Animal Nutrition and Health

Code: ZOO14640M

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/162 hours

Scientific Area: Animal Science

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

Relationship between nutrition, health and animal welfare as an essential requirement for the nutritional quality of cultivated species in aquaculture. Metabolism and nutritional requirements at different stages of the life cycle. Immune system response of cultivable species and available prophylaxi

Sustainable Development Goals

Erradicar a fome - Acabar com a fome, alcançar a segurança alimentar e melhoria da nutrição e promover a agricultura sustentável.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Trabalho digno e crescimento económico - Promover o crescimento económico sustentado, inclusivo e sustentável, emprego pleno e produtivo, e trabalho decente para todos.

Produção e consumo sustentáveis - Assegurar padrões de produção e de consumo sustentáveis.

Proteger a vida marinha - Conservação e uso sustentável dos oceanos, dos mares, e dos recursos marinhos para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

Learning Goals

Develop the knowledge of the relationship between nutrition and animal health and how the balance can affect both animal production and nutritional quality of animal products.
It is also intended to develop the knowledge of the gastrointestinal system and metabolism in fish, relationship between nutrient requirements and the stage of life cycle.
Knowledge of techniques for formulating diets, digestibility of feeds, the forms of presentation of the food and emerging areas in this sector.
Intensify knowledge of the immune system and immune response in fish, the prophylaxis available and the use of antibiotics. Ability to identify the various parasitic, infectious, and non-infectious diseases in fish production that allow to apply strategies for assessing the condition of animals to outline plans adjusted to each situation.
This CU confers skills in knowledge of fish nutrition, to optimize production, ensure animal health and well-being and the quality and safety of animal products.

1. Bioenergetics
2. Nutritional requirements and functions
3. Gastrointestinal system of fish
4. Metabolism in fish and the protein/energy ratio
5. Formulation and digestibility of feeds for the larval, fattening, and reproductive stages
6. Anti-nutritional factors and contaminants
7. Prebiotics and probiotics.
8. Fish meal and fish oil
9. Forms of food presentation
10. Emerging areas in this sector

1. Immune system and immune response
2. Prophylaxis: types of vaccines
3. Use of antibiotics
4. Pathologies: parasitic, infectious, and non-infectious diseases
4.1. Parasitic Diseases
4.2. Infectious bacterial, viral, and fungal diseases.
4.3. Non-infectious diseases
4.3.1. Nutritional and hygienic-sanitary management
4.3.2. Behavioral changes: stress
5. Microalgal toxins in bivalves: monitoring and depuration/refining methods.

Teaching Methods

The CU comprises theoretical-practical classes (TP) in which the fundamental concepts are taught, and case studies are presented for analysis and discussion, as well as carrying out some laboratory protocols, field classes (TC) for visits to production units/companies and seminars (S) namely in the area of feed and food manufacturing.

Assessment

Assessment: During the exam period there is a written test on all the subjects taught to discriminate individual students. The minimum passing mark in written exam is 10.