What is Animal Nutrition?

Animal nutrition entails the study of the composition and characteristics of the material consumed by the animal, the manner in which this material is metabolised (converted, utilised, and excreted) in the digestive tract and body cells of monogastric animals (pigs, broilers, layers), ruminants (sheep, cattle, goats), and lower digestive tract fermenters (horses, ostriches). The nutrient requirements of different species animals for various production functions are also addressed. Finally, this information is integrated in an economically feasible and practical system of animal nutrition to ensure that the optimal genetic production potential of animals is achieved.

Research theme

The exploitation, development, and utilisation of synthetic, low-quality, by- and waste products as sources of nutrition for livestock with the aim of increasing efficient and economic animal production, environment and health preservation, and the utilisation of nutrient sources in less direct competition with human sources. The ultimate goal of animal nutrition is to ensure the production of safe food for human consumption in the form of animal protein products.