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Course programme, Regional MSc course (27 credits)
2003 - 2005

Course outlines Email addresses Mini-Projects (2003-05)  Research theses (2003-05)

The second MSc course began on 28 July 2003. There are some changes in the programme which are detailed below:

 

Week

Date

Course (credits)

Suggested course leader(s)

Location, Country

Travel

 Jul

27

Students to Vietnam, travel to An Giang

Dr Hieu, Mr Cong

An Giang, Vietnam

1

Jul 28 to Aug 3

Introduction to the course and computers etc

Reg Preston /Dr. LT Hieu

An Giang, Vietnam

2 – 6

Aug 4 to 6 Sept

Microcomputers; Mini-projects, experimental design, biometrics (4)

Reg Preston/ Xe Van Do

An Giang, Vietnam

7 – 8

Sept 8 – Sept 19

Participatory methodologies (PRA; Open Space) (3)

Britta Ogle / Brian Ogle/Reg  Preston/ Ngo Van Man

An Giang, Vietnam

9 - 10

Sep 22 – Oct 04

Biological basis of biomass production and utilisation by livestock; large ruminant nutrition(3)

Ron Leng / Reg Preston

An Giang, Vietnam

Travel

Oct 4-5

From An Giang to Khon Kaen

Mr Cong and 16 students

Thailand (Khon Kaen)

12– 13

Oct 6 – Oct 25

Ruminant nutrition and production (contd); analytical methods (2)

Metha Wanapat / Charan

Khon Kaen, Thailand

Travel

Oct 26

Depart from Khon Kaen to Chiang Mai

Mr. Cong and 16 students

Chiang Mai

14– 15

Oct 27 – Nov 8

Farming systems research methodology (2)

Anan / Pongchan

Chiang Mai

16

Nov 10 – Nov 15

Upland farming systems  (1)

Choke Mikled

Chiang Mai

17

Nov 17 – Nov 22

Range management (1)

Inger Ledin / Bounthong

Chiang Mai

Travel

Nov 23

Depart from Chiang Mai to Ha Noi (NIAH), Vietnam

Mr. Cong and 16 students

NIAH, Vietnam

(GRRC, Ba Vi)

18-19

Nov 24 – Dec 6

Small ruminant systems (2)

Inger Ledin / Nguyen Thi Mui/Surasak

GRRC, Ba Vi

 

20

Dec 8 – Dec 13

Agroforestry (1)

Nguyen Van So

GRRC, Ba Vi

21-22

Dec 15 – Dec 27

Animal Traction (2)

Nguyen Van Thu (Ann Pearson)

GRRC, Ba Vi

Travel

Dec 28

Depart from Ha Noi to HCMC

Mr. Cong and 16 students

UAF, Vietnam,

23

Dec 29 – Jan 3

Aquaculture (1)

Le Thanh Hung

UAF, Vietnam

24– 26

Jan 4 – Jan 24

Project Planing (TET)

Leave for home country

Return UAF, Vietnam 25/1

Home

27- 29

Jan 26 – Feb 14

Biological basis, monogastrics; Pig and poultry systems  (3)

Brian Ogle/Le Duc Ngoan /Bui Xuan Men

UAF, Vietnam

30

Feb 16 – Feb 21

Renewable energy (1)

Reg Preston / Bui Xuan An

UAF, Vietnam

Travel

Feb 22

Depart from HCMC to Can Tho

Mr. Cong and 16 students CTU, Vietnam

31

Feb 23 – Feb 28

Soil-plant-animal interactions (1)

Stig Ledin/Tran Kim Tinh

CTU, Vietnam

Travel

Feb 29

Depart from Can Tho to HCMC

Mr. Cong and 16 students UAF, Viet Nam

32

Mar 1 – Mar 6

Project presentations

Brian Ogle/Inger Ledin/ Reg Preston/ LT Hieu

UAF, Vietnam

Travel

Mar 7

Vietnam to home country

 

 

 

Course 1. Participatory rural appraisal methodologies. 3 credits. Level D.

The students carry out participatory rural appraisal exercises in villages in areas where the host institutions have ongoing related research projects. 

Course 2: Use of micro-computors for recording, analysis and presentation oJ research data.  2 credits. Level A.

