Course coordinator
Dr Elham Assadi Soumeh
Consultation is by appointment. To make an appointment, please email e.soumeh@uq.edu.au.
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- Gatton
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Gatton
- Coordinating unit
- Agriculture and Food Sustainability School
The nutrition of domestic and wild animals, nutritional ecology, nutrients, digestion and nutrient supply, food evaluation and quality, regulation of food intake, quantitative nutrition. Evidence of immunity to Q fever is mandatory for this course. Refer to UQ Student Immunisation Requirements for more information.
Animal Nutritionﾠand Technology ANIM2053ﾠfocuses on digestion, absorption, and metabolism of feed and how the different dietary components/nutrients are assimilated into products or used to maintain life. In order for a feed to be utilised by an animal, it has to be palatable to be consumed, digestible to be broken down into small units, absorbable to enter the body and metabolisable to be utilised into energy and structural components. You will develop an understanding of this series of events in order to be able to feed your animals whether production, pet or wild. While covering a broad range of animals (domestic, wild, ruminants and simple-stomached), we will explore feed prehension methods, digestion and how this affects the types of nutrients which animals absorb into their bodies, nutrient requirements and how these are influenced by production type and rate, and the environment, and how to process feed so that it is safer, more palatable and more nutritious. This course provides coverage of the fundamental aspects of chemical composition of feeds and the constituents of feed that supply nutrients to the animal. We then build on this to examine how to feed animals to achieve desired outputs.
This course has mandatory immunisation requirements due to an increased risk of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) for students working with animals or in agricultural environments. Students will be asked to provide evidence of immunity to Q fever via my.UQ My Requests as a condition of enrolment in this course. Refer to UQ Student Immunisation Requirements for more information.
At the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, we are committed to creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students. We value and respect the diverse range of experiences our students bring to their education, and we believe that this diversity is crucial for fostering a rich culture of knowledge-sharing and meaningful exploration. We hold students and staff accountable for actively contributing to establishing a respectful and supportive learning environment.
Bullying, harassment, and discrimination in any form are strictly against our principles and againstﾠUQ Policy,ﾠand will not be tolerated. If you have any concerns about your experience in this course, we encourage you to tell a member of the course teaching team. Your well-being and a positive learning atmosphere are of utmost importance to us.
Course requirements
Assumed background
It's assumed that you have a reasonable knowledge of organic chemistry and intermediary biochemistry (e.g. from CHEM1004 and AGRC2001), Animal Biology (ANIM1020), Animal Behaviour, Handling & Wellbeing (e.g. from ANIM1014), and Agricultural Microbiology and Gene Technology (AGRC2013).
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ANIM3040, ANIM7240 (co-taught)
Restrictions
Restricted to students who meet mandatory immunisation requirements.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Associate Professor Luis Prada e Silva
Dr Danielle Fitzgerald
Guest lecturer
Dr Dannylo Sousa
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
This course is in-person. It is compulsory for students to attend all practical sessions and to hand in the practical worksheets/assessments/reports. There are no make-up practicals for this course, where a student does not attend the relevant practical session, its associated assessment item cannot be completed.
All timetabled practicals from Week 4 have been identified as high-risk activities for Q-fever exposure.
Student attendance at lectures is highly recommended as questions from final exam will be covered in the content and online polls (theﾠweekly online quizzes are not assessable).
If you have any concerns regarding your official timetable or course allocations, or there are no suitable class times available, contact Faculty of Science Timetable science.mytimetable@uq.edu.au for advice. If ANIM2053 is an elective course and it clashes with your core courses, you will be required to select a different elective course.
If you have any questions about missing class activities, please contact your course coordinator. ﾠ
Aims and outcomes
To provide students with knowledge and skills associated with the fundamental concepts of animal nutrition. The focus of this course will be on the digestion, absorption and metabolism of nutrients. The capacity of the different classes of feeds to supply the animal with nutrients to meet its requirements for maintenance, growth, and production will be discussed.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Categorise the different classes and constituents of feeds that supply nutrients to animals.
LO2.
Outline the digestion and absorption processes and demonstrate the role of the different segments of the gastrointestinal tract.
LO3.
Use the fundamental differences in digestion and metabolism between the simple stomach animal and the ruminant animal to differentiate between the type of digestive system they have, and the feeds they eat.
LO4.
Analyse the interactions between nutrients, and the impact of that on the utilisation of feed by animals.
LO5.
Use feed and animal requirement tables to assess the nutritional status of animals and design diets to meet their needs.
LO6.
Demonstrate core practical skills including the sampling and preparation of feed for analysis, using laboratory techniques.
LO7.
