Since 2022, I’ve been pursuing a Grasp of Science in Animal Diet at Glasgow College to proceed studying extra about animal diet with a rigorous scientific training. Last year, I reviewed my expertise in the first year of the master’s in an article. I’ve now efficiently accomplished my second yr on this program and earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Animal Diet. It’s time for one more article to share my expertise this yr.
Read about my first year in the master’s program
A fast reminder about this program
This grasp’s diploma is a 3-year program, on the conclusion of which you’ll acquire a grasp’s diploma in Animal Diet. This system is obtainable by Glasgow College and Scotland’s Rural Faculty (SRUC) and is totally on-line and part-time.
In the first year, I took three programs of 20 credit every, which I described within the earlier article: Digestive Anatomy and Physiology, Diet Biochemistry and Metabolism, and Feed Composition and Analysis.
The second yr consists of two necessary 10-credit programs in Summer time: Present Matters in Animal Diet, and Analysis Strategies for Animal Science.
As well as, you want to choose two 10-credit programs for Semester 1 and Semester 2.
The choices for Semester 1 are Feed Processing, both for Monogastrics or for Ruminants, and Utilized Diet and Rationing once more for both Monogastrics or Ruminants.
The choices for Semester 2 are Equine Diet or Small Animals & Exotics Diet, and both Diet & Well being or Feed Business.
The ultimate yr is devoted to a 60-credit venture course titled Dissertation in Animal Diet.
The value of this system elevated in comparison with final yr, the schooling charge for the yr 2024/2025 is now £4,749, and for the entire grasp the pricing is £14,300.
The second yr
I selected the next courses for my second yr: Utilized Diet and Rationing (Monogastrics), Feed Processing (Monogastrics), Small Animals & Exotics Diet, and Diet & Well being.
The programs this yr had been all 5 weeks lengthy. The construction of the programs was just like final yr: a brand new lesson was accessible every week, usually consisting of interactive slides with audio from the professors (every audio content material comes with a transcription for accessibility and to assist non-native audio system perceive). All the teachings are pre-recorded, so you possibly can research by yourself time.
Like last year every lesson comes with further studying (necessary and optionally available) in case you need to discover a subject additional.
There have been common dwell classes with the trainer to ask questions on the teachings or assignments. The recordings of the dwell classes are at all times accessible afterwards for individuals who can’t attend them.
A Moodle discussion board can be accessible to ask inquiries to the professors or alternate with different college students.
Within the following paragraphs I will provide you with a fast description of every of the courses I took this yr.
Feed Processing (Monogastrics)
This class is all about feed processing, beginning with the explanations for utilizing processing and the professionals and cons of various kinds of processing. The category lined scorching processing (growth and extrusion) and chilly processing (grinding and pelleting), in addition to enzyme therapies and fermentation.
The main focus was primarily on feeds for pigs and poultry, nevertheless the half on extrusion can be related for kibbles in pet meals.
The project consisted of a 1500-word essential evaluate of a scientific paper on feed processing.
Utilized Diet and Rationing (Monogastrics)
This class is centered on weight-reduction plan formulations, together with hands-on workout routines. It included concerns within the alternative of substances and nutrient necessities of animals in addition to constraints round these.
The rationing of varied animals was lined, notably pigs, poultry, canines, cats, and horses.
The evaluation was a weight-reduction plan evaluation and formulation for chicks in a 1500-word essay.
Small Animals & Exotics Diet
This course had a big half on the distinctive dietary facets of canines and cats, in addition to conventional pet meals. Scientific diet was additionally lined, with an emphasis on diets for particular dietary functions and weight problems administration.
Different sorts of diets for canines and cats had been explored in a devoted lesson, together with uncooked meat-based diets, vegetarian and vegan diets and insect-based diets.
Lastly, exotics animals had been lined in two classes, one on mammals corresponding to rabbit, guinea pigs, mice, hamsters, rats, hedgehogs and ferrets, and one on birds and reptiles. The specificities and dietary illness of those animals had been mentioned.
The evaluation consisted of a 12-minute video recording with a presentation, together with peer-reviewed scientific papers, on a present controversy or problem in small animal or unique diet.
Diet & Well being
On this course we regarded additional into some illnesses or medical diet subjects corresponding to sub-acute rumen acidosis in cattle, dietary illnesses in exotics pets, protein diet and intestine well being in weaner pigs, the weight-reduction plan of hospitalized cats and canines together with enteral and parenteral diet, and at last, medical diet in foals.
The project required creating an A4 booklet on a dietary illness or a situation the place weight-reduction plan performs an essential position in its administration.
Present Matters in Animal Diet
This course was all about present and new analysis areas. The primary lesson centered on the gut-brain axis and, particularly, how weight-reduction plan might have an effect on conduct. The second lesson lined new sensor applied sciences utilized in farm animal diet. The third lesson delved into intestinal microbiota and the related applied sciences. Within the fourth lesson, options to soya with a view to scale back the environmental footprint within the feed business had been explored. Lastly, within the final lesson we explored present traits in feeding small omnivorous pet rodents.
The evaluation consisted of creating a scientific convention poster to current a analysis article, in addition to a 5-minute pre-recorded oral presentation of the poster, and at last a brief moral evaluate on the analysis article.
Analysis Strategies for Animal Science
This course was totally centered on the scientific technique and analysis course of utilized to animal diet. One lesson was devoted to analysis ethics. Two classes had been devoted to quantitative analysis together with research design and statistical approaches, and the final lesson was on qualitative analysis.
The project consisted of growing an hypothetical 1500-word analysis proposal for an animal diet matter of our alternative.
My impressions
Regardless of being shorter and price half the credit of the programs in the first year, most assignments within the second yr required as a lot work as those of the primary yr. Due to that, I felt a bit like I spent the entire yr consistently engaged on an project, and total, I devoted far more time to the project in comparison with final yr. It was positively a heavy workload.
This yr was far more balanced relating to the animals lined within the programs, notably, there was a lot much less ruminant content material.
Some courses had been a bit disappointing. For instance, as an alternative of doing a deep dive on a couple of dietary points within the Diet & Well being course, I might have most well-liked a broader overview of extra illnesses.
I might have favored the Feed Processing course to have centered extra on processing for pet meals, corresponding to canned meals.
As in the first year, I’ve discovered loads this yr. Particularly, I now have a greater understanding of the scientific technique, and medical diet. I particularly favored all the teachings relating to ethics, it’s good to see that moral and environmental issues are considered.
Lastly, whereas the course on weight-reduction plan formulation didn’t introduce new ideas to me, it was reassuring, because it confirmed that I really have the experience wanted as a feline nutritionist.
The ultimate yr
I’m excited in regards to the dissertation for the ultimate yr. As with the earlier two years, I’ll attempt my greatest to maintain you up to date on Instagram, and naturally, I’ll write a evaluate after I lastly graduate with a Grasp of Science in Animal Diet. I hope you discovered this text attention-grabbing, whether or not you might be considering this program or are interested in my credentials.
