Instructor:
Dr. Michelle Vieyra Office: SBDG 209
Meeting Place/ Time: SBDG 212: MW 1-2:15
Course Description and Objectives : This course was designed to satisfy the animal nutrition requirement for admission to many veterinary colleges and will focus on companion animal nutrition to include exotics but exclude large agricultural mammals.
Topics will include: 1) the primary macromolecules, vitamins and minerals required in an animal’s diet including how the body uses these molecules in biochemical pathways and specific conditions that arise if there are nutrient deficiencies, 2) the comparative anatomy and physiology of companion animal digestive, urinary and metabolic processes; i.e. how nutrients are obtained, digested, stored and used, 3) analysis and comparison of the commercially available feeds including source, additives, supplements, and labeling, 4) specific nutrient requirements for companion animals of different species and life stages.
Many of the topics covered can be applied to human nutrition and processed food formulation. I encourage those of you interested in human health to write about a human nutrition topic for your final paper.
Why is there no textbook ? In my humble opinion, there isn’t a decent undergraduate level textbook on animal nutrition. The information for this course was taken from several graduate level animal nutrition texts, comparative anatomy and physiology texts, human nutrition texts, journal articles and government documents. Use the PowerPoint slides provided on Blackboard as your reference materials.
Evaluation:
Exams : There will be four lecture exams throughout the semester as noted on the calendar. They will only cover the material given since the previous exam and be worth
100 points each. Expect a combination of multiple-choice, fill in the blank, short answer and essay questions on each exam.
Writing assignment : Your assignment will be to write a research paper on any topic in animal or human nutrition. You will be graded on three things 1) content, 2) use and proper citation of references and 3) how well you get the point across (does your paper make sense). More information on this assignment will be given soon. 50 points.
Presentation : You will give a very brief (5 minute) summary of your researched topic at the end of the term. This will allow you to share your area of expertise with the class.
Everyone must have a unique topic which must be cleared with me early in the semester.
25 points.

Label Analysis Project : This will serve as your final exam in the class. To demonstrate your understanding of the nutritional needs of animals and a competency in critically assessing the nutritional qualities of commercial pet foods you will be given several labels to compare. You will then write a “recommendation” of which food is best taking into consideration everything you have learned throughout the semester. 50 points.
Open Opportunities : There will be many opportunities throughout the semester to do short write-ups or give brief reports on nutritional topics. Point values for each opportunity will vary but you can earn up to 25 points total. If you read an approved book and write up a reflection paper you will receive the full 25 points. If you watch an approved movie and write a reflection paper you will receive 10 points. Possible book and movie titles are listed on Pg. 3 of the syllabus.
Grade Breakdown:
1-10
1-12
1-17
1-19
5-2 at 2PM
Introduction, life cycles
Carbohydrates & Fats I
NO CLASS – MLK DAY
Fats II & Proteins
1-24 Vitamins
1-26 Minerals
1-31 Phytochemicals
2-2
2-9
2-14
2-16
2-21
2-23
2-28
3-2
3-7
3-9
3-16
3-21
3-23
3-30
4-4
4-6
4-11
4-13
4-18
4-20
4-25
EXAM 1
Amino Acid and Nitrogen needs
Water & Kidney Physiology I
Kidney Physiology II
Digestive Anatomy and Physiology I
Digestive Anatomy and Physiology II
EXAM 2
Metabolism I - Paper topics due
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
Preparing food I
Preparing food II
Diet analysis I – Research Paper Due
Exam 3
Dog Nutrition – Labels distributed
Cat & Ferret Nutrition
Horse & Llama Nutrition
Rabbit, Rodent & Bird Nutrition
Reptile & Fish Nutrition
Exam 4
Short Presentations
Label Analysis Paper Due – Short
Presentations cont.
Exams: 100 pts each 400 pts
Paper: 50 pts
Short Presentation:
Label analysis project:
Open opportunities:
25 pts
50 pts
25 pts
Grading Scale:
Total: 550 pts
A 495-550
B+ 470-494
B 440-469
C+ 415-439
C 385-414
D+ 360-384
D 330-359

Additional Comments :
If you have questions or need help with anything in this course please email me and set up an appointment to meet with me. I will generally be available every Monday and Wednesday between 10-1 and 2-4 but I can not guarantee I will be in my office unless you set up an appointment.
You are expected to follow the honor pledge on every assignment:
“On my honor as a University of South Carolina at Aiken student, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on the assignment/examination. To the best of my knowledge, I am not in violation of academic dishonesty.” This includes plagiarism which will be covered in more detail when I assign papers. Violation of the honor code will result in a grade decrease and letter to the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.
If you have a physical, psychological and/or learning disability which might affect your performance in this course please contact the Office of Disability Services, 126A B&E, (803)641-
3609 as soon as possible.
From the USCA student handbook: “It is the instructor’s right to remove from the classroom any student who disrupts or disturbs the proceeding of the class. Disruption of the class includes but is not limited to the use of any portable electronic devices, including cell phones, MP3 players; iPods, etc. unless prior approval has been given to a student or unless required for the course. In extreme cases the faculty member can request assistance from University Police. If the student who has been ejected causes similar disturbances in subsequent meetings of the class, he/she may be denied admittance to the class for the remainder of the semester and assigned a grade of F.”
What this means for this class: Allowing yourself to be distracted by texting and facebook while in class is a poor decision. You might as well stay home where you can give your BFF your full attention. While I may not notice cell phone use while I am lecturing, IF I SEE A CELL
PHONE IN YOUR HAND DURING AN EXAM I WILL TAKE YOUR EXAM
AND GIVE YOU A ZERO – NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!!!
I encourage you to take notes on your laptops if you wish but please do not visit disruptive and distracting websites during class.
Possible books to read to earn 25 opportunity points:
In Defense of Food: Michael Pollan
Omnivore’s Dilemma: Michael Pollan
Fast Food Nation: Eric Schlosser
Good Calories, Bad Calories: Gary Taubes
Food Politics: Marion Nestle
Pet Food Politics: Marion Nestle
The Queen of Fats: Susan Allport
Rethinking Thin: Gina Kolata
Possible Movies to watch to receive 10 opportunity points (you may only receive credit for 1 movie):
Food Inc.
King Corn
Killer at Large
I may host Friday afternoon screenings of these movies if enough people are interested.