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Animal and Poultry Science

Faculty
MSc Program
PhD Program
Interdepartmental Programs
Courses

Disclaimer



Acting Chair

James L. Atkinson (224 ANNU, Ext. 3716)
(Email: jatkinson@aps.uoguelph.ca)

Graduate co-ordinator
Larry Schaeffer (120 ANNU, Ext. 3645)
(Email: lrs@aps.uoguelph.ca)

Graduate Secretary
Wendy Bauer (144 ANNU, Ext. 6215)
(E-mail: wbauer@aps.uoguelph.ca)

Graduate Faculty

James L. Atkinson
BSc UMIST, Manchester, MSc London, PhD Guelph — Associate Professor

Shai Barbut
BS Hebrew University of Jerusalem, MS, PhD Wisconsin (Madison) — Professor

Jock G. Buchanan-Smith
BSc Aberdeen, BS Iowa, MS Texas Tech., PhD Oklahoma State — Professor

Mary M. Buhr
BSc, MSc, PhD Waterloo — Professor

John H. Burton
BSA Toronto, MS, PhD Cornell — Professor

John P. Cant
BSc (Agr) Nova Scotia, MS, PhD California - Assistant Professor

C. Young Cho BA Seoul
MSc Guelph, DAgro Kyushu — Adjunct Professor

Cornelius F.M. de Lange
BSc, MSc Wageningen, PhD Alberta — Associate Professor

Ian J.H. Duncan
BSc (Agr), PhD Edinburgh — Professor

Ming Z. Fan
BS Xinjiang, MS Harbin, PhD Alberta — Assistant Professor

Ann M. Gibbins
BSc Birmingham, MSc, PhD Guelph — Professor

John P. Gibson
BSc, PhD Birmingham — Professor

Roger R. Hacker
BS Wisconsin, MS Missouri, PhD Purdue — Professor

Gerald B. Jansen
BSc (Agr), PhD Guelph — Assistant Professor

Steven Leeson
MPhil, PhD Nottingham — Professor

Ching Y. Lin
BSc Taiwan, MSc, PhD Ohio State — Adjunct Professor

Michael M. Lohuis
BSc, PhD Guelph — Adjunct Professor

Ira B. Mandell
BS, MS Ohio State, PhD Saskatchewan — Assistant Professor

Brian W. McBride
BSc, MSc Guelph, PhD Alberta — Professor

Ian McMillan
BSc, MSc, PhD Toronto — Professor

Stephen P. Miller
BSc (Agr), PhD Guelph - Assistant Professor

Larry P. Milligan
BSc, MSc Alberta, PhD California (Davis), FRSC — Professor and Vice-President, Research

Richard D. Moccia
BSc, MSc Guelph — Associate Professor

Larry R. Schaeffer
BS Purdue, MS, PhD Cornell — Professor

Trevor K. Smith
BSc British Columbia, MSc Manitoba, PhD Cornell— Professor

E. James Squires
BSc, MSc, PhD Memorial — Professor

Howard J. Swatland BSc London, MSc, PhD Wisconsin — Professor

John S. Walton
BSc, PhD Reading — Professor

Tina M. Widowski
BS, MS, PhD Illinois — Assistant Professor

James W. Wilton
BSA Manitoba, MSc Toronto, PhD Cornell — Professor

Associated Graduate Faculty
David T. Armstrong
BSA Toronto, MS, PhD Cornell — University of Western Ontario

Paul J. Boettcher
BSc Wisconsin (Madison), MSc Minnesota (St. Paul), PhD Iowa State - Research Associate

Daniel Bousquet
BA, St.-Hyacinthe, DVM, MSc, PhD Montreal — Adjunct Professor

Dominique P. Bureau
BscA, MSc Laval, PhD Guelph - Research Associate

Edward B. Burnside
BSA, MSA Toronto, PhD North Carolina — Vice-Principal Academic, Nova Scotia Agricultural College; University Professor Emeritus

James R. Chambers
BSc (Agr), MSc Guelph, PhD Wisconsin - Research Scientist, AAFC, Food Research Program, University of Guelph

Heidi E. Engelhardt
BSc (Agr), MSc Guelph, PhD Western Ontario - Adjunct Professor

Gerald W. Friars
BA McGill, MA, PhD Purdue — Chief Scientist, Atlantic Salmon Federation, St. Andrews, New Brunswick

Zhi Hua Jiang
BSc (Agr) Nanjing, PhD Zabreb - Adjunct Professor

J. Frank Hurnik
BA, MA Nitra, PhD Guelph — University Professor Emeritus

Robert A. Kemp
BSc (Agr), MSc, PhD Guelph — Adjunct Professor

Gordon J. King
DVM Toronto, MSc, PhD Guelph, FIBiol — University Professor Emeritus