Each student is provided with a lap-top computer and appropriate software for personal use during the duration of the course. The students learn to use the different software programmes that are appropriate for recording, analysis, presentation and publishing of  their research.   

Course 3: Statistical analysis and experimental design. 2 credits. Level A.

Students become familiar with procedures for analysis of data by descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and covariance, correlation and regression, non-linear parameters and transformations. 

Course 4: Renewable energy. 2 credits. Level C

Trends in production and use of energy derived from fossil and renewable sources are discussed with emphasis on needs, uses and opportunities for agricultural production.  The topics for discussion include biodigesters (biogas), solar systems (electricity and water heating), windmills and mini-hydro (electricity), gasifiers and gas turbines (cogeneration  of electricity and heat) and fuel cells (electricity).  

Course 5: Biological basis of biomass production and utilization by livestock. 5 credits. Level C.

This course focuses on: 

·        Sources of livestock feeds (high  biomass crops, crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts, trees and water plants) and the factors influencing their nutritive value for all classes of livestock;

·       Digestive physiology and metabolism of herbivore and monogastric animal species; Requirements for nutrient according to productive function;

·        Appropriate analytical methods.

 Course 6: Animal traction. 2 credits. Level C.

Feeding and management of draft animals with many farm visits and an emphasis on practical aspects. 

Course 7: Soil-plant-animal interactions. 2 credits. Level C.

Emphasis is on the role of livestock as a means of maintaining / improving soil fertility and plant growth through recycling of manure and its transformation into nutrient-rich effluent (by biodigesters) and humus (by earthworms).  

Course 8: Small ruminant livestock production systems. 2 credits. Level C.

Smallholder production systems for sheep and goats are discussed with particular attention to feeding and management strategies and the opportunities for control of parasites in “cut-and-carry” systems integrated with agro-forestry. 

Course 9: Livestock integrated with tree crops. 2 credits. Level C.

This course will discuss the opportunities for integration of small ruminant livestock with commercial tree crops such as Rubber, African Oil Palm and Coconuts, with field trips to estates in Malaysia. 

Course 10: Farming systems research methodology. 2 credits. Level C.

Evolution of agricultural and farming systems research and the recent emphasis on farmer's knowledge, farmer's research and experimentation and farmer's participatory research. The course is based on the views and experience of the course participants and the course facilitator. 

Course 11: Sloping land farming systems. 2 credits. Level C.

Traditional “slash and burn” farming systems are discussed in the light of pressures on land which have made these unsustainable.  Farming systems based on agro-forestry principles are described as the sustainable alternative. 

Course 12: Large ruminant nutrition and production systems. 2 credits. Level C

Smallholder beef, dairy and dual-purpose systems, in particular feeding and management strategies in zero-grazing systems in high potential areas in Asia based on crop residues and agro-industrial by-products, and also peri-urban systems. 

Course 13: Agroforestry. 2 credits. Level C.

The general agronomic principles of agroforestry. Use of multipurpose trees for fodder, fuel and mulch in integrated small-holder farmer systems 

Course 14: Range management. 2 credits. Level C.

Basic principles of range ecology, range resource assessment including the concept of carrying capacity, range management techniques (traditional and modern), pastoral systems, nutritional value of range vegetation and possibilities to improve.  

Course 15: Poultry and pig nutrition & production systems. 2 credits. Level C.

Smallholder pig and poultry systems, in particular feeding and management strategies based on the sustainable use of renewable natural resources for monogastrics. The relationship between village pig and poultry systems and other components of the farming system, e.g. fish-duck-rice system, peri-urban systems. 

Course 16: Aquaculture. 2 credits. Level C.

The integration of smallholder aquaculture with livestock, including the role of biodigesters and emphasizing the environmental and socio-economic aspects of these integrated systems. 

Course 17: Management of genetic resources. 2 credits. Level C.

A re-examination of the role of genetic improvement practices in the context of integrated farming systems for small-holder farmers.  Emphasis is given to use of local ecotypes of  livestock according to the nature of the farming system. 

Course 18: Reproduction. 2 credits. Level C.

The physiology of reproduction with emphasis on small livestock species and interactions with nutrition, disease and the environment. 

Course 19: Livestock research methodology. 2 credits. Level D.

Research plans for the thesis work are gradually developed and the proposals are presented and discussed by the group of students and facilitators.

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