1. Frontal Lessons
Differences between small ruminants and large ruminants in digestive capacity, transit speed, feed utilization (forage and concentrates), feeding behavior, selectivity, chewing time and fiber size importance.
Food fractions and ruminal model Cornell Net Carbohydrates and Protein System.
New knowledge on maintenance and thermoregulation energy needs, protein, fiber and non-structural carbohydrates.
Nutritional indexes: body condition score; urea in milk; faeces characteristics.
Dysmetabolies; acidosis; ketosis; protein excess; hypocalcaemia; abomasum dislocation.
Feeding techniques: pasture feeding, stable feeding, total mixed ration feeding. Feeding techniques in the various phases of the production cycle for the various domestic ruminant species.
Feeding and de-seasonalisation of production.
Economic evaluation of rations: estimation of the exchange value of feed, production cost of milk and meat, production cost net of feed costs, economic evaluation of feed rations.
Exercises.
Feed rationing of sheep, goats and cattle with CNCPS and SRNS software.
Field evaluation of dietary particle size and ration quality, BCS and faeces characteristics.