W. Douglas Morrison
BSA Toronto, MS, PhD Illinois — University Professor Emeritus

Paul B. Pencharz
MB Liverpool, PhD MIT — University of Toronto

Denis Petitclerc
BSc Sherbrooke, BScA, MSc Laval, PhD Michigan State — Research Scientist, Lennoxville Research Centre, Lennoxville, Quebec

J. Andrew B. Robinson
BSc, MSc Guelph, PhD Cornell — Adjunct Professor

John D. Summers
BSA, MSA Toronto, PhD Rutgers — University Professor Emeritus

Eduardo V. Valdes
BSc Chile, MSc, PhD Guelph - Manager, Animal Nutrition Centre, Metro Toronto Zoo — Adjunct Professor


     The Department of Animal and Poultry Science offers programs of study leading to MSc and PhD degrees. Animals of significance in food production are the department's major interest and research emphasis. The graduate program encompasses four fields: animal breeding and genetics (quantitative or molecular); animal nutrition (monogastric or ruminant); animal physiology (environmental, reproductive, or behavioural); and growth and metabolism (meat science). The latter field is offered in collaboration with the Department of Food Science and all fields are enriched through interaction with faculty members from other university departments.
     The major expertise of individual faculty is as follows: animal breeding and genetics (Boettcher, Gibbins, Gibson, Jansen, Jiang, Kemp, Lin, Lohuis, Miller, McMillan, Robinson, Schaeffer, Squires, Wilton), animal nutrition (Atkinson, Buchanan-Smith, Burton, Cant, Cho, de Lange, Leeson, McBride, Milligan, Smith, Valdes), animal physiology (Bousquet, Buhr, Duncan, Engelhardt, Etches, Fan, Hacker, Hurnik, King, Moccia, Morrison, Squires, Walton, Widowski), and growth and metabolism (Barbut, Mandell, Swatland).

General Admission Requirements
     Research in animal science is enriched by the interaction of scientists from diverse academic disciplines. Accordingly, there are no specific prerequisite courses expected of applicants to the graduate programs in the department. Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis, taking into account the applicant's academic background and relevant experience.


MSc Program

     The MSc program involves advanced courses and the completion of a research project. These are means of developing the skills and intellectual curiosity that may further qualify the student for a leadership role within the animal industry or serve as a prerequisite for doctoral studies. The MSc degree may be completed via two routes: by thesis or by course work and major paper. The MSc by course work and major paper is offered in two areas of specialization: animal breeding & genetics and animal nutrition & metabolism.
Admission Requirements
     An honours baccalaureate, with a minimum average grade of `B' during the last four semesters of study, will normally be required.
Degree Requirements
MSc by Thesis
     Candidates for the thesis-based MSc degree must successfully complete a prescribed series of courses, conduct a research project, prepare a thesis based on their results and defend this in a final examination. The number of course credits required in this option will be decided by the student's advisory committee in consultation with the student, and may exceed the minimum 1.5 credits required by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Generally, 4 or 5 courses (1.5-2.0 credits) will be taken, including the mandatory Seminar course, APS*6600 (0.0 credit).

MSc by Course Work and Major Paper
     Candidates for the MSc degree by course work and major paper option must complete a minimum of 4.0 credits (9 courses). Of these courses, one will be the departmental Seminar course, APS*6600 (0.0 credit), and another will be Major Paper in Animal and Poultry Science, APS*6900 (1.0 credit). The major paper will be a detailed, critical review of an area of study related to the specialization chosen by the student and should include analyses and interpretations of relevant data. The content of the major paper will be presented to the department in the Seminar course.
     At the beginning of the program, the student and student's advisory committee will design the course-work program according to the program guidelines and the aspirations and background of the student. Students will normally choose a minimum of 4 courses in the area of specialization, one of which will be APS*6900, Major Paper in Animal and Poultry Science, and a minimum of two courses outside the area of specialization. These latter courses can be offered by departments other than Animal and Poultry Science.
     A maximum of one approved senior-level undergraduate course can be included in the list of prescribed courses. Recommended graduate courses in the two areas of specialization are as follows: Animal Breeding & Genetics (APS*6900, APS*6210, APS*6240, APS*6370, APS*6380, APS*6390, APS*6450); Animal Nutrition & Metabolism (APS*6900, APS*6010, APS*6020, APS*6030, APS*6250, APS*6260, APS*6360, APS*6450).
     The MSc by course work and major paper degree will require a minimum of three semesters of full-time study (or the equivalent).


