Cat and Dog Feeding and Petfood Production
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The aim of the course of Dog and Cat feeding and Petfood Production is developing knowledge and understanding regarding the companion animal nutrition and petfood industry. This will include the understanding of dog and cat nutrition and its practical application in their feeding. Petfood technology will be discussed in how they are processed and are designed to meet the specific nutritional needs of companion animals and quality and safety assurance, through the selection of ingredients based on quality and sustainability including nutraceuticals and novel foods, dry and wet petfood formulation, production processes, evaluation of palatability, correct information for owners and breeders.
Expected learning outcomes
1. Knowledge and understanding. At the end of the course the student must be able to formulate an appropriate diet for dogs and cats in the different stages of life, choosing with a critical spirit the most appropriate diet for the conditions and lifestyle of the animal to which it is destined. It must also be able to develop an industrial feed for dogs and cats created according to the specific needs of the species.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding. the student will have to demonstrate that they possess knowledge and concepts useful for evaluating the nutritional adequacy of industrial preparations, as well as the completeness of the information necessary to allow the owner or breeder to choose the product best suited to the needs of the animals and guarantee the safety and quality.
3. Making judgement. The student must demonstrate the ability to critically argue the information acquired. In this sense, educational trips to companies operating in the pet food sector, in-depth seminars and group work with discussion of case studies relating to specific problems related to dog and cat nutrition are aimed.
4. Communication. The student must demonstrate the ability to express himself with scientifically appropriate terminology, regarding the terminology referring to identifying and explaining the critical issues and strengths of the proposed dietary regimes. The student must be able to critically and proactively approach the study of the subject, analyzing the material provided by the teacher, the recommended texts and official websites. The student must be able, during frontal and practical lessons, to explain the knowledge acquired, using appropriate terminology, updated and in harmony with other disciplines.
5. Lifelong learning skills. The student will have to demonstrate that he/she possesses knowledge in terms of notions and methodologies and the reasoning skills acquired during the course will allow the student to continue his/her study independently by deepening and updating his/her knowledge in the field of dog and cat nutrition to formulate appropriate diets and develop feed for pets according to current regulations.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding. the student will have to demonstrate that they possess knowledge and concepts useful for evaluating the nutritional adequacy of industrial preparations, as well as the completeness of the information necessary to allow the owner or breeder to choose the product best suited to the needs of the animals and guarantee the safety and quality.
3. Making judgement. The student must demonstrate the ability to critically argue the information acquired. In this sense, educational trips to companies operating in the pet food sector, in-depth seminars and group work with discussion of case studies relating to specific problems related to dog and cat nutrition are aimed.
4. Communication. The student must demonstrate the ability to express himself with scientifically appropriate terminology, regarding the terminology referring to identifying and explaining the critical issues and strengths of the proposed dietary regimes. The student must be able to critically and proactively approach the study of the subject, analyzing the material provided by the teacher, the recommended texts and official websites. The student must be able, during frontal and practical lessons, to explain the knowledge acquired, using appropriate terminology, updated and in harmony with other disciplines.
5. Lifelong learning skills. The student will have to demonstrate that he/she possesses knowledge in terms of notions and methodologies and the reasoning skills acquired during the course will allow the student to continue his/her study independently by deepening and updating his/her knowledge in the field of dog and cat nutrition to formulate appropriate diets and develop feed for pets according to current regulations.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Lectures - Dog and Cat Nutrition Section
- Use and requirements of nutrients in dogs and cats (4 hours)
- Nutritional assessment of dogs and cats (2 hours)
- Nutrients and the microbiome (2 hours)
- Functional foods (4 hours)
- Feeding and rationing of dogs and cats in maintenance conditions (2 hours)
- Feeding and rationing of the bitch and cat during reproduction (2 hours)
- Puppy feeding and rationing (2 hours)
- Feeding and rationing of the elderly animal (2 hours)
- Feeding and rationing of sporting and utility dogs (2 hours)
- Alternative diet: raw food, vegetarian and vegan diets (2 hours)
Lectures - Petfood Production Section
- Types of industrial foods for dogs and cats (2 hours)
- Dry foods: ingredients, production, formulation, characteristics (3 hours)
- Wet and semi-moist foods: ingredients, formulation, production, characteristics (3 hours)
- Nutritional Adequacy (2 hours)
- Quality assurance and safety (2 hours)
- Additives used in the production of pet food (2 hours)
- Labeling and communication (2 hours)
Practical training
- Analytical methods used to evaluate the quality and safety of pet food (4 hours)
- Rationing in the different physiological phases (8 hours)
- Feed formulation using software (4 hours)
- Use and requirements of nutrients in dogs and cats (4 hours)
- Nutritional assessment of dogs and cats (2 hours)
- Nutrients and the microbiome (2 hours)
- Functional foods (4 hours)
- Feeding and rationing of dogs and cats in maintenance conditions (2 hours)
- Feeding and rationing of the bitch and cat during reproduction (2 hours)
- Puppy feeding and rationing (2 hours)
- Feeding and rationing of the elderly animal (2 hours)
- Feeding and rationing of sporting and utility dogs (2 hours)
- Alternative diet: raw food, vegetarian and vegan diets (2 hours)
Lectures - Petfood Production Section
- Types of industrial foods for dogs and cats (2 hours)
- Dry foods: ingredients, production, formulation, characteristics (3 hours)
- Wet and semi-moist foods: ingredients, formulation, production, characteristics (3 hours)
- Nutritional Adequacy (2 hours)
- Quality assurance and safety (2 hours)
- Additives used in the production of pet food (2 hours)
- Labeling and communication (2 hours)
Practical training
- Analytical methods used to evaluate the quality and safety of pet food (4 hours)
- Rationing in the different physiological phases (8 hours)
- Feed formulation using software (4 hours)
Prerequisites for admission
The preliminary knowledge for adequately address the course are those of the course.
