Learning objectives
1- Knowledge and understanding:- To know general and special notions concerning production and reproduction cycles and breeding techniques of livestock. - To understand the integration and interdependence between animal physiology and animal breeding and exploitation techniques.- To know and understand the tools for assessing the nutritional and health status of livestock. - To know and understand the tools for assessing the efficiency / profitability of intensive and extensive livestock farming systems. 2 - Applying knowledge and understanding: - To be able to recognize, within each species of interest, the different categories of animals. - To be able to describe the general characteristics of the livestock farms and the structures.- To be able to interpret and evaluate data on productivity and productive efficiency, fertility and reproductive efficiency, nutritional status, and health status in livestock. 3 - Making judgments: - To know how to analyze the different phases of the productive/reproductive cycle of livestock, highlighting the critical issues and proposing any corrective action. 4 - Communication skills:- To know how to communicate clearly to less experienced and less acclaimed interviewees the correct techniques and operating methods to be implemented in the farms. - Being able to interact positively with the various professional figures working in the farms. 5 - Learning skills: - To be able to adapt its own indications to the different production contexts and to the different managerial levels that can be found at farms. - To be able to properly interpret the results of scientific research on animal production.
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 livestock and current and past techniques of farming systems. The most important traits for monitoring the efficiency/profitability and the health status of the livestock will be illustrated.
Full programme
1 - Pigs
- Organization of the pig production sector
- Market of pig meat and derived products
- The pig farms
- Organization of pig farming and breeding
- Breeding pigs (gilt and sow: puberty, nutrition and management)
- Sexual cycle, pregnancy and parturition
- Reproductive efficiency traits
- Fattening pigs
- Piglets: breastfeeding, weaning and management
- Growing pigs: feeding and management
- Production efficiency parameters
- Welfare in pigs
- Pig farming management:
Genetic evolution of sows
Weaning and fattening
2 - Poultry
- Organization of the poultry industry
- Market of eggs and poultry meat
- Poultry farms
- Organization of poultry farming and breeding
- Poultry and farms for the production of eggs
- Reproductive system and reproductive activity
- Pullet farming
- Control of the breeding and spawning
- Feeding laying hen
- Poultry and livestock for meat production
- Farming and fattening
3 – Wildlife
- Wildlife management in semi-captive conditions
- How to manage wildlife
- 2020, to breed or not to breed? This is the dilemma!
4 - Rabbits
- Organization of the sector and market of rabbit products
- Organization of rabbit farms and types of farming
- Reproductive cycle, puberty and insemination
- Pregnancy and parturition
- Breast-feeding and weaning
- Management of breeding does
- Fattening
- Management of fattening rabbits
5 - Sheep and goats
- Organization of the productive sector and the sheep and goat products
market
- Organization of sheep and goats livestock and breeding types
- Reproductive cycle and reproduction
- Production cycle and lactation curve
- Breeding and fattening of lambs
- The replacement animal breeding
- Feeding sheep and goats
- Production of wool
6 – Buffalo
- Organization of the dairy buffalo production sector
- ANASB genetic indices in Italian buffaloes
- Animal categories in buffalo farming system
- Reproductive characteristics in buffaloes
- Buffalo milk
7 - Precision livestock farming
- Organization of the dairy cow production sector
- Global livestock sector overview
- Sensoristics
- Infrared spectroscopy
- Genetic selection and PLF
- Prevention and control of foot problems in dairy cows
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.
Students can find the pdf of lessons on the Elly (https://elly2021.veterinaria.unipr.it/) platform or get them during the class.
Teaching methods
The teaching activities will be conducted mainly in the form of lessons (also remotely via Teams platform) and through visits at farms. The power point presentations used to support the lessons will be uploaded at the beginning of the course on the Elly platform and can be downloaded by students regularly enrolled in the course. Power point presentations are considered an integral part of the material. Any changes made to the presentations will be promptly reported by the professor during the lessons.
Assessment methods and criteria
Learning evaluation consists of two subsequent tests: written multiplechoice
questions test and an oral exam.
Mode and type of multiple-choice questions test: written, maximum
duration of 15 minutes, consisting of no. 25 questions.
Mode and type of oral exam maximum duration of 15 minutes, consisting
of no. 2 questions.
During the learning evaluation, the knowledge and understanding of the
theoretical and applied themes, the ability to analyze hypothetical cases
the communication skill and the ability to interpret scientific results will
be verified. During oral exam, specific questions, case study and tables of
data will be also proposed.
Scale of assessment: the scale of assessment ranges from 0 to 30 cum
laude.
Weights and evaluation criteria: for the multiple-choice questions test,
the weight attributed to each correct answer is one point (1) and each
wrong answer results in a penalty of -0.33 points. When the question is
not answered, it gives 0 points. For the oral exam, each correct answer
gives up to 4 point (0-4). Unanswered or wrong answers give 0 points.
Test results communication: the final result of the entire test is
communicated immediately at the end of the oral exam.
For the students with diagnosis of specific learning disability (DSA)
certified under law n. 170/2010, proper specific support will be provided.
Other information
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