Course Synopses

AGR 122-3 Microbiology Pathology and Parasitology

Microbiology:

Classification and identification of pathogenic and other Microbiological important in animal diseases, food manufacture and safety. Microbiological techniques/methods; sterilization and disinfections.

Parasitology:

The biology and morphology of helminths, arthropods and protozoa in relation to livestock and poultry diseases. Life cycles of protozoa that causes disease and important vectors such as ticks, etc.

ANS 212-3 Principles of Animal Nutrition

Nutrients in feed; digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients in livestock: impact of digestive metabolic disorders on productivity of livestock. Evaluation of nutritive value of feeds-with particular emphasis on systems of expressing nutrient composition of feeds, intake digestibility partitioning of energy and protein and metabolic efficiency. Nutrient characteristics of common feedstuffs in Lesotho; processing of feeds; nutrient requirements for maintenance, production, and reproduction. Principles and practices of ration formation.

ANS 221-3 Agricultural Biochemistry

Biochemistry of food, nutrients and functions. Intake, digestion and absorption: Comparative anatomy and nutritional Strategy, Fermentative and Non-fermentative digestion. Metabolism: Liver and peripheral tissue nutrient metabolism, Energy metabolism, Nitrogen metabolism. The plasma membrane and other cell organelles. Bioenergetics. Nature, action of Enzymes and inhibition. Photosynthesis: light reaction, the Calvin cycle, comparison of C3, C4, CAM and Photorespiration. Application of Biochemistry in Agriculture-feed evaluation, etc.

ANS 222-3 Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals

Parts of beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goat, pig, rabbit and poultry. Fundamentals of cell biology: The animal cell its structure and physiology. Anatomy and physiology of animal tissues, and nervous system skeletal systems, muscles, bone, circulatory system, reproductive, digestive, special senses and other systems of farm animals. Physiological functions of animals, homestasis. Body temperature regulation; excretion and reproduction Endocrinology. The blood and circulation-Lactations, milk let-down and egg production.

ANS 223-3 Principles of Animal Production

Importance of Non-Ruminants in agriculture.

Pig: Breeds and characteristics, systems of management. Selection, breeding, feeding and housing.

Poultry Production: 13i-ceds and characteristics. Management systems. Application of the principles of feeding and management to efficient egg and broiler production. Physiology of egg and Egg grading and handling.

Rabbit Production: Breeds characteristics. Systems of management.

Ruminant Production: Characteristics of different classes and breeds of ruminants. Management, breeding, nutrition, and health of ruminants. Establishing and operation of a dairy farm and a beef/sheep ranch. Management, handling, processing and marketing of ruminant products-

ANS 312-4 Principles of Animal Husbandry and Health

Principles of health and diseases. Casual factors of diseases. Diagnostic techniques-Disease prevention and control and management. Animal handling; casting, castration, dehorning etc. Drug administration Zoonotic and metabolic diseases. Internal and external parasites of livestock.

AGR 312-3 Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture

Food security and food insecurity concepts and dimensions: Natural Resource Management (NRM) concepts and practice; importance NRM; multi-sectoral character of NMR; the importance of integrating NMR into development. Linkages between management of natural resources and food production; policies for natural resources management and food security, programme and projects for natural resource management and food security. Need to share national experiences in NMR-strategies and techniques for NMR training. Importance of various farming systems in food security and sustainable agriculture. Definitions; Determinants of food security; Household food security; Disasters and food security; Gender and food security-HIV/AIDS and food security, rural livelihood and rural development.

ANS 313-3 Introduction to Animal Genetics and Breeding Methods

Basic biology of the cells, chromosomes and gametes; cell division, functions and role of genes. Mendalian Genetics. Sex determination and sex linkage. Cytoplasm inheritance.

ANS 314-3 Animal Ethology and Ecology

Environmental physiology of domestic animals. Normal and abnormal behaviour pattern of domestic animals to their environment.

ANS 315-3 Animal Experimentation and Research Techniques

Techniques and procedure in animal experimentation. Principles of statistics. Basic statistical designs in Animal Science. Research problems; data collection; analysis and interpretation.

ANS 316-4 Equine and Rabbit Production

Equine: Origin and historical background. Potential role in the country's economy. Classes and breeds. Breeding nutrition and health management. Handling and rearing.

Rabbitry: Breeds and characteristics, potential economic benefits of rabbits in Lesotho. Management systems.

ANS 321-3 Principles of Pasture and Fodder Production

Establishment, management, conservation and utilization of pasture. Pasture and fodder crop improvement and preservation.

