Ruurd Zijlstra

Professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Ag, Food & Nutri Sci Dept

Contact

Professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Ag, Food & Nutri Sci Dept
Email
zijlstra@ualberta.ca
Phone
(780) 492-8593
Address
3-10K Agriculture/Forestry Centre
9011 116 St NW
Edmonton AB
T6G 2P5

Overview

About

Degree

PhD, University of Illinois

Job/Research Area 

Swine & Carbohydrate Nutrition


Research

Major Responsibilities/Research Interests 

My research interest is in ingredient evaluation and feed processing. The vision is to create a decision model that optimizes feed processing following ingredient evaluation. The end goal is to ensure a predictable performance of agricultural species. Within each feed ingredient, a range exists in quality characteristics that must be validated in animal models, but should be measured for a large number of samples using laboratory-based technologies. Subsequently, equipment, for example near infra-red reflectance spectroscopy, can feed quality following proper calibration. The range in quality is usually related to a change in factors such a fiber or other anti-nutritional factors that negatively influence nutrient digestibility or rate of digestion. Feed processing, including grinding, pelleting, expansion, extrusion, etc. can be used to reduce the negative impact of these factors and thereby improve digestibility characteristics. 

Courses

AFNS 500 - Individual Study

Project or reading course under the supervision of a Faculty member requiring preparation of a comprehensive report. Prerequisite: consent of Department. Note: May be taken more than once provided the topic is different.


AN SC 464 - Companion Animal Nutrition

Aimed at fourth year undergraduate students with an interest in companion animal nutrition. The course will focus on nutrient utilization and requirements of dogs, cats, and horses. Other companion animal species (mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, etc.) will also be covered. Current issues in pet food nutrition and manufacture will be discussed. Prerequisite: AN SC 260, 3 units in NUTR or 3 units in NU FS 305.


AN SC 488 - Animal Nutrition and Health

An advanced course aimed at fourth year undergraduate students with an interest in using animal nutrition to solve animal health problems. The course will focus on problems that are associated with animal longevity, mortality and morbidity and will translate research findings into nutrition recommendations. Prerequisite: AN SC 461 or AN SC 464; or corequisite AN SC 462.


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