The focus of the online training sessions will be feed quality and feed safety, outlining the quality and safety requirements for animal feed production today, said the organizers.
The first course on animal feed quality outlines the quality management system, good manufacturing practices (GMP), hazard analysis critical control point principles (HACCP), auditing skills, feed ingredient quality and adulteration issues.
The second course on feed safety explores different feedstuff ingredients, legislation, chemical, physical and microbiological contaminants, feed processing and feed formulation.
The teaching methods used include presentations, case studies, interviews and quizzes, they said.
The institutions involved said the courses are designed for feed mill managers and new or existing operators looking to continue their professional development or training. The tuition might also be useful for administrative and sales staff working in the sector, along with food scientists, process engineers and regulators involved with feed quality assurance practices, they added.
Learning objectives and outcomes
Once the course is completed, the training bodies said participants will be able to
- Demonstrate the multidiscipline nature of animal feed production;
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills required for the production of quality animal feed relative for livestock production;
- Identify the range and types of issues which can affect the quality of feed;
- Reflect on product quality assurance and control systems to ensure animal feed quality; and
- Identify the regulatory requirements related to the production of animal feed.
Work done at student’s own pace
The courses are currently open for enrolment, until January 2020, and are priced at a discounted rate of £62/€70 per course in 2019. They consist of three to four hours’ learning per week for five weeks.
Once participants have paid the course fee, they receive unlimited access to the course material, and then are free to complete the course at their own pace. On completion of the course, they will receive a certificate from FutureLearn, said the course providers.