Undertake experiments, interpret qualitative and quantitative outcomes and concisely communicate the results in written laboratory reports.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination |
In-Semester Exam
|
20% |
23/09/2025 9:00 am
The exam will be completed during the timetabled session 9:00am - 11:00am. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Participation/ Student contribution, Practical/ Demonstration |
Practical assessments
|
35% 7 Practical worksheets x 5% each |
Prac assmt 1) 12/08/2025 - 13/08/2025 Prac assmt 2) 19/08/2025 - 20/08/2025 Prac assmt 3) 26/08/2025 - 3/09/2025 Prac assmt 4) 9/09/2025 - 24/09/2025 Prac assmt 5) 7/10/2025 - 8/10/2025 Prac assmt 6) 14/10/2025 - 15/10/2025 Prac assmt 7) 21/10/2025 - 22/10/2025
Each assessment is submitted in class during your timetabled practical session. |
| Examination |
Final Examination
|
45% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
In-Semester Exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
23/09/2025 9:00 am
The exam will be completed during the timetabled session 9:00am - 11:00am.
- Other conditions
- Secure.
Task description
In- Semester Exam will include multiple choice questions and short answer. Exam includes contents of week 1 to end of week 8.
Paper-based exam – this exam will be invigilated on-campus and conducted as per your student timetable.
Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams. Students enrolled in In Person delivery must attend the exam in-person.
If policies are changed that relate to on-campus study, then an online Blackboard exam may need to be used which would be invigilated through Zoom.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - specified written materials permitted |
| Materials | Bilingual unmarked dictionary |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Practical assessments
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Participation/ Student contribution, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 35% 7 Practical worksheets x 5% each
- Due date
Prac assmt 1) 12/08/2025 - 13/08/2025
Prac assmt 2) 19/08/2025 - 20/08/2025
Prac assmt 3) 26/08/2025 - 3/09/2025
Prac assmt 4) 9/09/2025 - 24/09/2025
Prac assmt 5) 7/10/2025 - 8/10/2025
Prac assmt 6) 14/10/2025 - 15/10/2025
Prac assmt 7) 21/10/2025 - 22/10/2025
Each assessment is submitted in class during your timetabled practical session.
Task description
Practical assessments include a series of practical worksheets and reports completed during the semester. The Practical assessments are worksheets and calculations done at the end of each practical class on a weekly basis (starting from week 3 - ending on week 12; for more details see Learning activities) including:
Prac assmt 1) - Feed composition, sampling and analysis, weight 5% - assesses learning outcome 1 & 5.
Prac assmt 2) - Feed intake, sampling and dry matter, weight 5% - assesses learning outcome 6 & 7.
Prac assmt 3) - Digestibility of feeds, weight 5% - assesses learning outcome 2, 3 & 6.
Prac assmt 4) - Chicken growth bioassay, weight 5% - assesses learning outcome 2, 3, 5, & 7.
Prac assmt 5) - Feed optimization, weight 5% - assesses learning outcome 1, 3, & 5.
Prac assmt 6) - Energy calculations, weight 5% - assesses learning outcome 2, 3, & 5.
Prac assmt 7) - Formulating horse diet, weight 5% - assesses learning outcome 1, 2, 5 & 7.
These assessment tasks are to be completed in-person. Some pracs may take more than a week, hence 7 submissions in total. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Absence from a Practical Session
If you do not complete the practical session, your work will not be marked for that session - this course is unable to provide an alternative practical session to attend.
If you are unable to complete your timetabled practical session because of circumstances beyond your control (e.g., illness) you must submit a practical absence request immediately accompanied by acceptable supporting documentation.
A list of acceptable reasons and required supporting documentation is found at https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension?p=1#1
Your request must be submitted prior to or on the day of the missed practical. The submission link can be found in the Learning Resources (Blackboard Original) or Course Resources (Blackboard Ultra) folder in your course Blackboard site.
Requests without the correct supporting documentation may not be approved. If the reason for your absence is not approved, you will be considered as absent from that practical session.
It is your responsibility to submit an application and provide correct documentation. If approved, alternative assessment will be organised with the individual student.
If you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the School - agriculture@enquire.uq.edu.au.
Submission guidelines
The calculations and answers to the questions will be checked by tutors in the practical class.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Due to the format of the assessment being completed during the practical session where these activities are unable to be re-produced, extensions cannot be granted for this assessment item. Students who are unable to attend the practical for reasons beyond their control will need to complete the ‘Absence from Practical’ form. If approved, access to alternative assessment will be organised with these individual students.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL).
Final Examination
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 45%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Other conditions
- Secure.
Task description
Final Theory Exam during exam period. It will include all content including lectures and practical sessions covered in 13 weeks.
