Dairy cattle nutrition

The main objective of the course is to provide students with detailed knowledge on theoretical and practical aspects of dairy cattle nutrition, including feedstuff chemical composition and nutritive value, digestion and metabolism, systems of feeding, diet formulation, and prevention of metabolic diseases and reproduction failures. Some aspects of feeding of dairy calves and replacement heifers are also discussed.

1.The specificity of nutrient digestion and utilization in dairy cattle and dairy calves

2.Assessment of nutritive value of feedstuffs used in dairy cattle nutrition

3.The principles of feeding cattle depending on stage of lactation and physiological state

4.The effect of feeding cattle on milk yield and composition

5.Quality of feedstuffs and calculation of nutritive value

6.Diet formulation for dairy cows depending on stage of lactation and physiological state. Total mixed rations and partially mixed rations. Prevention of metabolic diseases and reproduction failures.

7.Feed management – balance of the farm

NRC, 2001. Nutrient Requirement of Dairy Cattle. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

Van Soest P.J. 1994. Nutritional Ecology of the Ruminant. Comstock Publishing Associates.

Knowledge:

Student can characterize the feedstuffs using in dairy cattle nutrition

Student explains the principles of feeding the dairy cattle according to stage of lactation

Student explains the effect of feeding cattle on milk yield and composition

Student can specify metabolic disorders caused by incorrect feeding

Skills:

H.ZZWa.DAIR.SM.HZOXY_U01 Student can assess the quality and nutritive value of feedstuffs for dairy cattle

H.ZZWa.DAIR.SM.HZOXY_U02 Student can formulate the daily ration (depending on stage of lactation, condition) using computer programmes

H.ZZWa.DAIR.SM.HZOXY_U03 Student can organize the feeding of dairy herd (group feeding)

Social competences:

Student is aware of the self-regulated learning and of the dissemination of knowledge and skills in agricultural practice

Student Is aware of the needs for consultation between the science and agriculture practice

Student is able to work in a team

The percentage scale for assessing educational results is defined as follows:

1.Fail (F): some more work required before the credit can be awarded; it is issued when during the course the student have obtained less than 55% of the required effects of at least from one of the three components of the educational results (K, S, SC)

2.Sufficient (E): performance meets the minimum criteria, it is issued when during the course the student have obtained at least 55% of the required effects of each components of the educational results (K, S, SC)

3.Satisfactory (D): fair but with significant shortcomings; it is issued on the basis of the arithmetic average of the three components of educational results (K, S, SC)

4.Good (C): generally sound work with a number of notable errors; it is issued on the basis of the arithmetic average of the three components of educational results (K, S, SC)

5.Very good (B): above the average standard but with some errors; it is issued on the basis of the arithmetic average of the three components of educational results (K, S, SC)

6.Excellent (A): outstanding performance with only minor errors; it is issued on the basis of the arithmetic average of the three components of educational results (K, S, SC)