Syllabus

• Week 1

  Feedstuff Categories

  • Welcome to the course

    Welcome to the course. Here you will meet the team who you will learn with. This includes staff from Queens University, Belfast, University of Turin and The German Institute of Food Technologies.

  • Forages

    Forages are grasses or legumes fed to animals as pasture, hay or silage. A sustained supply is required to maintain profitability of livestock. Here we will explore animal feed stuffs and forage digestibility and analysis.

  • Animal by-products

    Animal by-products can have adequate to high nutritional value and thus, be fed to farm animals as a competitive alternative to traditional feedstuffs. Here we will explore the use of animal by-products in animal feed.

  • Plant by-products

    Providing sufficient protein for animal nutrition is a challenge. Protein can be sourced from various crop residues and by-products from food and drink manufacture. Here we will discuss the use of plant-by products in animal feed.

  • Summary

    To end the first week please try the quiz to see what you have learn about animal feedstuff. We also encourage you to reflect on this weeks content.

• Week 2

  Legislation

  • Welcome to week 2

    Welcome to week 2. This week we will introduce the principles of food and feed law and official controls which are outlined in European legislation.

  • Principles of food and feed law

    EU food law helps to ensure appropriate measures exist to address risks in the food and feed chain and ensure a fair act of authority. Here we will explore the principles of food and feed law in more detail.

  • Official Controls

    The official controls regulation and other official activities are carried out to ensure the application of food and feed law. Learn more about official controls here.

  • Additives and contaminants

    EU legislation on undesirable substances in animal feed exists to ensure that feed is only put into circulation if it is of sound, genuine and/or merchantable quality and doesn't pose any danger to animals, humans or environment.

  • Summary

    To end the week please try the quiz to test your knowledge on feed legislation and reflect on what you have learnt this week.

• Week 3

  Microbiological and chemical aspects

  • Welcome to week 3

    Welcome to week 3. Feed contaminants are undesirable substances which can be classified as biological, chemical or physical hazards. This week we will explore undesirable substances in animal feed.

  • Foodbourne pathogens in feed

    Food producing animals are the major reservoirs for many foodborne pathogens. The zoonotic potential of foodborne pathogens requires the feed manufacturer to reduce the incidence of salmonella in all aspects of production.

  • Mycotoxins

    Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi (mold) growing on grains before harvest and in storage which can contaminate food and feed worldwide. We will explore mycotoxins in animal feed here.

  • Environmental pollutants

    Environmental pollutants are chemical substances, compounds or mixtures of compounds which can occur at any stage of the food and feed chain. Here we will explore these contaminants and their potential toxicological properties.

  • Summary

    To end the week please try the quiz to see what your have learnt about the microbiological and chemical aspects of animal feed.

• Week 4

  Feed Processing

  • Welcome to week 4

    Welcome to week 4. This week we will explore feed processing. Processing alters the physical and/or chemical nature of feed commodities to optimize utilisation by animals and to enhance mixing and stability of the diet.

  • Reasons for feed processing

    Feed processing can help increase feed intake and digestibility, improve feed conversion or efficiency, improve carcass quality and yield grade, reduce feed waste, lower transportation, storage and labor costs.

  • Food processing methods

    In compound manufacturing the raw materials of widely ranging physical, chemical and nutritional composition are converted into a homogeneous mixture which is fed to the animals. We explore some of these processing methods here.

  • Influence of feed processing on the food supply chain

    The principle role of feed is to provide nutrients that can be digested and utilized for maintenance and productive functions. Here will we explore some of the elements which influence the suitability and processing of animal feed

  • Summary

    To end the week please try the quiz to see what you have learnt about the reasons for and influences in feed processing.

• Week 5

  Feed Formulation

  • Welcome to week 5

    Welcome to week 5. This week will outline the exercises for determining volumes of ingredients and additives to blend in order to create compound feeds that meet the nutritional requirements of targeted species.

  • Fundamental Feed Formulation

    Feed formulation involves combining feedstuffs with different nutritional composition to obtain feeds that fulfill, either completely or partially, the nutritional requirements of animals. We will explore feed formulation here.

  • Ration Evaluation

    Ration evaluation is the counterpart of feed formulation. It's useful to assess whether a given ration or feed is adequate to fulfill the nutrient requirements of a given animal or group of animals. We will explore this here.

  • Linear Programming in Feed

    Linear programming is a mathematical procedure by which limited resources are allocated or evaluated to achieve an optimal solution to a particular objective. Here we will explore how they are applied in the animal feed industry.

  • Summary

    To end the week please try the quiz to see what you have learnt about feed formulation this week.

Who will you learn with?