Module Code - Title:
EV4003
-
EQUINE FEEDING AND BEHAVIOUR
Year Last Offered:
2023/4
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To understand the basic principles of nutrition and the practical aspects of feeding.
To understand normal patterns of equine behaviour and the identification of behavioural problems.
Syllabus:
Digestive anatomy of the horse; Feedstuffs and forages in the horse's diet; Diet formulation and nutrient requirements for horses; Feed composition; Feeding management; Bodyweight and Condition Scoring; Ethology and ethograms; Effects of domestication on behaviour; Learning Theory, Normal and abnormal equine behaviour; Environmental effects on behaviour; Causation, function, ontogeny of equine behaviours; Horses as herd animals; Behaviour in the wild; Normal and abnormal equine behaviour; Environmental effects on behaviour; how the horse learns; stereotypic behaviours; causes of abnormal and other undesirable behaviours; Behaviour as an indicator of welfare.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module the student should be able to:
Characterize different feed categories and their components
Describe digestion of key nutrient components
Demonstrate knowledge of feeding management of different horse classes
Understand the fundamental aspects of nutrition
Measure the basic composition of feeds and forages
Formulate basic diets for horses
Identify feed ingredients included in formulations for horses
Understand the ecology of behaviour and the normal equine ethogram
Demonstrate knowledge of normal and abnormal equine behaviour and of how the environment can affect behaviour
Describe how horses process and respond to environmental stimuli and learn.
Identify behavioural problems
Integrate concepts of equine behaviour into management principles
Develop strategies for designing horse facilities and management procedures to suit the behaviour of the horse.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module the student should be able to:
Embrace the basic principles of nutrition into practical aspects of feeding
Demonstrate proficiency in the evaluation of normal and abnormal behavioural parameters in the horse
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
This module is delivered in the form of 1 hour lectures and 2 hour laboratory sessions including field visits. SULIS portal is used to distribute lecture material and provide access to relevant scientific journal articles and other relevant publications.Students will be knowledgeable in the practical aspects of feeding management for horses. Collaborative project work will enable students to be articulate in presenting and describing sterotypic behaviours in horses and how to overcome them.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Cuddeford, D., (2003)
Equine Nutrition
, The Crowood Press, Wiltshire, UK
Frape, D. (2010)
Equine Nutrition and Feeding
, Wiley Blackwell, New Jersey, US
McGreevy, P. (2012)
Equine Behaviour: A Equine Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians and Equine Scientists
, Elsevier, London, UK
Other Relevant Texts:
National Research Council (2007)
Nutrient Requirements of Horses
, The National Academies Press, Washington D.C., US
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester - Year to be First Offered:
Module Leader:
bridget.younge@ul.ie