Learning objectives
Provide students with basic elements and specialized knowledges relating to the productive and reproductive cycles and the breeding techniques of the farm animal species. Provide tools for the evaluation of the efficiency/profitability and health status of livestock animals.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
The contents of the course are represented by the description of the productive and reproductive cycles of farm animals and current and past techniques of livestock farming. The most important parameters for monitoring the efficiency/profitability and the health status of the livestock themselves will be illustrate.
Full programme
1 - Dairy cattle
- Organization of the cattle production sector for milk production
- Bovine milk market
- The dairy cow farms
- General organization of cattle breeding and dairy facilities
- The comeback of animals
The calf: weaning, management, and feeding
The heifer, the and pregnant heifer: puberty, management and feeding
- Animals in production
- The reproductive and productive cycle of the dairy cow: basics,
sexual cycle, pregnancy and parturition
Milk sinthesis and milking
Lactation: stages, nutrition and related issues
Dry period: stages, nutrition and related issues
- Transition cow
Feeding strategies of dairy cows
Nutritional errors and nutritional metabolic diseases in dairy cows
- Reproductive efficiency parameters
- Production efficiency parameters
2 - Beef Cattle
- Organization of the cattle production sector for the production of meat
- Beef market
- Categories of beef cattle
- Breeds and cattle crossings used for the production of meat
- The beef cattle farms
- Breeding of beef cows
Nutrient requirements and feeding
Management
- Veal calf breeding
Nutrient requirements and feeding
Management
Welfare and health problems of the veal calf
- Breeding of calves and young bulls for meat production
Growth, nutrient requirements and feeding
Management
Welfare and health issues in calves and fattening cattle.
- Production efficiency parameters
3 - Pigs
- Organization of the pig production sector
- Market of pig meat and derived products
- The pig farms
- General organization of pig farming, breeding and types of structures
- Breeding pigs
Gilt: puberty, nutrition and management
Sow: reproductive cycle, feeding and management
sexual cycle, pregnancy and parturition
- Reproductive efficiency parameters
- Fattening pigs
Piglets: breastfeeding, weaning and management
Growing pigs: feeding and management
Selection, evaluation, preparation and distribution of food
Welfare and environmental impact
Major health problems in pig
- Production efficiency parameters
4 - Poultry
- Organization of the productive poultry industry
- Market of eggs and poultry meat
- Poultry farms
- General organization of poultry farming, breeding and types of structures
- Poultry and livestock for the production of eggs
Reproductive system and reproductive activity
Pullet rearing
Control of the breeding and spawning
Feeding laying hen
- Poultry and livestock for meat production
Incubation and hatching
Rearing and fattening
Feeding chicken for meat production
- Main health problems in poultry breeding
5 - Sheep and goats
- Organization of the productive sector and the sheep and goat products market
- General organization of sheep and goats livestock, breeding types and structures
- Reproductive cycle and reproduction
- Production cycle and lactation curve
- Breeding and fattening of lambs
Breast-feeding and weaning
Producing heavy lamb
- The replacement animal breeding
- Feeding of sheep and goats
- Major health problems of sheep and goats
6 - Rabbits
- Organization of the sector and market of rabbit products
- General organization of rabbit farms, types of farming and structures
- Reproductive cycle, puberty and insemination
- Pregnancy and parturition
- Breast-feeding and weaning
- feeding and management of breeding does
- Fattening
- Feeding and management of fattening rabbits
- Main rabbit livestock health problems
Bibliography
BITTANTE G., ANDRIGHETTO L., RAMANZIN M.: Tecniche di produzione animale. Liviana Ed., Torino, 2003
MONETTI P.G.: Allevamento dei bovini e dei suini. Cristiano Giraldi Ed., Città di Castello (PG), 2001
Cavani C, Castellini C, Cerolini S, Cesari V, et al. AVICOLTURA E CONIGLICOLTURA. Point Veterinaire Italie Ed., Milano, 2008.
Teaching methods
Lectures, with the help of audio-video equipment.
Educational visits to farms.
Seminars and / or teleconferences with technicians.
Assessment methods and criteria
Interview
Other information
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