Animal Welfare and Extensive Husbandry System

(E.U. 1 - animal welfare
Introduction to the concept of animal welfare (2 hours)
On-farm welfare assessment (3 hours)
Approach to the study of ethology: adaptation, behavioural needs, and stress (2 hours)
The domestication process (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of dairy cows (3 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of calves (1 hour)
Behaviour and welfare of beef cattle (1 hour)
Behaviour and welfare of pigs (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of goats (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of sheep (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of equids (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of laying hens and broilers (2 hours)

(E.U. 2 - environmental sustainability)
Introduction to the environmental sustainability of livestock
Main categories of environmental impact related to the livestock production (climate change, acidification, eutrophication, land use, and water use)
Ecosystem services of the livestock sector
Characteristics and environmental sustainability of organic livestock farming
Characteristics and environmental sustainability of mountain livestock farming
Characteristics and environmental sustainability of livestock farming in marginal areas
Strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of livestock farming

(E.U. 3 - extensive systems)
Typical productions in extensive or semi-extensive livestock systems.
Pasture management, its nutritional value and grazing food supplementation.
Breeding and feeding techniques of the main income species raised in extensive and semi-extensive conditions.
Nutrition management in extensive farms and comparison with intensive ones typical of the plains; the different production efficiency of the two systems.
Main breeds bred and the types of breeding.
Principles governing organic livestock farming.
Regulations for the management of organic cattle and pig farms.
Issues related to organic farming.

All E.U.s - on farm visits