ANS 323-3 Poultry Production

The role of poultry in agriculture. Breeds and characteristics; anatomical characteristics of poultry, Poultry incubation; Brooding and rearing; systems of management, poultry housing and equipment. Application of principles of feeding and management to efficient egg and broiler production. Philosophy of egg production; egg handling. Specialized poultry businesses.

ANS 324-3 Range Management I

Principles of range management; Range improvement. Rangeland productivity in Africa. Ecology, improvement, management and utilization.

ANS 325-3 Reproductive Physiology

Reproductive systems and endocrinology of farm animals. Physiology of sperm and ovum; oestrus cycle and its control. Mating behaviour. Pregnancy and its diagnosis; parturition and care of newborn and the parturient animals. Artificial insemination (Al) and oestrus synchronization. Al techniques.

ANS 326-3 Beef Production

Beef industry and systems of production with emphasis on Southern Africa and Lesotho conditions. Breeding, nutrition, health and management. Growth and development of beef animals. Slaughter procedure, carcass grading meat processing, inspection and preservation. Facilities and handling processing and preservation of hides.

AGR 400-4AB Agriculture in Practice

Field practical training: involves routine farm livestock practical/duties; handling farm management practices including hygiene for ruminants and non-ruminants.

AGR 411-3 Farming Systems

Concepts and definitions. Need for fanning systems perspective. Need for efficient on farm research methods procedures for development of technologies for farmers. On farm research farmer's circumstances as a basis for planning research. Identifying farmer's problems and screening of technological components. The concepts of inter disciplinary team of fanning systems; farming systems research and extension.

ANS 412-3 Small Ruminant Production

Importance of small ruminants in agriculture. The biology. Characteristics of different classes and breeds of sheep and goals. Management principles and practices. General application of the principles of, breeding, nutrition/feeding and management for efficient wool production.

ANS 413-3 Applied Animal Breeding

Genetic constitution of a population-Principles of quantitative genetics. Traits; selection and breeding methods. Breeding plans; Recording-Evaluation of breeding programmes.

ANS 414-3 Applied Animal Nutrition

Digestive and metabolic processes of animals. The effect of different nutrients on growth and productivity of farm animals. Manipulation of rumen environment digestion absorption and utilization of nutrients by ruminants. The impact of digestive and metabolic disorders on productivity of farm animals-Ration formulation and feeding techniques. Factors influencing voluntary intake. Digestibility and feeding trials. Economics of feeding. Practicals: laboratory analyses; feeding trials.

ANS 415-3 Pig Production

The place of pig in Agriculture. Breeds and characteristics, Selection, breeding and housing. Systems of management. Management of piglets to weaning. Management of fatteners, pork and bacon. Meat quality and cuts.

ANS 444-6 Animal Science Project/Students Seminar

Each student will be expected to conduct a research project on an area of Animal Sciences and write it up in the form of a Dissertation. The student shall present a seminar based on his/her project, and later defend the dissertation before an External Examiner.

ANS 421-4 Range Management II

Principles of watershed management. Principles of range planning. National range management policies. Methods applicable to research in range management

ANS 423-4 Dairy Production Systems and Technology

Problems and practices of efficient milk production. Successful operation of small and large herds. Milk synthesis; recording, preservation and fermented and other dairy products. Dairy microbiology. Care and maintenance of dairy equipment. Quality control and legislation.

ANS 424-4 Livestock Diseases

Epidemiology and diagnostic technique(s) of diseases. Specific tropical and subtropical diseases of livestock; nutrition disorders and deficiencies. Reproductive disorders; infertility in farm animals and their economic importance.

ANS 425-4 Apiculture and Aquaculture

Beekeeping: The honey and wax industry. Role of bees in agriculture. Biology of the honey bee. Types of hives. Management of a bee colony. Techniques and facilities in harvesting, processing, grading and marketing of honey and wax.

Aquaculture: The fish industry. Fresh water and sea water fish with emphasis on selected fresh water species in Southern Africa and Lesotho; their environment; feeding, reproduction and techniques for harvesting and handling. Role and potential of fish farming in Lesotho. Techniques for culturing and breeding and management. Fish diseases, parasites and their control.

M.Sc. COURSE SYNOPSIS:

ANS 601-4 Biochemistry:

An in depth consideration of cellular metabolism. Biochemical energetics and the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Nitrogen metabolism. Enzymes and metabolic pathways regulation. Activity of fat and water soluble vitamins. Hormones and their activities on body metabolites. Metabolic disorders. Fibre fermentation. Recent advances in biochemistry in the field of animal science.

