The course follows on from the two courses GE Animal Ethics, Welfare and Law (Semester 1) and Animal Welfare (Semester 2). In its considerations of animal protection and welfare, it widens the scope of the considerations of animal welfare to include the relationship between nutrition and the welfare of individual animals. This course describes the roles of energy, carbohydrates, lipids, protein, macronutrients, and micronutrients in biochemical pathways. Thus it provides the scientific basis for animal nutrition enabling students to understand the metabolic origins of nutritional diseases and to apply that knowledge to the formulation of diets tailored to maximize the welfare, profitability, health, longevity, and/or athletic performance of animals. Companion animals such as dogs, cats, pocket pets, and horses; livestock such as beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry are all considered. The impacts of dietary deficiencies of essential nutrients are given particular attention. Each student will undertake a diet formation exercise as part of their class assignment.