Study Programmes 2015-2016
VETE2073-1  
Special nutrition and feeding of pets
Duration :
22h Th, 12h Clin. Pr.
Number of credits :
Master in veterinary medicine (60 ECTS)2
Lecturer :
Marianne Diez, Isabelle Dufrasne
Substitute(s) :
Isabelle Dufrasne, Jean-Luc Hornick
Coordinator :
Marianne Diez
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
The course "Special nutrition and feeding practices of domestic animals" includes the study of feeding practices of the following species :
-Cattle and small ruminants, pigs and poultry : sytems of production and feeding practices
-Horse : feeding practices
-Companion animals : feeding practices during the cycle of life and introduction to clinical nutrition
Learning outcomes of the course :
General objectives
The main objective of the lectures of "Nutrition and feeding of domestic animals" (years 1,2 and clinical teaching) is to teach the vet to "To conceive, to formulate and to evaluate the impact of feeds on animals health and performances and on health of sick animals examined in vet's practices"
The first year lectures (Bac 3) aims to teach general nutrition -basic nutrition, energy, nutrients, feeding sources-. The second year lectures (Master 1) are about feeding practices and rationning in the main species. Feeding practices are given for healthy production animals (livestock) and healthy companion animals during lifestages and according to lifestyles. A practical teaching (exercises of rationning) is organized during 12 hours using an excell program for large animals, special resources for companion animals and at the experimental farm.
For the companion animals part, the using of resources is essential. During the final exam, points are given both for theoritical knowledges and for using efficiently resources.
Finally, the principles of clinical nutrition are integrated in the pathology lectures of Master 2 for the following species : calf, horses and companion animals during the academic year 2016-2017. During clinical teaching, the objective is to apply those knowledges (theory) and technical skills (rationning) in clinical skills ie to obtain a complete diet history, to criticize a feeding plan and to propose a balanced diet.
In conclusion, the teaching of nutrition is organized in a hierarchy and is given beween basics siences (pre-requisites) and clinical teaching.
 
 
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Course of "Basics Nutrition and feeding of domestic animals"
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Lectures : 22 h, practical work 12h
Practical work aims to apply theoritical knowledges in the following domains : 1) feeding pratices of cattle 2) feeding practices of companion animals according to lifestages and lifestyles.


  • Cattle
Practical work is organized in sessions of 90 min, at the   informatic room of the IVT, during which students are calculating feeding plans using a software. One session is organized at the experimental farm under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon.


  • Companion animals
Practical sessions are organized as exercises (feeding plans) under the supervision of an assistant. The resources are available on e-campus.
The participation to all sessions of practical work are compulsory. If a student is absent at at least 1 session of practical work, the final note will be zero for the practical work. Further, he/she will not be allowed to sit the exam, in 1rst as in 2nd session of exams. If a student is absent at at least 1 session, he/she must contact the assistants and the teachers as soon as possible to organize a compensatory session. The reason of the absence is leaved to the appreciation of the teachers.
 
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
face-to-face
The content of the lectures is the course.
Lectures
  • Alimentation des animaux de rente et du cheval : 10 h (I. Dufrasne)
  • Alimentation spéciale des animaux de compagnie : 8 h (M. Diez)
  • Système d'alimentation de la volaille et du porc : 4 h (J.L. Hornick)
Recommended or required readings :
Lecture files are available online : ecampus
Required reading/using:
1. Software for feeding plans in cattle
2. Powerpoint file about the software utilization
Recommended reading (cattle):
  • Engraissement du taurillon Blanc Bleu Belge culard : enseignements pratiques - Publication du Ministère des Classes moyennes et de l'Agriculture, L.Istasse et al, 1997
  • Utilisation rationnelle de la prairie permanente par la vache traite, la vache allaitante et le taurillon - Publication du Ministère des Classes moyennes et de l'Agriculture, I.Dufrasne et al., 1999
  • Stratégies d'engraissement de la femelle de réforme Blanc-Bleu Belge cularde - Performances, qualité des carcasses et de la viande, approche métabolique et bilan économique - Publication du Ministère des Classes moyennes et de l'Agriculture, JF Cabaraux et al., 2001
Reference books in pratical and clinical nutriton of companion animals :
  • 1. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th edition, Ed. : Hand, Thatcher, Remillard, Roudebush et Novotny, Mark Morris Institute, 2010 (disponible à la bibliothèque FMV).
  • 2 et 3. Encyclopédie de la nutrition clinique canine, 2006, Aniwa SAS (disponible sur IVIS) ¿Encyclopédie de la nutrition clinique féline, 2008, Aniwa SAS (disponible sur IVIS)
Recommended reading (pigs and poultry):
  • Gaining the edge in pork and poultry production. Enhancing efficiency, quality and safety. Editors:J. A. Taylor-Pickard and P. Spring
Published: eISBN: 978-90-8686-595-6 | ISBN: 978-90-8686-018-0. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-595-6


  • Gut efficiency; the key ingredient in pig and poultry production. Elevating animal performance and health. Editors:J. A. Taylor-Pickard and P. Spring.
Published: eISBN: 978-90-8686-636-6 | ISBN: 978-90-8686-060-9. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-636-6. 
Assessment methods and criteria :
First session : written exam (MCQ multiple choice questions) (15 points) - Practical sessions : 5 points (total : maximum 20 points).
Since practical sessions are not organized between the 2 exam sessions, it is impossible to modify the points of the practical works. So, the points of the practical works (maximum 5 points) are only valid during the 1rst exam session (May-June) for all the students.  During the second session, the points of the practical works will not be considered, even if the student did not sit the exam during the 1rst session. 
Deuxième session : examen oral pour 20 points
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
The assistants for the practical works are 1) for companion animals : Dr M. Dequenne  (mdequenne@ulg.ac.be) 2. for cattle, to be specified later.
Practical works for cattle are organized in the multimedia room of the IVT, above the amphi D.
The room for the practical works about companion animals will be specified later.
Contacts :
M. Diez mdiez@ulg.ac.be tél. : 04 366 41 38
I. Dufrasne isabelle.dufrasne@ulg.ac.be 
J.L. Hornik jlhornick@ulg.ac.be
Nutrition Unit (general) : 04 366 41 30 (assistants room)