Learning objectives
To give to the student the competences on the main methods of morphologic evaluation of the animals of zootechnical interest, on the animal welfare for the correct management of the zootechnical herds, on the effects of the environment on the zootechnical productions and on the zootechnical sanitation for the correct management of the zootechnical herds.
Course unit content
Introduction to morphofunctional evaluation of domestic animals. Definition, scope and limits of the morpho-functional evaluation of domestic animals. The constitution. Zoognostic terminology. Morphology and function: Tegumental apparatus (colours, fleeces, signaling). Outer conformation (regions of the body). Stances. Morphologic types. Functional characteristics: Movement and pace (cinematic). Evaluation of the age. Examination of the state of health. Weighing and measurements. Morphologic evaluation.
Dairy cattle livestock and milk production. Calf breeding for replacement. Heifer breeding. Dairy cow breeding. Causes of cow culling. Feeding techniques. Cow housing types: tie-stall and free-stall. Machine milking. Milking systems: milking equipment for cowsheds and milking installations for milking parlours.
Introduction to physioclimatology; definition of climate and microclimate; methods of measurement of the climatic parameters; definition and calculation of the THI. Effects of the microclimate on the quali-quantitative productions of the animals with zootechnical interest. Active and passive operations on the control of microclimate.
Definition of Animal Welfare. Elements of Zootechnical Ethology; communication; aggressiveness and social structure; sexual behaviour; maternal behaviour; development of the behaviour; learning; alimentary behaviour; behavioural disturbs. Main norms on the Bovine Welfare; main normative on the Swine Welfare; the norms on the animal welfare and relationships with the breeding structures.
Introduction to the zootechnical sanitation; modalities of cleaning; main detergents with zootechnical use; disinfection modalities; ideal disinfectant definition; main disinfectants with zootechnical use; disinfestation modalities; scope of the disinfestation; main disinfestants with zootechnical use; elements of zootechnical biosecurity.
Full programme
Introduction to morphofunctional evaluation of domestic animals. Definition, scope and limits of the morpho-functional evaluation of domestic animals. The constitution. Zoognostic terminology. Morphology and function: Tegumental apparatus (colours, fleeces, signaling). Outer conformation (regions of the body). Stances. Morphologic types. Functional characteristics: Movement and pace (cinematic). Evaluation of the age. Examination of the state of health. Weighing and measurements. Morphologic evaluation.
Dairy cattle livestock and milk production. Calf breeding for replacement. Heifer breeding. Dairy cow breeding. Causes of cow culling. Feeding techniques. Cow housing types: tie-stall and free-stall. Machine milking. Milking systems: milking equipment for cowsheds and milking installations for milking parlours.
Introduction to physioclimatology; definition of climate and microclimate; methods of measurement of the climatic parameters; definition and calculation of the THI. Effects of the microclimate on the quali-quantitative productions of the animals with zootechnical interest. Active and passive operations on the control of microclimate.
Definition of Animal Welfare. Elements of Zootechnical Ethology; communication; aggressiveness and social structure; sexual behaviour; maternal behaviour; development of the behaviour; learning; alimentary behaviour; behavioural disturbs. Main norms on the Bovine Welfare; main normative on the Swine Welfare; the norms on the animal welfare and relationships with the breeding structures.
Introduction to the zootechnical sanitation; modalities of cleaning; main detergents with zootechnical use; disinfection modalities; ideal disinfectant definition; main disinfectants with zootechnical use; disinfestation modalities; scope of the disinfestation; main disinfestants with zootechnical use; elements of zootechnical biosecurity.
Bibliography
AA.VV. Allevamento della vacca da latte in estate. Tipolitografia Italia, Piacenza, 1996.
AA:VV. Benessere Animale . Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Umbria e Marche Editore, 2010
AA.VV. Il benessere dei suini e delle bovine da latte: punti critici e valutazione in allevamento. Fondazione iniziative zooprofilattiche e zootecniche. Brescia, 2003.
AA.VV. Etologia applicata e benessere animale. Vol. I e II. Point Veterinarie Italie, Milano, 2008
AA.VV. La valutazione del benessere nella specie bovina. Fondazione iniziative zooprofilattiche e zootecniche. Brescia, 2002
AA.VV. Vacca da latte e stress da caldo. Tipolitografia Italia, Piacenza, 1995.
Napoletano F., De Rosa G., Grasso F., Comportamento e benessere degli animali in produzione zootecnica. Aracne Editrice, Roma, 2007
BITTANTE G., ANDRIGHETTO L., RAMANZIN M.: Fondamenti di Zootecnica. Liviana Ed., Padova, 1990
CATALANO A.L.: Valutazione morfo-funzionale del cavallo. Igiene ed etnologia. Goliardica Ed., Parma, 1984
DAVID SAINSBURY. Farm Animal Welfare. Collins, 1986.
HOUPT K.A. Il comportamento degli animali domestici. EMSI, Roma, 2003.
MEREGALLI A.: Conoscenza morfofunzionale degli animali domestici. Liviana Editrice, 1980
MONTEMURRO N. Igiene zootecnica. Edagricole, Bologna, 2002.
NAPOLITANO F., DE ROSA G., GRASSO F., Comportamento e benessere degli animali in produzione zootecnica. Aracne Editrice, Roma, 2007.
Teaching methods
Lectures using audio-visual facilities.
Assessment methods and criteria
The accomplishment of the aims will be evaluated by means of a written and an oral exam.
