Module Identifier RSM0410  
Module Title PRINCIPLES OF EQUINE NUTRITION  
Academic Year 2000/2001  
Co-ordinator Dr John Ling  
Semester Semester 1  
Assessment Exam   3 Hours   70%  
  Seminar presentation     20%  
  Research proposal assignment and oral presentation   Research paper tutorial   10%  

Aims
This module aims to provide the student with:

An introduction to the basic elements of the nutrition of equids, especially the horse. In particular physiological and biochemical principles of equine nutrition, will be dealt with rather than the more practical aspects of feeding horses. Considerable emphasis will be placed upon comparative nutrition that is identifying similarities and differences between the nutrition of equine and that of other, better understood large animals.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students will be able to:

Syllabus / Curriculum design
The module consists of:-

Twleve lectures with the outline contents of the place of herbivores, especially equids in agriculture. Nutritive value - methods of assessment and proximate analysis. Biochemistry of nutrients 1. Biochemistry of nutrient II. Digestion - its physiology and biochemistry. Absorption - its physiology and transport process. Comparative digestion - equids, ruminants and non-ruminants. The large intestinal fermentation. Microbial digestion and metabolism of carbohydrates. Microbial digestion and metabolism of N compounds and lipids. Methods of large animal experimentation. Energy metabolism - partition of dietary energy. One seminar presentation will be required by each student plus one tutorial discussion session in small groups.

Reading Lists
Books
Frape, D. (1986) Equine Nutrition and Feeding. Longman Scientific and Technical, Harlow
McDonald P, Edwards R A, Greenlaugh J F D & Morgan C A. Animal Nutrition. 5th ed. Longman Group Ltd, Harlow
Van Soest, P J. (1994) Nutritional Ecology of the Ruminant. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY