Animal Production
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide basic knowledge of the main nutrient requirements of the various animal species used in livestock production, of the basic criteria for diet formulation and evaluation, and to expand the knowledge regarding the composition and nutritive value of feeds. The aim of the course is also to develop practical skills in the use of spreadsheets and application software for diet formulation.
Moreover, another goal is to provide students the essential knowledge about production and consumption of poultry and rabbit meat, egg and fish products, rearing systems, feeding and nutrition of rabbit, broiler, laying hen and aquatic species. Moreover, aspects relating to animal welfare, environmental impact and quality of the products will also be discussed.
Moreover, another goal is to provide students the essential knowledge about production and consumption of poultry and rabbit meat, egg and fish products, rearing systems, feeding and nutrition of rabbit, broiler, laying hen and aquatic species. Moreover, aspects relating to animal welfare, environmental impact and quality of the products will also be discussed.
Expected learning outcomes
The student will acquire competences on nutrition and feeding of the main species for livestock production, and will acquire skills for diet formulation adapted to the needs of the professional activity in support to the livestock company, and also in preparation of the master's in-depth studies.
Moreover, following this course and technical visits the student will acquire the basic knowledge to work in rabbit and poultry farms and in aquaculture sector. Moreover, through the analysis of case studies and insights presented in the class, the student will acquire critical skills necessary to understand and address the specific problems of the different production systems.
Moreover, following this course and technical visits the student will acquire the basic knowledge to work in rabbit and poultry farms and in aquaculture sector. Moreover, through the analysis of case studies and insights presented in the class, the student will acquire critical skills necessary to understand and address the specific problems of the different production systems.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Poultry, rabbit and aquaculture productions (6 CFU)
Lectures (5 CFU, 40 hours)
Poultry production (3.5 CFU, 28 hours)
- production and consumption, integrated production chains and hybrids for meat or egg production (2 hours)
- environment, equipments and poultry facilities (4 hours)
- farming systems and management of poultry breeders and artificial incubation (4 hours)
- broiler rearing (6 hours)
- turkey rearing (2 hours)
- laying hen rearing in cages and alternative systems (6 hours)
- slaughter, quality and nutritional value of poultry meat and eggs.
Rabbit production (0.5 CFU, 4 hours)
- production and consumption, environment, equipments and rabbit facilities (2 hours)
- reproductive rhythms, rearing and feeding techniques of rabbit doe and growing rabbit (2 hours).
Aquaculture production (1 CFU, 8 hours):
- global and Italian production and consumption of fish products, fishing and aquaculture (2 hours)
- productive systems and rearing facilities (2 hours)
- trout and euryhaline species production (2 hours)
- sustainability of aquaculture and quality of fish products (2 hours).
Field exercises (1 CFU, 16 hours)
Visits to livestock farms to verify in the field the theoretical notions acquired during the course (16 hours).
Practical Animal Feeding (4 CFU; 2.5+1.5)
Lectures (2.5 CFU, 20 hours)
- Feeding system and feed management for different group of animals in function of physiological and production phases in the main species of livestock (4 hours).
- Notes on precision feeding and automated feeding systems (4 hours)
- Dietary plans for dairy and beef cattle: ingestion of water and dry matter, chemical and nutritional composition of the diets (4 hours).
- Evaluation of some parameters to evaluate the correctness of the diet of lactating cows (2 hours).
- Dietary plans in pigs in the different stages of growth and in pregnant and lactating sows: feed, chemical and nutrient composition of the diets (4 hours).
- Dietary plans in avian and rabbit species (4 hours).
- The concept of optimization in the diet formulation: feed composition constraints and constraints on the intake of dry matter, energy and nutrients (2 hours).
Classroom exercises (1 CFU, 16 hours)
Computer exercises for calculating the correct formulation of the diets.
- Implementation and use of a spreadsheet for the formulation of diets for cattle (dairy and meat), pigs and poultry (12 hours).
- Optimization of diet formulation using the Excel spreadsheet solver (4 hours).
Field exercises (0.5 CFU, 8 hours)
Visits to livestock farms to verify in the field the theoretical notions acquired during the course (8 hours).
Lectures (5 CFU, 40 hours)
Poultry production (3.5 CFU, 28 hours)
- production and consumption, integrated production chains and hybrids for meat or egg production (2 hours)
- environment, equipments and poultry facilities (4 hours)
- farming systems and management of poultry breeders and artificial incubation (4 hours)
- broiler rearing (6 hours)
- turkey rearing (2 hours)
- laying hen rearing in cages and alternative systems (6 hours)
- slaughter, quality and nutritional value of poultry meat and eggs.
