Aims

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

• understand the principles of equine nutrition, especially in terms of describing dietary nutrients and the animals' requirements, which can be developed into satisfactory feeding schemes.

• describe the processes of digestion and absorption in equids and how they differ in other herbivores, especially with respect to the microbial activities of the large intestine.

• describe the gaps in our understanding of equine nutrition, why they exist and how they may be overcome by the application of experimental techniques.

Syllabus / Curriculum design

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.

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