PhD Program

     The PhD program is research oriented and provides instruction and experiences that develop the student's ability to independently formulate hypotheses and design and execute experiments or conduct observational studies to reach definitive conclusions.
Admission Requirements
     Students entering a PhD program should show potential for independent, productive, and original research. A PhD program can be entered by three routes: following completion of an MSc program; following transfer prior to completion of an MSc program; and directly from a bachelor degree.
     In general, a minimum average grade of `B' for a completed MSc program plus strong letters of reference are required. Students wishing to be considered for transfer to a PhD program prior to completion of the MSc program must request the transfer before the end of the fourth semester and have an excellent academic record as well as a strong aptitude for research.
     Direct admission to the PhD program may be permitted for applicants who hold a bachelor's degree and have an excellent academic history and strong indications of research potential.
Degree Requirements
     Satisfactory completion of a PhD program requires a comprehensive knowledge of the area of emphasis and the ability to conduct original research in this area, plus a sound general background in two related areas of study. This competence is demonstrated in a qualifying examination and through the design and execution of a substantial and original research project. Based on this research, a thesis is prepared and defended in a final examination.
     The number of courses required for a PhD program will be decided by the student's advisory committee in consultation with the student. The minimum requirement is the Seminar course, APS*6600.

Interdepartmental Programs

MSc (Aquaculture) Interdepartmental Program
     The Department of Animal and Poultry Science participates in the master of science in aquaculture program. Professors Atkinson, Cho, McMillan and Moccia are members of the Aquaculture Interdepartmental Group. These faculty members' expertise includes aspects of aquaculture; they may serve as advisors for MSc (Aquaculture) students. Please consult the Aquaculture listing for a detailed description of the MSc (Aquaculture) interdepartmental program.

Courses
Although the courses offered are listed by field, several are relevant to more than one field. Some courses are only offered when there is a certain minimum enrolment.

Course/(Credit Value) Term Course Description
Animal Breeding and Genetics
APS*6210
Principles of Selection in Animal Breeding(0.5)
F Definition of selection goals, prediction of genetic progress and breeding values, and the comparison of selection programs.
APS*6240
Topics in Quantitative Genetics and Animal Breeding(0.5)
W Current literature and classical papers pertaining to quantitative genetics and breeding are reviewed in detail.
APS*6370
Animal Models(0.5)
W 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.
APS*6380
Methodology in Animal Breeding (0.5)
(even years only)
F The course covers Bayesian approaches to analysis of data; categorical data analysis; accounting for selection bias; major gene analyses; models for handling marker genes; and recent developments in statistical methodology related to animal breeding applications.
APS*6390
Quantitative Genetics Theory in Animal Breeding (0.5)
(odd years only)
W Advanced training in the mathematical aspects of quantitative genetic theory as applied to animal breeding.
APS*6450
Topics in Animal Biotechnology (0.5)
W The impact of recombinant DNA techniques on present and future research in animal science and on the livestock industry is critically appraised.
Animal Nutrition
APS*6010
Topics in Comparative Animal Nutrition (0.5)
F 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.
APS*6020
Poultry and Swine Nutrition (0.5)
W A discussion of current topics in the feeding and nutrition of domestic fowl and swine based on the critical appraisal of selected journal readings.
APS*6030
Modelling Metabolic Processes (0.5)
F 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.
APS*6260
Digestion and Metabolism in the Ruminant(0.5)
(even years only)
W A review of current research on rumen function, post-ruminal digestion and host tissue metabolism, integrating fundamental principles so as to formulate models of nutrient utilization. The course consists of assigned readings, lectures and tutorials.
APS*6360
Techniques in Animal Nutrition Research (0.5)
(even years only)
F 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.
Animal Physiology
APS*6400
Mammalian Reproduction (0.5)
(odd years only)
F Discussions and applications of methodology for collection and examination of gametes and embryos and for measurements of hormones in biological fluids.
APS*6440
Advanced Concepts and Methods in Applied Ethology (0.5)
W An in-depth review of classic papers and current topics in applied ethology. Discussions will include applications of methodologies and analyses used to conduct animal behaviour research.
Growth and Metabolism
APS*6250
Growth and Metabolism (0.5)
W 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.
General
APS*6100
Special Project (0.5)
F, W, S 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.
APS*6600
Seminar (0.0)
F, W This course is required for successful completion of MSc and PhD programs. The major findings of the thesis or major paper are presented to the department.
APS*6900
Major Paper in Animal and Poultry Science (1.0)
F,W,S 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.
Undergraduate Courses: A maximum of one senior-undergraduate course per degree may be taken for graduate credit as authorized by the department.

         



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