Physiological Basis of Animal Production

Code:

AGR1002

Acronym:

AGR1002

Level:

100

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Agronomy

Instance: 2016/2017 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Biology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:B	1	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	49	162
L:M	1	Official Study Plan	2	-	6	49	162
			3
L:Q	0	study plan from 2016/17	3	-	6	49	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

To gain knowledge on principal physiological mechanisms associated to digestion, reproduction, lactation, growth and behaviour of farm animals.

Learning outcomes and competences

Knowledge on principal physiological mechanisms associated to digestion, reproduction, lactation, growth and behaviour of farm animals.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Planned Programme THEORETICAL TEACHING ANIMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 1. Growth and development under ideal conditions 2. Effects of breed and sex on body composition 3. Nutritional effects on growth and body composition 4. Hormonal control of growth 5. Manipulating growth REPRODUCTION 1.1. Anatomical aspects 1.2. Espermatogenesis 1.3. Hormonal control of espermatogenesis 1.4. Testis compartments 1.5. Accessory organs of the male 1.6. Testosterone in the periphery system 1.7. Testicular function 1.8. Erection and ejaculation 2. Reproduction of the female 2.1. Hormones of reproduction 2.2. Ovarian function 2.3. Sexual receptivity 2.4. Post-partum ovarian activity 2.5. Gestation 2.6. Parturition DIGESTION, ABSORPTION AND METABOLISM 1. General functions of gastrointestinal tract and its control 2. Gastrointestinal motility 3. Secretor functions of the gastrointestinal tract 4. Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins 5. Intestinal transport of water and electrolytes 6. Digestion in the ruminants 7. Microbiology of rumen and intestine 8. Digestion in birds 9. Carbohydrates metabolism 10. Lipid metabolism 11. Protein and amino acids metabolism 12. Disturbances in carbohydrate and fat metabolism 13. Vitamins MAMMARY GLAND AND LACTATION 1. Functional anatomy 2. Mammary growth, differentiation and lactation 2.1. Mamogenesis 2.2. Lactogenesis 2.3. Galactopoiesis 3. Synthesis and secretion of milk 3.1. Metabolism 3.2. Biosynthesis of milk components 3.3. Milk secretion 4. Milking physiology 4.1. Rate of milk secretion 4.2. Milk removal 5. Biological functions of milk 5.1. Nutritive value and colostrum 5.2. Species variations 6. Factors affecting lactation 6.1. Nutritional, physiological and environmental factors PRACTICAL TEACHING GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 1. Compensatory growth 2. Growth curves 3. Analysis of growth data REPRODUCTION 1. Methods for collecting semen 2. Semen evaluation 3. Estric cycle 4. Methods for detecting heating 5. Reproductive cycles RUMEN MICROBIOLOGY 1. Observing rumen inoculum 2. Determination of in vitro digestibility by Tilley and Terry method LACTACTION 1. Analysis of lactation curves. 1.1. Wood model. 1.2. Fleischman method. 1.3. Milk production corrected for 305 days in milk and fat content. 1.4. Real, normal and theoreticsl production. 2. Determination of bacteriological quality of milk 3. Determination of physical and chemical parameters SOME CONCEPTS ON ECOPHYSIOLOGY 1. Environmental effects on efficiency of utilization of feeds and in animal reproduction BEHAVIOURAL PHYSIOLOGY 1. Physiological concept of behaviour 2. Circadian rhythms and behaviour 3. Feeding behaviour 4. Thermo-regulator behaviour 5. Communication behaviour 6. Sexual behaviour 7. Social behaviour 8. Emotional behaviour: neurophysiologic basis 9. Motivation 10. Learning and memory 11. Behaviour development 12. Behavioural plasticity 13. Behavioural physiopathology

Mandatory literature

Moog Florence; Animal growth and development

Teaching methods and learning activities

The exposure of theoretical issues is supported in the use of diverse supporting material (eg, slides, video, multimedia). Whenever possible, lab lessons will be realized.

keywords

Natural sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	0,00
Teste	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	0,00
Total:	0,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance: 75% predicted lessons.

Calculation formula of final grade

Students may choose between continuous assessment and final exam. For continuous assessment, final mark will be calculated giving equal weights for all the tests performed during the semester, in which both theoretical and practical subjects will be evaluated. If students choose to do a final exam, it will have a weight of 100% for the final mark and will evaluated both theoretical and practical subjects.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students subject to special regimes (TE, DA, ...) will be assessed in the final exam.

Classification improvement

Mark improvement will always be done in the final exam. Students that initially have choose for continuous assessment, from the moment that they deliver the exam for correction, the score considered for the final mark will always be those from the final, even if inferior than the average of the tests.