Teaching methods
The course includes lectures (classroom) and practical activities (computer laboratories) aimed at the development of diets for dogs and cats in the different physiological phases and the evaluation and formulation of industrial foods.
The program includes practical sessions in teaching laboratories and visits to Industry-specific facilities.
The program includes practical sessions in teaching laboratories and visits to Industry-specific facilities.
Teaching Resources
Didactic materials provided by the lecturers uploaded on ARIEL website https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=8219
Consultation of the following texts is also recommended:
- Nutrizione e Alimentazione del Cane del Gatto. Biagi G, Chiofalo B, Cutrignelli M, De Angelis A, Fusi E, Mainieri G, Prola L, Ricci R, Sandri M. 2022 - Edagricole Bologna
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs - FEDIAF July 2024. Available on the site www.assalco.it or https://europeanpetfood.org
- Guide to Good Practice for the Manifacture of Safe Pet Food - February 2018. Available on the site www.assalco.it or https://europeanpetfood.org
Consultation of the following texts is also recommended:
- Nutrizione e Alimentazione del Cane del Gatto. Biagi G, Chiofalo B, Cutrignelli M, De Angelis A, Fusi E, Mainieri G, Prola L, Ricci R, Sandri M. 2022 - Edagricole Bologna
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs - FEDIAF July 2024. Available on the site www.assalco.it or https://europeanpetfood.org
- Guide to Good Practice for the Manifacture of Safe Pet Food - February 2018. Available on the site www.assalco.it or https://europeanpetfood.org
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a single written test with 8 multiple choice questions and 7 open questions that focus on the topics covered in the 2 sections of Dog and Cat Nutrition and Petfood Production. There is also a rationing exercise. The use of calculators is permitted, but the use of cell phones is not permitted.
The time available to take the test is 60 minutes.
Evaluation criteria:
The 8 multiple choice questions provide a maximum score of 1 point for a correct answer.
The evaluation of the answers to the 7 open questions is carried out according to the following elements of judgment:
· 3 points: excellent and in-depth knowledge of the topics; clarity of exposition and excellent use of the terminology of the subject; excellent order and synthesis.
· 2.5 points: good knowledge of the topics; clarity of exposition and correct use of the terminology of the subject; good order and synthesis.
· 2 points: superficial or partial knowledge of the topics; partial clarity of exposition and sometimes imprecise use of the terminology of the subject; order and synthesis only acceptable.
· 1 point: very partial or poor knowledge of the topics; very partial clarity of exposition and imprecise use of the terminology of the subject; order and synthesis only acceptable.
· 0 points: the answer is almost or completely absent; knowledge of the topics is completely insufficient; disordered presentation, lacking scientific logic and expressed with incorrect terminology; inadequate order and synthesis.
A maximum score of 2 is assigned for the rationing exercise. The written test corresponds to a total of 30 points. Those who obtain at least 18 points pass the written test. In assignments that receive the highest grade, honors are awarded when the overall result is well beyond the level expected of a student at the corresponding level of study
The result of the test will be communicated via the SIFA service.
There are no different assessment methods for attending and non-attending students.
To take the exam, registration for the exam is mandatory through the University's ONLINE SIFA service. Students who are not regularly registered through the SIFA service are not admitted to the exam.
The time available to take the test is 60 minutes.
Evaluation criteria:
The 8 multiple choice questions provide a maximum score of 1 point for a correct answer.
The evaluation of the answers to the 7 open questions is carried out according to the following elements of judgment:
· 3 points: excellent and in-depth knowledge of the topics; clarity of exposition and excellent use of the terminology of the subject; excellent order and synthesis.
· 2.5 points: good knowledge of the topics; clarity of exposition and correct use of the terminology of the subject; good order and synthesis.
· 2 points: superficial or partial knowledge of the topics; partial clarity of exposition and sometimes imprecise use of the terminology of the subject; order and synthesis only acceptable.
· 1 point: very partial or poor knowledge of the topics; very partial clarity of exposition and imprecise use of the terminology of the subject; order and synthesis only acceptable.
· 0 points: the answer is almost or completely absent; knowledge of the topics is completely insufficient; disordered presentation, lacking scientific logic and expressed with incorrect terminology; inadequate order and synthesis.
A maximum score of 2 is assigned for the rationing exercise. The written test corresponds to a total of 30 points. Those who obtain at least 18 points pass the written test. In assignments that receive the highest grade, honors are awarded when the overall result is well beyond the level expected of a student at the corresponding level of study
The result of the test will be communicated via the SIFA service.
There are no different assessment methods for attending and non-attending students.
To take the exam, registration for the exam is mandatory through the University's ONLINE SIFA service. Students who are not regularly registered through the SIFA service are not admitted to the exam.
AGR/18 - ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEEDING - University credits: 6
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor(s)