Course Content
This course contains 8 lessons as follows:
1. Wildlife, Energy & Feed Foundations
Energy flow in Nature
Feeding Ecology (the Natural Food Web)
Types of feeders (eg. herbivore, Omnivore etc)
Major Natural Habitats
Feeding Behaviour Characteristics
Specific Feeding Behaviours
Replicating Natural Feeding Behaviours
Nutritional Ecology
Simulated Feeding
Goals & Benefits of Simulated Feeding
Simulated Feeding Applications
Welfare in Captive Care
Assessing Animal Welfare
Duty of Care
Captive Care, Feeding & Animal Health
Responsibilities of Handlers, Trainers, Managers, Researchers, Veterinarians
Regulatory Frameworks
Animal Feeding Terms & Definitions -Feed, Diet, Ration, Palatability, Digestibility, Concentrates, Basal Feeds, Supplements, etc
2. Macronutrients
Food Groups
Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
Trisaccharides
Polysaccharides
Carbohydrates as an Energy Source
Carbohydrate Classification
Lipids (Fats)
Lipid Digestion
Sources of Lipids
Protein
Biological Value of Protein
Protein Content of Foods
Function of Protein
Protein Sources
Water
Variations in Water Required for Different Animals
Factors affecting Water Intake
3. Micronutrients
Role of Micronutrients
Deficiencies and Toxicities
Minerals
Calcium – sources, deficiencies, toxicities
Phosphorus – sources, effects, deficiencies, toxicities
Magnesium - deficiencies, toxicities
Sodium and Chloride
Potassium
Sulphur
Trace Elements– Iron, Manganese, Copper, Iodine, Cobalt, Zinc, Selenium
Vitamins- including toxicities and deficiencies
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Vitamin B Complex
Vitamin C
4. Evaluating Feed & Digestibility
Digestibility in Diet Planning
Analysing Feedstuffs
Minerals
Crude Protein
Fats & Oils
Fibre
Soluble Carbohydrate
Maize Composition as a Food Example
Calculating Digestibility – true energy value of a diet
Determining Total Digestible Nutrients (TND)
Digestible Crude Protein (DCP)
Evaluating Feeds
Protein Value of Different Feed Components
Feeding Matrix – by Species /Group
Case Study – Grey Wolf Dietary Requirements and Age
5. Understanding Forage & Foraging Behaviour
Introduction and Forage Types
Types of Forage Land
Types of Foragers
Different Digestive Systems = Different Feeds
Avian, Monogastric, Ruminant, etc
Ways to feed Fodder
Different Fodder Ecosystems
Grassland
Heathland
Moorland
Mechair -Dune Pasture
Maquis – Forest Pasture
Rangeland
Savanna
Steppe
Wood Pasture
Veld
Grasses, Legumes, Roots, Wildflowers
Forbs
Forbs and Mineral Nutrition
6. Managing Diets for Mammals
Different Energy Requirements for Different Animals
Water in the diet
Safe Practices
Order Primates – Macronutrients & Micronutrients
Primate Diets – Folivorous, Faunivorous, Insectivorous, Omnivorous, Frugivorous
Physiological Adaptations for Different Diets
Order Carnivora – Canid Diets
Canids – Carbohydrate & Protein Sources
Raw Food Diet Risks
Order Felines
Feline Protein Sources
Dietary Variations in Wild Cats
Case Study – Variations in Puma Dietary Requirements
7. Managing Diets for Other Mammals
Rodent Feeding Common Provisions
Rats
Hamsters
Guinea Pigs
Chinchillas
Capybaras
Rabbit Digestion
Rabbit Diet
Grasses, Hay, Greens, Vegetables for Rabbits
Bat Feeding
Feeding Insectivores
Hedgehog
Short-beaked Echidna
Small Carnivore Mammals
Ferrets
Banded Mongoose
Case Study - Sugar Glider
8. Managing Diets for Birds, Fish and Reptiles
Bird Feeding -Parrots
Pellet Feed for Parrots
Mash/Chop Feed
Seeds, Beans & Nuts
Treats for Birds
Bird Feeding -Fowl
Fowl feed for Varied Ages
Feed Components for Fowl
Pellet Feed for Fowl
Grain & Mash
Chickens & Ducks
Fish Feeding
Pelleted Fish Feed
Live Fish Feed
Night lights to assist hunting
Fish meal
Oil meals
Fish Food Production
Reptile Feeding
Food for Reptiles
Snakes
Chelonians - Turtles & Tortoises
Lizards
Course Aims
- Explain key concepts and terminology in wildlife and nutritional ecology and describe natural feeding behaviours with strategies for replicating them in captive environments.
- Examine carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, and assess how they provide energy and support growth, production and maintenance.
- Examine vitamins and minerals in animal feed, and assess how they regulate metabolism, immunity, reproduction, and health.
- Examine the criteria and methods used to evaluate feeds and feed digestibility.
- Explain how to manage food supply for foraging animals.
- Explain how to manage food supply for mammals.
- Examine and discuss the natural feeding
routines and diets of a selection of smaller mammal species.
- Determine a feeding program for birds, reptiles and other wildlife.