Rabbit production (0.5 CFU, 4 hours)
- production and consumption, environment, equipments and rabbit facilities (2 hours)
- reproductive rhythms, rearing and feeding techniques of rabbit doe and growing rabbit (2 hours).
Aquaculture production (1 CFU, 8 hours):
- global and Italian production and consumption of fish products, fishing and aquaculture (2 hours)
- productive systems and rearing facilities (2 hours)
- trout and euryhaline species production (2 hours)
- sustainability of aquaculture and quality of fish products (2 hours).
Field exercises (1 CFU, 16 hours)
Visits to livestock farms to verify in the field the theoretical notions acquired during the course (16 hours).
Practical Animal Feeding (4 CFU; 2.5+1.5)
Lectures (2.5 CFU, 20 hours)
- Feeding system and feed management for different group of animals in function of physiological and production phases in the main species of livestock (4 hours).
- Notes on precision feeding and automated feeding systems (4 hours)
- Dietary plans for dairy and beef cattle: ingestion of water and dry matter, chemical and nutritional composition of the diets (4 hours).
- Evaluation of some parameters to evaluate the correctness of the diet of lactating cows (2 hours).
- Dietary plans in pigs in the different stages of growth and in pregnant and lactating sows: feed, chemical and nutrient composition of the diets (4 hours).
- Dietary plans in avian and rabbit species (4 hours).
- The concept of optimization in the diet formulation: feed composition constraints and constraints on the intake of dry matter, energy and nutrients (2 hours).
Classroom exercises (1 CFU, 16 hours)
Computer exercises for calculating the correct formulation of the diets.
- Implementation and use of a spreadsheet for the formulation of diets for cattle (dairy and meat), pigs and poultry (12 hours).
- Optimization of diet formulation using the Excel spreadsheet solver (4 hours).
Field exercises (0.5 CFU, 8 hours)
Visits to livestock farms to verify in the field the theoretical notions acquired during the course (8 hours).
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology of domestic animals and animal nutrition and feeding is required.
Teaching methods
The teachers will use lectures (7.5 CFU), classroom exercises and technical visits to farms (2.5 CFU).
Teaching Resources
- Avicoltura e coniglicoltura. Cerolini S., Marzoni Fecia di Cossato M., Romboli I., Schiavone A., Zaniboni L., Ed. Le Point Veterinaire Italie (2015).
- Produzioni animali. Sandrucci A., Trevisi E., Ed. Edises (2022).
- Zootecnia di precisione e tecnologie innovative in allevamento. Abeni F., Nannoni E., Sandrucci A., Ed. Le Point Veterinaire Italie (2024).
- Nutrizione e alimentazione degli animali in produzione zootecnica - Bovini, suini e polli. Antongiovanni M., Mele M., Buccioni A., Edagricole-New Business Media (2019).
- Prontuario degli alimenti per il suino di Daniele Cevolani, Edagricole-New Business Media.
- Manuale di Nutrizione dei Ruminanti da Latte. Autori vari. Coordinamento e revisione a cura di Rochi B., Savoini G., Trabalza Marinucci M.. Ed. EdiSES Università (2020).
- Teaching material published on the teaching site on MY ARIEL platform.
- Produzioni animali. Sandrucci A., Trevisi E., Ed. Edises (2022).
- Zootecnia di precisione e tecnologie innovative in allevamento. Abeni F., Nannoni E., Sandrucci A., Ed. Le Point Veterinaire Italie (2024).
- Nutrizione e alimentazione degli animali in produzione zootecnica - Bovini, suini e polli. Antongiovanni M., Mele M., Buccioni A., Edagricole-New Business Media (2019).
- Prontuario degli alimenti per il suino di Daniele Cevolani, Edagricole-New Business Media.
- Manuale di Nutrizione dei Ruminanti da Latte. Autori vari. Coordinamento e revisione a cura di Rochi B., Savoini G., Trabalza Marinucci M.. Ed. EdiSES Università (2020).
- Teaching material published on the teaching site on MY ARIEL platform.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will be an oral test with the aim of verifying the knowledge acquired and the ability to apply this knowledge with a practical formulation of a diet.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
AGR/18 - ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEEDING - University credits: 4
AGR/20 - AQUACULTURE, POULTRY AND RABBIT SCIENCE - University credits: 6
AGR/20 - AQUACULTURE, POULTRY AND RABBIT SCIENCE - University credits: 6
Practicals: 40 hours
Lessons: 60 hours
Lessons: 60 hours
Professors:
Rapetti Luca, Toschi Ivan
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday 14.30 -16.30
Office