Feeding and Genetics

Lectures 16 hours:
Biodiversity, ecosystems and agro-ecosystems (3 hrs.);
Domestication and breed development (3 hrs.);
Conservation and valorisation of animal genetic resources (4 hrs.);
Management of genetic variation (4 hrs.);
Genetic improvement: double purpose in cattle, nucleus selection in small ruminants (2 hrs.).

Practice 16 hours:
Domestication and breed development (2 hrs.);
Breeds for high nature value farming (7 hrs.);
Management of genetic variation (5 hrs.);
Genetic improvement: double purpose in cattle, nucleus selection in small ruminants (2 hrs.).

Lectures
Pasture-based ecosystems in Alpine, Apennine and Mediterranean areas (1 hrs)
Evaluation of pasture quality and yield (2 hrs)
Foraging behaviour and diet selection of different grazing species: cattle, sheep, goats, equine, swine (1 hour)
Feed intake in pasture-based systems: forage quality, level of pasture substitution, estimation of pasture intake (2 hrs.)
Pasture and grazing management: grazing systems. Preventing pasture degradation (2 hrs.)
Assessing the nutritional status of grazing livestock. Indicators of the nutritional status of grazing animals (2 hrs.)
Nutritional management of dairy cows in Alpine pasture-based systems . Energy and protein balance. Supplementation of dairy cows grazing Alpine pastures: guidelines (2 hrs)
Nutritional management of dairy sheep and goats in Mediterranean pasture -based systems (2 hrs)
Pasture and animal product quality: milk, meat, fibre (2 hrs.).

Practice
Seminars from professionals (4 hours)
Guided visits to pasture-based farms (8 hrs)
Practical guidelines for supplementing grazing animals (4 hrs)