AGRI100460 Feed science and feeding management

Type
course with continuous assessment
Semester hours
4
Lecturer (assistant)
Gierus, Martin , Schedle, Karl
Organisation
Animal Nutrition, Livestock Products and Nutrition Physiology
Offered in
Sommersemester 2026
Languages of instruction
Deutsch
Content

LVA Feedstuff science:
* Definitions, nutrients, juridical aspects
* Forage and its preservation
* Root crops and byproducts of processing
* Grain and other seeds, byproducts of processing
* Feedingstuffs of animal origin
* Mineral feed, feed additives, water
* Feed processing techniques, feed hygiene, pollutants

LVA Feed Management:
This course provides practical knowledge and skills for planning, implementing and evaluating feed management on agricultural holdings. Students learn the basics of determining livestock requirements, principles of ration design, how to evaluate feed analytically and how to make decisions regarding performance, animal welfare, ecology and economic efficiency. Calculation exercises and a laboratory visit serve to integrate theoretical concepts into practical application.
Previous knowledge expected

Knowledge of animal nutrition at least at the level of the lecture series ‘Animal Nutrition’ (see participation requirements).
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

LVA Feedstuff Science:
After successfully completing the course, students will have an overview of common animal feeds and feed additives and their possible uses in our livestock. They will thus be able to assess the nutritional characteristics of individual feeds and substitute individual feeds with others. With knowledge of the nutritional composition of individual feedstuffs, they will be able to independently evaluate feedstuffs in terms of their suitability for meeting the nutritional requirements of our farm animals, both qualitatively and quantitatively. In addition, students will learn about the importance of essential and non-essential nutrients and will be able to describe other desirable (e.g. secondary plant substances) and undesirable (biogenic pollutants, heavy metals, etc.) ingredients and assess their effects.
After successfully completing the course, students will be well prepared for further courses in the field of animal nutrition in the MSc in Farm Animal Sciences (Special Feed Science and Technology (AGRI302282); Special Animal Nutrition (AGRI302279); Practical Training in Animal Nutrition (AGRI302283)).

LVA Feed Management:
Students:
- can name the basic terms of feed management, nutrient classes and feed types.
- explain the relationships between production systems, animal requirements and feed selection. - apply tables and analysis data to calculate nutrient requirements and design basic rations for selected animal categories.
- identify typical errors in feeding and management, analyse their causes and assess their impact on performance, animal health, animal welfare and economic efficiency.
- compare alternative ration design options, assess the effectiveness of feed and management measures, and evaluate decisions from an economic, ecological and animal welfare perspective.
- develop practical optimisation proposals for rations and management strategies and draw up action plans to improve feeding practices on the farm.
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.