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Livestock Science 101: Exploring Animal Health, Welfare, & Nutrition

Learn the ropes of livestock science to enhance sustainable farming practices.

livestock collage with a duck, pig, cow, goat and horse

Livestock Science 101: Exploring Animal Health, Welfare, & Nutrition

  • 4 weeks

  • 4 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Unlimited subscription

    $244.99 for a whole yearLearn more

Explore livestock health and welfare insights for sustainable practices

Understanding the crucial elements of livestock health and welfare is fundamental for any aspiring professional in agriculture. On this course, you’ll delve into the complexities of defining and measuring good health and welfare in livestock.

By grasping these concepts, you’ll be equipped to advocate for practices that enhance animal wellbeing and align with modern sustainability goals, making a positive impact on the agricultural landscape.

Grasp the importance of sustainable food production

Sustainability is at the heart of modern agriculture. By exploring the connections between livestock welfare, health, and nutrition, you’ll be better able to make decisions and implement practices that that progress broader sustainability goals, including building more ethically responsible and environmentally friendly food systems.

Cultivate essential skills in animal nutrition

Animal nutrition plays a pivotal role in livestock production and health. Near the end of course, you’ll learn about the anatomy and function of the digestive system and how different types of feed impact performance.

This will enable you to formulate nutritional strategies that bolster livestock health and efficiency, leading to improved productivity and optimised sustainability in your farming practices.

Contribute to ethical livestock management

With the skills and expertise gained from this online course, you’ll be able to champion ethical practices in livestock management, and feel empowered to make meaningful contributions that plough the agricultural industry – and your career – forward.

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Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Week 1: Fundamentals of Health and Welfare

    • Fundamentals of Health and Welfare

      Fundamentals of Health and Welfare

  • Week 2

    Week 2: Animal Welfare

    • Animal Welfare

      Animal Welfare

  • Week 3

    Week 3: Basics of Livestock Nutrition

    • Basics of Livestock Nutrition

      Basics of Livestock Nutrition

  • Week 4

    Week 4: Relating Nutrition to Health and Welfare

    • Relating Nutrition to Health and Welfare

      Relating Nutrition to Health and Welfare

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Discuss the complexities of defining ‘good’ health and welfare for livestock and evaluate some of the approaches to measuring these.
  • Explain the importance of livestock health and welfare to the sustainability of food production.
  • Explain the historic and current focuses surrounding animal welfare and the difference in perspectives across stakeholders.
  • Describe the anatomy and function of the digestive system and how feed is fermented in fore or hindgut fermenters.
  • Explain how a feed’s nutritional qualities can be anylised
  • Describe how nutrition is linked to livestock health and welfare

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in livestock management, farming, and agricultural sustainability. No prior knowledge is required, making it ideal for beginners and those seeking to deepen their understanding of animal health, welfare, and nutrition.

Who will you learn with?

I currently work in the field of agricultural research dissemination with a focus on technological innovations and a keen interest in environmental sustainability.

My background is in livestock nutrition and my interests include environmental sustainability of livestock production, sustainability and climate change in relation to agriculture and livestock.

Who developed the course?

Aberystwyth University

Aberystwyth University has a proud reputation for leading edge research, teaching excellence and an exceptional student experience. It’s a place for the adventurous, the curious and the creative.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 10 Oct 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 31 October 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 31 October 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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