TeachingCombined lectures, practical demonstrations, seminars/journal clubs and exercises. Students will throughout the course be working in groups
 
Block PlacementBlock 1
Week Structure: C
 
Language of InstructionEnglish
 
Optional Prerequisites260015 Thematic Course: Animal Science
260013 
 
RestrictionsNone
 
Course Content
The contents of the course covers:
1) Presentation of experimental techniques for assessment of whole animal function and metabolism of nutrients on whole animal and organ level (in vivo/in vitro). This covers both a theoretical introduction as well as practical demonstrations of key techniques.
2) A 30 h block which fulfills the educational requirements by Council of Europe (category b) and Denmark for persons working with experimental animals or assisting in animal experiments (a diploma will be issued upon completion of the course).
3) Principles necessary for planning and implementing in vivo or in vitro scientific investigations as well as for critically evaluating results obtained from such investigations. This includes such aspects as protocol planning, experimental design and data evaluation.
 
Teaching and learning Methods
Theoretical course with lectures, some laboratory demonstrations and bi-weekly seminars. Practical exercises on live animals. Individual activities will involve reviewing and presentation of handed-out scientific papers as well as seminar discussions of presented experimental techniques, where emphasis will be on evaluation of experimental design, techniques and approaches in relation to aims, obtained results and conclusions.
 
Learning Outcome
Knowledge
- describe the basic principles behind experimental methods for measuring nutritional characteristics of feedstuffs, feed intake, chewing activity, in vivo and in vitro digestibility,
- describe the methods for measuring digestibility in different segments of the digestive tract in monogastic and ruminant animals by use of cannulation and marker techniques, passage rate and digestion kinetics
- describe the theoretical background of energy transfer from cellular to the whole body level, techniques and methods for measuring nitrogen, energy balances, heat production and substrate oxidation
- describe the anatomy and metabolism of splanchnic tissues and catheter techniques used to study tissue and organ nutrient fluxes, practical guidelines for sampling of blood, rumen fluid etc,
- describe the legislation, handling and management of laboratory animals

Skills
- be able to describe principles and methods used in selected in vivo demonstrations
- be able to evaluate experimental results/data from different in vivo measurements.
- be able to discus limitations, advantages and their potential applications of the different experimental methods
- be able to interpret experimental results based on theoretical knowledge
- be able to design experimental animal protocols and use relevant legislation for conducting animal experiments

Competences
- ability to cooperate with other researches, both inter and intra disciplinary at different levels and with different degree of responsibility
- ability to adopt above described knowledge and skills
- ability to disseminate methodology and obtained results to professionals, lay persons and general public
- ability to perform animal experiments legally according to Council of Europe 1993 resolution category B


The written examination is obligatory in order to obtain EU approved diploma to be allowed working with experimental animals.

In order to pass the practical examination, attendance for the practical experimental animal exercises needs to be at least 80%, and participants not fulfilling this demand cannot take part in the written laboratory animal science examination.

The written exam consists of 16 questions of which up to 5 questions can be multiple choice. Every question gives 0, 1, 2 or 3 points, except multiple choice quesions, which give either 0 or 3 points. To achieve the level 2, a total of at least 24 points must be awarded

 
Course Literature
Selected reviews/research papers and a list of the literature to be used can be obtained from the course coordinators.

Thomas Krohn: Forsøgsdyrhåndbogen, KU-IVP
Annelise Hem, Dag Marcus Eide, Espen Engh & Adrian Smith: Laboratory Animal Science, Norwegian Veterinary School, 2001, http://oslovet.veths.no/dokument.aspx?dokument=203, chapter 9-14,16-17, 19-26, 28
 
Course Coordinator
Peder Nørgaard, pen@life.ku.dk, Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences/Animal Nutrition, Phone: 353-33033
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Work Load
lectures25
theoretical exercises30
practicals70
Colloquia10
examination2
preparation69

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