ANS 602-4 Biometrics and Research Techniques

Data collection for surveys and designed experiments. Experimental designs frequently used in animal science research. Analysis of variance, Regression and covariance. Use of statistical packages. Research planning. Project design. Preparation of a research proposal. Scientific writing. Seminar presentations of student projects and current research in the area of animal science.

ANS 603-3 Animal Breeding and Genetics

Methods and procedures in quantitative animal breeding. Estimation of genetics parameters. Correlated traits; phenotypic, environmental and genetic correlations. Inbreeding estimation and crossbreeding applications. Recent advances in applied animal breeding.

ANS 604-3 Animal Nutrition

Classes of feeds and their characteristics. Nutrient metabolism in livestock. Nutritional disorders in livestock. Energy and protein utilization in livestock. Mineral and vitamin nutrition in livestock. Principles of ration formulation. Recent advances in principles of animal nutrition.

ANS 605-3 Animal Physiology

Physiology of farm animals with emphasis on lactation; other body systems and their inter-relationship. Environmental physiology and adaptation. Recent advances in animal physiology.

ANS 606-3 Range and Pasture Management

Range and environmental protection. Application of the principles of range management. Grazing systems; design and application. Range inventory. Plant genetic resources for range improvement and conversation. Role of cultivated pastures in livestock production systems. Production, management and utilization of cultivated pastures. Grazing management of planted pastures and the utilization of multipurpose trees. Pasture and fodder conservation and utilization by livestock. Utilization of crop residues and by-products by ruminants. Recent advances in range management, pasture production and management.

ANS 607-3 Ruminant nutrition

Voluntary intake and digestibility in ruminant animals. Rumen ecology and forage utilization. Effect of different nutrients on growth and productivity of ruminant animals. Ration formulation of different classes of ruminant animals. The economics of livestock feeding. Recent advances in ruminant nutrition.

ANS 608-3 Monogastric Nutrition

Voluntary intake and digestibility in monogastic animals. Effect of different nutrients on growth and productivity of monogastic animals. The economics of livestock feeding. Recent advances in monogastic nutrition.

ANS 609-3 Fish and Wildlife Nutrition

Food sources and utilization by fish. Voluntary intake and digestibility in fish. Nutrient requirements for maintenance, growth and production in various fish species. Ration formulation for fish.

Nutrient values of common feeds for game animals. Measurements of voluntary intake and digestibility in game animals. Nutrient requirements and ration formulation for game animals. Economics of fish and wildlife feeding. Recent advances in fish and wildlife nutrition.

ANS 610-3 Estimating Livestock Parameters

Techniques and practices involved in the measurement of empirical data and demographic parameters in livestock-number of animals (total count, sample count, average numbers, growth rates, etc.); weight and biomass (individual growth and rate of weight gain, average daily weight gain, birth weight, biomass, etc) and measurement of production (calving percentage, milk production, laying percentage, etc.). Recent advances in the estimation of livestock parameters.

ANS 611-3 Draught Animal Nutrition

Energy partitioning and measurements of energy expenditure in livestock. The chemistry of muscle action. Nutrient requirement of different species of draught animals. Voluntary intake and digestibility species and sexes of draught animals. Ration formulation for draught animals-feeding of different species and sexes of draught animals. Economics of draught animal feeding. Recent advances in draught animal nutrition.

ANS 612-3 Livestock Policy and Production Systems

Agricultural and livestock policies in the region and other selected countries. Principles of policy analysis. Production systems planning and analysis: Factors in planning and analysis; livestock enterprise combination. Livestock products processing and marketing: dairy, meat, fibre and secondary products. Discussion and presentation of case studies. Recent advances in livestock policy and production systems.

ANS 613-3 Biotechnology

Introduction to concepts used in molecular biology/molecular genetics; the role of these technologies in animal production researches (especially animal breeding). DNA structure and function. Regulation of gene expression. Manipulation of genetic systems. Student-led discussions of recent papers in the field and possible future applications of genetically modified organisms in animals.

ANS 614-3 Characterization and Conservation of Animals

Concepts of biodiversity and animal genetic resources. Breed characterization methodologies including: estimation of genetic parameters, between breed and within breed differences, estimation of genetics and phenotypic diversity, genotype-environment interactions, methods of conservation of animal genetic resources. Recent advances in the field of characterization and conservation of animals.

ANS 615-3 Linear Models in Animal Breeding

Selection index. Linear unbiased estimation. Best linear unbiased prediction. Use of sire and animal models. Recent advances in linear models as applied to animal breeding.

ANS 616-3 Livestock Economics

Characteristics of livestock production systems. Production parameters used for monitoring health, production and economics of Livestock systems. Budgeting techniques. Analysis of economic viability of livestock activities and enterprises. Procedures in designing economically viable livestock projects. Case studies and farm visits to be used in the course.