The exam will be an on-campus exam. Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams. Students enrolled in In Person delivery must attend the exam in person.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Refer to Additional course grading information – ‘Course Grading Rules and Assessment Hurdles’.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - specified written materials permitted |
| Materials | Bilingual unmarked dictionary |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 0% - 34% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 35% - 46% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: 47% - 49% OR failure to meet the identified assessment hurdle below. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 50% - 64% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 65% - 74% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 75% - 84% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 85% - 100% |
Additional course grading information
Course Grading Rules and Assessment Hurdles
- Students must pass the end of semester exam in order to pass the course.
If a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or higher for the course based on marks from a combination of progressive assessment and the final exam and the student does NOT score a passing grade in the final exam, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for the course.
- You must address any additional assessment requirements identified in this course profile.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Please note the following when writing assignments
You must not re-use past work from previous assessments in your assignments.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
All reported work must be done by the individual student. Assignments that look and sound alike will be reported as plagiarism – a serious offence at UQ. Please note the university’s policy on academic integrity and plagiarism which can be accessed at Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy
TurnItInﾠ
Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, must only be uploaded to the assessment specific Turnitin link on the relevant course Blackboard site.ﾠ If you submit any version of your assessment item to any alternative Turnitin link, this is considered cheating and you will be held liable for this action.ﾠﾠ
Release of marks
Unless specifically indicated by the lecturer involved,ﾠevery attempt will be made to haveﾠthe results for progressive assessment tasks available within 3 weeks of submission. For items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will be available before the day of your end of semester examination in the course, unless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. Results and feedback availability will be advised to you by email or announced via the course Blackboard site.ﾠ
Re-mark Applications – refer to the University's Re-mark Policy to check your eligibility
Before applying for a remark, students should consider the following:
- You have consulted the course coordinator for feedback
- Your academic grounds for remark have been discussed and are valid
- Wanting a higher grade is not grounds for a remark. A remark can decrease your grade.
Remark applications will not be considered without first having contacted your course Co-ordinator.ﾠ
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| ANIM2053 Course Blackboard Site | Blackboard is the main method of communication for this course. | |
| ANIM2053 Course Profile | Provides details of specifications, rationale, aims and structure of the course. It also informs you of the assessment for this course, including weighting and due dates. | |
| PPE | Lab coats and appropriate footwear are compulsory for all practical classes | own item needed |
Additional learning resources information
You must complete the fieldwork safety training' online induction course prior to the first practical class (week 2). It is available on your blackboard site.
- Dairy Unit inductions
- QASP inductions
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 1
|
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 2
|
Multiple weeks From Week 3 To Week 12 |
Practical |
Practical Content A series of practical components will be delivered throughout the semester. Sub-activity: Practical 1: - Introduction to feeds and supplements - Common feed ingredients and their major nutrient content - Supplement familiarisation (energy, proteins and minerals) Practical 2: - Estimate weight of steer - Estimate amount of feed (pasture, silage, concentrate, hay) a steer will eat - Sampling and measurements (weights vs density) - Calculating DM of feeds above Practical 3 (Part1) : Digestibility - In vitro and in sacco digestibility experiments on pasture, silage and hay, use Daisy in vitro and rumen digestive tracks. Practical 3 (Part2): - Digestibility: Measurement and calculations (class results) excel exercise. Practical 4: - 3 week study of nutrients on growth performance of broiler chicken/ weekly body weight and feed weighing Practical 5: - Feed / Diet formulation - NASEM Cow feed formulation Practical 6: - Manual energy calculations. Various exercises around energy requirements and supply Practical 7: - Cat and dog nutrient requirements and home made diets Practical 8: Formulating horse diet |
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 3
|
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 4
|
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 5
|
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 6
|
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 7
|
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 8
|
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 9
|
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 10 Applied dairy nutrition - Dr Dannylo Sousa |
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 11 Principles of aqua nutrition- Dr Ha Troung CSIRO |
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 12 Principles of equine nutrition - Dr Danielle Fitzgerald Sustainable animal nutrition - Dr Ellie Assadi Soumeh |
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Lecture |
Weekly lecture series - Week 13 Principles of companion animal nutrition - Dr Ellie Assadi Soumeh |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
Course guidelines
Student immunisation requirements
The University policy Vaccination and Immunisation (Vaccinations and Immunisation Guideline / Document / Policy and Procedure Library) provides information about immunisation and screening requirements related to programs and courses. Failure to comply with student immunisation requirements can lead to an increased risk of serious illness occurring. Therefore, non-compliance will result in the relevant course/s being dropped from your enrolment under Section 3 of the Enrolment policy (Enrolment Procedure / Document / Policy and Procedure Library).