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

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

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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