Online Zoo Nutrition Course

Online Zoo Nutrition Course

Colorado State University offers Online Zoo Nutrition Course

Registration open until Friday, January 17, 2014

Course date Jan 21- May 9, 2014

Instructors

Nancy Irlbeck

(970) 491-6274 | Nancy.Irlbeck@colostate.edu

Nancy Irlbeck, Ph.D., is the Associate Dean of Academic Programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University and serves as a nutrition consultant to the Denver Zoo.

Brett Kirch

(970) 491-6642 | brett.kirch@colostate.edu

Dr. Brett Kirch grew up on a small farm in the Nebraska Panhandle close to Lewellen, Nebraska. Brett received his B.S. in animal science from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and worked as an Extension aide in Garden County, Nebraska, during those years. He attended Kansas State University for an M.S. in ruminant nutrition where he was introduced to the forage-animal interface through his research project. Brett completed a Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in range and forage sciences working jointly between the agronomy and animal science departments in evaluating escape protein in grazed warm-season grasses. Following graduation, Brett took a position with Iowa State University as a regional extension beef specialist in west-central Iowa working in beef, sheep, and horse programming.

Brett’s career took a slight change in direction when he was accepted and graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, with clinical equine rotations at the University of California-Davis.

Brett’s return to research was as a result of a unique post-doctoral position with USDA-ARS Forage-Animal Production Research Unit on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. His work in Kentucky allowed the unique opportunity to marry his interests in veterinary medicine, forages, and nutrition.

In 2008, Brett became the head of the Youth Livestock Extension program and research at Colorado State University. His research programs continue to look at the health, production, and nutritional aspects of the forage-animal interface.

Course Description

Monkey biscuits, bones, crickets, reptile salad–these are just a few culinary examples of dietary components enjoyed by captive wild animals in our zoos. Proper nutrition for these animals is vital for their physical health and general well-being. This course provides students with an introduction to the amazing animal kingdom, and imparts an awareness of our world’s unique animal species and their nutritional needs.

Zoological institutions–zoos–provide the general public with glimpses of exotic animal species known only from books, stories and the Internet. The animal residents of zoos are in a sense a living museum, and it is our responsibility to provide for their basic needs to the best of our ability.

Students taking Zoo Nutrition learn to strategize on how to feed animals by learning animal dietary classifications and gastrointestinal morphology. Based on a few fundamental principles, students develop an awareness of HOW and HOW NOT to feed many new animal species seen in the companion animal trade. Application of these fundamentals saves animal lives and creates a better living environment.

The course is geared toward zoo professionals; employees of rescue, rehabilitation and animal shelter organizations; and undergraduate students majoring in animal sciences, natural resources, biology, zoology and similar fields. Or if you are someone who is just interested in the course topic (and who has met the necessary prerequisite), you are invited to enroll and enjoy the course.

This course has print-based exams that require a proctor. A Proctor Identification Form will be required. ProctorU is not available for this course.

Prerequisites:  There are courses listed as prerequisites, but the course is open for enrollment for anyone (including those who have NOT completed prerequisites) interested in the topic.

To register for this course, click here