AD2APN: Animal Anatomy, Physiology and Nutrition 2

Module code: AD2APN

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Kirsty Kliem , email: k.e.kliem@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Les Crompton, email: l.a.crompton@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Regardless of whether animals are kept for farming, companionship, recreation or conservation, there are a number of important underlying processes which contribute to their nutrition, health, growth and reproductive success. This module explores the science behind how animals are successfully fed, how they develop, reproduce and successfully rear their young. You will learn about the fundamental nutritional requirements (energy, protein, vitamins and minerals), assimilation of nutrients, factors affecting feed intake and the methods through which nutritional value of animal feeds can be determined to enable planning of balanced animal diets. You will discover the anatomy and physiology of reproduction in the male and female - from puberty and conception through to birth, lactation, rearing and growth of offspring, and will consider the influence of hormones, nutrition, the environment and human interventions. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Explain and analyse the fundamental principles of energy, protein, vitamin and mineral nutrition in animals; including requirements, factors controlling intake, the partitioning and metabolism of nutrients and the evaluation of nutrient supply in feed.  
2. Explain and discuss the reproductive physiology of placental mammals and of birds, through puberty, conception, gestation (or incubation) and parturition (or hatch), including reference to endocrine control. 
3. Describe and discuss the physiological and biochemical basis of mammary gland development, milk synthesis, growth and development of animals, including reference to endocrine control. 

Module content

The module covers topics such as: 

• Biochemical and metabolic basis of energy and nutrient partitioning in animals  
• Control of feed intake 
• Energy and protein requirements and systems for ruminant and non-ruminant animals 
• Vitamin and mineral nutrition 
• In vivo and in vitro feed characterisation methods for assessment of nutritive value of feeds 
• Basic principles of diet formulation and connections between diet and animal health 
• Introduction to the gut microbiome and its significance 
• The anatomy, physiology, endocrine control and management of: puberty, breeding and conception; Gestation (mammals) and incubation (birds), Parturition (mammals) and hatching (birds) 
• Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and endocrine control of mammary gland development and milk synthesis in mammals 
• Physiology and endocrine control of growth and development in animals 
• Ways in which processes can be manipulated and the breeding of animals managed to meet different objectives. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module consists of lectures, seminar discussions and tutorials to support understanding of topics and completion of assessment. 

Study hours

At least 44 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours