Current topics in the feeding and nutrition of agricultural, companion and captive animal species. Emphasis is placed on the influence of nutrients on metabolic integration at tissue, organ and whole-animal levels. A nutritional case study will be conducted to allow students to solve practical feeding problems by applying basic nutritional principles.

Building and testing of mathematical models of metabolic processes using continuous simulation software to assist in weekly assignments. Choice of model based on students' research interests (e.g. protein synthesis, nutrient uptake, rumen fermentation). Term project to reproduce model from scientific knowledge.

Reproductive function in mammals demands substantial amounts and adequate balance of nutrients and energy. Consequently, reproductive physiology is tightly regulated by systemic and tissue-specific metabolism. This course uses a multidisciplinary approach to explore the metabolic regulation of reproduction and its implications to reproductive health, fertility, and developmental biology. Students should have a strong background in reproductive physiology and a good understanding of molecular and cellular biology and scientific methods prior to enrolling.

Supervised program of study in some aspect of animal and poultry science that can involve an experimental project and/or detailed analysis of the literature.

Definition of selection goals, prediction of genetic progress and breeding values, and the comparison of selection programs.

Current literature and classical papers pertaining to quantitative genetics, animal breeding and animal genomics are reviewed in detail through presentation, discussion and critical analysis.

Animal growth and metabolism are considered at the cellular level in a manner that extends beyond the basic disciplines of biometrics and biochemistry with attention focused on the main carcass components - muscle, fat and bone.

Major topics and methods in bioinformatics and computational biology for animal sciences will be covered. Topics include alignments, phylogenetics, genomics, data mining, databases, DNA, RNA and protein structures, DNA sequence analysis, data curation, pipeline construction and data visualization.

The course covers major topics in machine learning with applications to animal biosciences and related areas. Topics include: data types, problem types (classification, regression, clustering, dimensionality reduction), models (decision trees, artificial neural networks, k-nearest neighbour, k-means), quality measures (accuracy, precision, recall, errors, correlations), data (re)sampling procedures (k-fold cross validation, fixed percentage splits), and Python implementations using various libraries (pandas, scipy, numpy, scikit-learn). This is a project-based course and it will have a computational component and a lab component focused on Python programming. [Restriction(s):Restricted to MSc and PhD Animal Biosciences students.]

Theory and/or practices of techniques to evaluate feedstuffs and determine nutrient utilization in poultry, swine and ruminants is covered through lectures, short laboratories and a major project.

The course covers quantitative genetics theory associated with animal models; linear models applied to genetic evaluation of animals; estimation of genetic parameters for animal models; and computing algorithms for large datasets.

Advanced training in QTL mapping and selection assisted by genetic markers.

Discussions and applications of methodology for collection and examination of gametes and embryos and for measurements of hormones in biological fluids.

Students explore the process of scientific inquiry and experimental design within the context of applied ethology research. Discussions include the peer review process, critical analyses and applications of methods for applied animal behaviour research.

The course will explore current methods and recent advances of biotechnology, innovation, and emerging translational products of significance to animal production and human health.

An in-depth systems analysis of lactation,comparing the cow, pig, rat, human and seal. Mammary development from conception through to lactogenesis, lactation and involution will be covered. Hypotheses of regulation of the biochemical pathways of milk synthesis will be tested in relation to experimental observations.

A systematic review of key aspects of energy, protein, amino acid and carbohydrate utilization and metabolism in farm animals.

A systematic review of key aspects of lipid, vitamin and mineral utilization and metabolism in farm animals.

A comprehensive systems science and integrative capstone course that encompasses the "closing of the loop" education of dairy production systems. Students will be exposed to real-time issues relating to dairy production from, environment, economics, nutrition, housing, health, welfare, society and agrology. This course will allow the student to practice their training from the courses they have been exposed to as undergraduates into many case study evaluations on farms provincially, nationally and internationally.

Major topics and methods in the systematic review of the scientific literature, meta-analysis, and empirical modeling for animal sciences will be covered. Students learn via hands-on 'doing' with reflection on their work via the execution of a meta-analysis in their topic area and preparation of a meta-analysis manuscript.

This course helps to foster graduate student career success in academia, government or industry by enhancing student skills in scientific communication and knowledge dissemination and by providing opportunities for personal growth in a chosen area of professional development.

A seminar course covering society's duties to animals. Students will learn about the major ethical theories that deal with society's duties towards animals, the main scientific approaches to animal welfare, and the relationship of science to ethics. A brief history of human-animal relationships will be covered and cultural differences described. Students will use this to analyze some current issues.

A lecture/seminar course covering the principles of applied animal welfare assessment. Students will learn what influences an animal welfare assessment and will understand the components necessary to create an effective and targeted animal welfare program for industry or regulatory application.

Graduate students will explore the biology and validity of behavioural and physiological techniques used in animal welfare assessment such as: sympathetic activation, HPA functioning, stereotypic behaviour and preference responses. A combination of lecture, instructor-led discussion and student-led discussion will explore these methods of animal welfare assessment.

A lecture/seminar course covering the principles of applied environmental physiology including temperature regulation, space requirements, animal responses to light and other aspects of the physical environment. Students pursue a topic in depth to develop or update recommended codes of practice and resource-based standards.

A lecture/seminar course covering in depth topics in applied animal welfare science. The course will review the scientific research into the welfare of a specific animal species or a specific animal welfare problem common across species, focusing on the main threats to welfare, relevant indicators of welfare, and possible solutions to improve welfare.

A detailed, critical review of an area of study related to the specialization of students in the MSc by course work and major paper option that includes analysis and interpretation of relevant data.