The purpose of this courseis to provide information on Importance of nutrients in animal production and health. Composition of animal body and plants. Nutritional terms and their definitions. Importance of minerals (major and trace elements) and vitamins in health and production, their requirements and supplementation in feed. Common feeds and fodders,Direct and indirect calorimetry,. Protein evaluation of feeds - Calorie protein ratio. Nutritive ratio. Various physical, chemical and biological methods of feed processing for improving the nutritive value of inferior quality roughages. Preparation, storage and conservation of livestock feed through silage and hay and their uses in livestock feeding. Feed additives in the rations of livestock and poultry; Antibiotics and hormonal compounds and other growth stimulants, and their uses. Classification of forages:season,nutrient density,plant tpye,family and duration of crop. Plant sources of animal feed: Characterstics of fodder crop; Growth of fodder crop. Status of grazing resources of Fiji: Ecological status of grasslands and Types of grassland covers; Over grazing. Grass land improvement and management techniques: Weed control,burning of grass land,reseeding; Conservation of soil moisture. Grass land improvement and management techniques: Agronomic techniques for fodder crops: Legume fodders:cow pea,lucerne: Introduction to grass fodder,grass fodder for irrigated,rainfed and hilly areas; Tree fooders: Silage: Steps in preparation of silage,additives,silo filling and sealing and quality assessment,advantage and isadvantage of silage. Hay: Hay,principles of hay making,types of hay,legume and non-legume hay; Steps in hay making, losses of nutrients in hay making,advantage and isadvantage of hay.
- Teacher: Eroni Tamani