ANS 617-3 Animal Health

Important and common infectious diseases of livestock. Emphasis on aetiology; species affected, transmission; clinical signs/diagnosis; control and importance (economic and zoonosis). Recent advances in animal health issues.

ANS 618-3 Reproductive Physiology

Endocrinology and reproductive physiology of male and female livestock. Andrology and oestous synchronization; artificial insemination and embryo transplant. Infertility and other reproductive disorders; their management and control. Recent advances in reproductive physiology of animals.

ANS 619-3 Dairy Production

Dairy production systems with emphasis on the smallholder dairy ranching. Factors influencing milk yield and quality. Management of fertility, health and nutrition in dairy systems. Dairy recording and monitoring. Designing recording systems. Recent advances in dairy production.

ANS 620-3 Poultry Production

Poultry production systems. Poultry environment, housing and hygiene. Development of commercial poultry production. The hatchery management. Records. Production technology and risk analysis. Consideration of the production of ducks, turkeys, ostriches, etc. Recent advances in poultry production.

ANS 621-3 Pig Production

Breeding, health, feeding, housing and management practices in pig production. Slaughtering, meat processing and marketing of pigs and their by-products. Economics of pig production. Recent advances in pig production.

ANS 622-3 Small Ruminant Production

Breeding, health, feeding, housing and management practices in sheep and goat production. Factors influencing the quality and quantity of goat and sheep products. Shearing, grading, processing and marketing of wool and mohair. Economics of wool and mohair production. Recent advances in small ruminant production.

ANS 623-3 Wool and Mohair Production

Sheep and goat biology. Genetic and environmental factors affecting fleece variation. Fleece characteristics and their measurements. Inherited and acquired faults. Recent advances in wool and mohair production.

ANS 624 CF-3 Meat Science/Technology

Definition. The meat industry. Structure and composition of muscle and associated tissues. Properties of meat. Principles of meat processing. Microbiology, deterioration and contamination. Meat preservation, inspection, grading and standardization. By-products of the meat industry. Recent advances in meat and technology.

ANS 625-3 Dairy Technology

In depth consideration of dairy processing techniques for fluid milk, fermented and other dairy products. Rural dairy technology. Quality control of raw milk and processed dairy products. Packaging materials for different products, and the by-products of diary processing. Recent advances in dairy technology.

ANS 626-3 Dairy Chemistry

Composition, structure and properties of milk and the chemistry of changes occurring in the commercial processing of milk for utilization as food. Detailed coverage of the chemistry of milk lipids, lactose, proteins, minerals and milk enzymes. Flavours and off flavours of milk and its products. Recent advances in dairy chemistry.

ANS 627-3 Applied Food Microbiology and Fermentation

Application of microbiology to food processing with emphasis to dairy products. Consideration of micro-organisms used in the preservation and processing of food. Role of enzymes in food manufacture. Microbial spoilage of food. Food poisoning. Principles of fermentation. Microbial fermentation techniques. Discussing of selected fermented food product processes/pathways. Recent advances in applied food microbiology and fermentation.

ANS 628-3 Wool and Mohair Biology

In depth studies of wool and mohair biosynthesis. Fleece development and maturation. Factors affecting fleece composition and structure. Recent advances in wool and mohair biology.

ANS 629-3 Wool and Mohair Metrology

In depth studies in measurement of wool and mohair characteristics, with particular reference to the scientific development and introduction of new commercial measurement techniques. Recent advances in wool and mohair metrology.

ANS 630-3 Wool and Mohair Processing and Marketing

Relationship between individual wool and mohair characteristics and their importance in the manufacturing industry. in depth study of wool and mohair processing including yarn and carpet manufacture. The role of objective and subjective descriptions in wool and mohair marketing. Trading characteristics. Recent advances in wool and mohair processing and marketing.

ANS 631-18 Master of Science Thesis

Each student enrolled for the Master of Science degree in Animal Science programme will be required to conduct an independent line of research on an approved animal science topic, leading to writing of a thesis. The thesis will form partial fulfilment for the Master of Science degree in Animal Science.

Career Opportunities

The career opportunities available on successful completion of the M.Sc. programme in Animal Science include, among others: Teaching/Lectureship position at University level/Technikon/Agricultural College; Researcher in area of specialisation in Agricultural/Animal Research Institutes; Extension agents with the Ministry of Agriculture, Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs); working with Agro-based industries such as Animal Feed Manufacturers, dairy and meat industries; Consultancy on livestock production; and self-employment as a livestock farmer-producer.