PHYSIOLOGY APPLIED TO ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND WELFARE
cod. 1008440

Academic year 2022/23
1° year of course - First semester
Professor
- Fabio DE RENSIS
Academic discipline
Fisiologia veterinaria (VET/02)
Field
Discipline zootecniche e delle produzioni animali
Type of training activity
Characterising
51 hours
of face-to-face activities
6 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN

Learning objectives

At the end of the training the student must have acquired knowledge related to the physiology of the digestive system, endocrine digestive with reference to animals of zootechnical interest.
 In particular, the student should be able to:
a) Know the physiological mechanisms of domestic pets that control reproductive, digestive and behavioural functions.
b) Be able to use the specific language of the discipline and the appropriate scientific terminology.
c) Understanding the interactions and operations between the various organic systems and the effects of behaviour on welfare
d) Be able to clearly explain the physiology, ethology and welfare livestock animals
e) Knowing how to discuss the topics of physiology of pets on the basis of acquired knowledge and zootechnical needs with independent judgment.
f) Link the various topics discussed with each other and with the disciplines related to animal production.
g) Understanding the neuro-physiological bases of animal behaviour.
h) Develop critical analysis skills aimed at solving problems related to the future profession. Training objectives of the practical part: reinforce the principles discussed during the lessons and allow a direct experience of acquisition and interpretation of physiological and behavioral parameters.

Prerequisites

none as described in the didactic statment

Course unit content

The course consider the study of physiological mechanisms that supervise the organic functions that control reproduction, the digestive system, locomotor system, metabolism and animal welfare. Then re treated the systems that control homeostasis of the organism with a close attention to acid-basic and electrochemical system. Are considered in detail the hormonal mechanisms that control the main production in livestock animals. During the course is carried out a depth description of neurohormonal mechanisms that control stress in domestic animal raised under intensive farming. The course considers the ethology of domestic animals and describes the different etogram of livestock species. During the course are treated the technological systems and the biotechnology that can be apply in improving animal welfare and breeding of the livestock farming.
It will be also treated technology that can be applied in intensive farm to adapt the animal to the intensive farming and how to improve their welfare.

Full programme

1 CFU The control of movement and the metabolism of muscolar system.The metabolism: The neuroendocrine control of the metabolism. The effects of nutrient on metabolism. The catabolism and anabolism.
1 CFU. Physiology digestive system in monogastric and ruminant species. The rumen metabolism and the control of the ruminal activity in dairy cow.
1 CFU The physiology of acid-basic system and the buffer system. Thermoregulation: The control of thermoregulation in domestic animals and effect of heat stress on animal production
1 CFU The management of reproduction: The neurohormonal control of physiology of reproduction. The physiology of oestrus cycle. The control of oestrus cycle, ovulation induction and synchronization. The heat behavior and the system to detect it. The system to synchronize ovulation and fixed time artificial insemination.
1 CFU The stress and the neuroendocrine mechanism that control of the stress. The hyphothalamus pituitary and adrenal cortecs axis. The adrenal system.

Homeostasis and the neuroendocrine mechanism that control of physiology of homeostasis.

Bibliography

Notes taken during the course. Recent publish article on the topic of the corse
• Gobetto, Pelagalli, Anatomia e Fisiologia degli Animali Domestici, UTET
• Guyton, A. Trattato di Fisiologia Medica,.C., PICCIN, Padova.
• Cunningham,J.G., Texbook of Veterinary Physiology, Saunders Company, USA.
• Duke's, Physiology of Domestic Animals, Melvin, J.S., Cordell University press.
• De Rensis Fisiologia degli Animali domestici
• Eckert R, Fisiologia animale, Zanichelli, Bologna.
• Moruzzi G. Fisiologia della vita di relazione, UTET, Torino.
• Gordon Fisiologia Animale Piccin
• Schmidt Nielsen Fisiologia Animale Piccin
Siaastad, K. Hove, O. Sand: Physiology of Domestic Animals, 2nd Edition, Scandinavian Veterinary Press, P. Jensen: The Ethology of Domestic
Animals, 2nd Edition, An Introductory Text, CABI Publishing.
• Carenzi, Corrado; Panzera, Michele, Etologia applicata e benessere animale a cura di Corrado Carenzi e Michele Panzera. Milano: PVI Point vétérinaire Italie, 2008. Parte 1 e Parte 2
• Grandin, Temple, Improving animal welfarea practical approachby Temple Grandin. Wallingford: Oxfordshire, Cambridge (MA), CABI, 2010

Teaching methods

The teaching methods and teaching methodologies in relation to the educational objectives stated above will consist of lectures, exercises, seminars, laboratory activities, research in the archive or library.
The activities will take place in telepresence through the use of the Teams and Elly platforms. In particular, they will be
lessons were carried out both in synchronous mode (via Teams) and asynchronously (uploaded on the Elly page of the course). During the lessons the general problems connected with physiology will be discussed, with particular attention to pets.
The practical exercises, if carried out, will have the purpose of providing the possibility for each student to be able to measure themselves in the design of autonomous solutions to the real problems that will be posed. These activities will be programmed so that within each exercise the student can practically realize the solutions of the problems outlined in theoretical form during the lessons.

Assessment methods and criteria

The exam includes a written test with open answers , multiple answers and an oral test. The duration of the written test is 30 minutes. The weight of the individual questions is equal. The total score will be of 30 points. The results of the written test are communicated to the students on the day of the oral test. Students with SLD, SEN or disability must send requests to be able to take advantage of compensatory and / or dispensatory measures during the exam at least 10 working days before the date scheduled for the exam by e-mail addressed to the teacher holding the '' teaching and cc to the Department Coordinator (list of contact persons and related email addresses available here http://cai.unipr.it/it/student-con-dsa-e-con-bes/42/) and to the Reception Center and Inclusion (cai@unipr.it)

Other information

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