ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Academic Year 2020/2021 - 1° Year
Teaching Staff Credit Value: 12
Course Language: Italian
Taught classes: 70 hours
Exercise: 28 hours
Term / Semester:

Learning Objectives

  • Animal production systems

    Provide knowledge on livestock systems, on the structural characteristics of animal populations, on genetic causes the variability of productions. Know the role of genetic types and the dynamics of selection aimed at improving the quality of sustainable livestock production

  • Animal metabolism and product quality

    This course will give to the student the information about the metabolic mechanisms that affect the quality of animal products and in particular milk and meats


Course Structure

  • Animal production systems

    Lectures and exercises (classroom and company), also on line

    If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.

    Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

  • Animal metabolism and product quality

    As established by the didactic regulations, the course will be divided into lectures and other activities. The conventional approach of frontal teaching will be dedicated to the discussion of the main themes of the program and will be integrated with other teaching tools. Some topics will be developed through dedicated thematic in-depth seminars, held by the teacher or by experts on the subject. The projection of thematic video tutorials and their comment in the classroom will help to make specific topics understood more effectively. Other topics will be the subject of activities and practical exercises carried out in the classroom, in the production companies and in the laboratory.

    If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.


Detailed Course Content

  • Animal production systems

    Animal production systems:

    Genetic resources and their productios.

    Milk and meat production in cattle, sheep, goat and swine.

    Endangered authochtonous breeds.

    Application of genetics to livestock production:

    Breeding objectives, breeds characteristics, crossbreeding, selection criteria and genetic evaluation.

  • Animal metabolism and product quality

    Elements of animal morphology. Nutrients: structural and non structural carbohydrates; the fibre according to the Van Soest system (NDF; ADF ADL; AIA); Crude protein and protein fractions according to the Cornell system (A, B1 B2 B3C) and INRA (PDI); lipids and ruminal bio-hydrogenation of fatty acids. Elements of anatomy and physiology of digestion in monogastric and ruminants. The udder: anatomy and the lactation. Definition of quality for milk and meat.The effects of animal feeling on milk and meat quality. If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.


Textbook Information

  • Animal production systems

    1) Bittante G., Andrighetto I., Ramanzin M. Fondamenti di Zootecnica (Liviana Editrice)

    2) Bittante G., Andrighetto I., Ramanzin M. Tecniche di Produzione Animale (Liviana Editrice);

    3) Dialma Balasini – Zoognostica, per la conoscenza, la valutazione e la scelta degli animali. Edagricole

  • Animal metabolism and product quality

    Pulina (Editor) Dairy sheep feeling and nutrition – Avenue media