Bovine Health Management

A.Y. 2024/2025
8
Max ECTS
128
Overall hours
SSD
AGR/09 AGR/18 VET/02 VET/05 VET/06 VET/09
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
Provide future veterinarians with technical-scientific and cultural "tools" so that after graduation they can effectively integrate into the veterinary system with adequate health, nutritional and management skills. The "tools for thinking and operating in the bovine field" will consist, in addition to theoretical bases, of a set of scientific and technical information relating to the predominant aspects of the veterinarian profession. Through an educational system consisting of actions in breeding, discussion and analysis of cases, specific knowledge will be consolidated with practical experiences of health and zootechnical management of the herd. The substantial practical part carried out in farms dedicated to cattle breeding will give the student the opportunity to study directly in the field the main reproductive, health and zootechnical management programs of the herd, highlighting the positive and critical aspects of each farm and critically reviewing the management structure in its multiple aspects. One of the specific objectives of the course will be the students' direct interaction with the owners, administrators, farm veterinarians and other technicians as well as the workers of the farms.
Expected learning outcomes
Nome del percorso e del coordinatore
BOVINE HEALTH MANAGEMENT
Numero studenti: minimo 3 - massimo 10
Proponente: Prof.ssa Maria Teresa MANFREDI

Objectives
Provide future veterinarians with technical-scientific and cultural "tools" so that after graduation they can effectively integrate into the veterinary system with adequate health, nutritional and management skills. The "tools for thinking and operating in the bovine field" will consist, in addition to theoretical bases, of a set of scientific and technical information relating to the predominant aspects of the veterinarian profession. Through an educational system consisting of actions in breeding, discussion and analysis of cases, specific knowledge will be consolidated with practical experiences of health and zootechnical management of the herd. The substantial practical part carried out in farms dedicated to cattle breeding will give the student the opportunity to study directly in the field the main reproductive, health and zootechnical management programs of the herd, highlighting the positive and critical aspects of each farm and critically reviewing the management structure in its multiple aspects. One of the specific objectives of the course will be the students' direct interaction with the owners, administrators, farm veterinarians and other technicians as well as the workers of the farms.

Expected results
At the end of the course, the student must have acquired theoretical and practical technical and scientific knowledge relating to physiological aspects of reproduction and lactation, parasitic and infectious diseases, foot lesions, nutrition aspects and precision livestock farming of bovines. All these "cultural tools" will allow graduate students to effectively approach herd management in a typically Italian farming context. As has already occurred several times, the probability that students will obtain immediate job offers from the same farms visited is high.

Autonomy of judgement
The student must demonstrate the ability to critically argue the information acquired by interacting proactively with the teacher during the lessons and delving into the contents of the slides or recommended textbooks or other material, also shared with the class

Communication skills
The student must demonstrate the ability to express himself with scientifically appropriate terminology during lessons, both when formulating questions to the teacher and in response to questions asked by the teacher or colleagues.

Ability to learn
The student must demonstrate the ability to use the knowledge acquired to effectively interpret the last part of the study path in order to have complete preparation to enter the world of work, with the help of available sources of knowledge and good mental organization.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Prerequisites for admission
Not applicable
Assessment methods and Criteria
Learning assessment will consist of a pptx presentation of a case-study related to a dairy or beef herds visited during a course; it will aim at ascertaining the acquisition of correct understanding and ability to manage the course topics. The test will be evaluated out of thirty and the final grade will take into account the accuracy and quality of the answers.
REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY IN RUMINANTS
Course syllabus
Reproductive efficiency of bulls and the evaluation of chilled and cryopreserved semen. Methods, technologies, and physiological and endocrinological strategies for estrus detection to identify the optimal time for cow insemination, including the use of controlled-release semen technologies. (8 hours of field trips to farms)
Metabolic and behavioral aspects related to reproduction. (8 hours of field trips to farms)
Teaching methods
Practical exercises in various contexts within the cattle sector
Teaching Resources
There are no specific textbooks; students will be provided with bibliographic references and links to maximize their educational process
PHISIOLOGY OF LACTATION IN RUMINANTS: PRATICAL ASPECTS
Course syllabus
Practical and functional evaluations of mammary development during the different physiological growth stages of dairy cows (from birth to calving). Administration methods and technologies for assessing the quality of colostrum, milk, and lactation efficiency. Practical aspects for evaluating the physiological development of nursing calves. (16 hours of field trips to farms)
Teaching methods
Practical exercises in various contexts within the cattle sector
Teaching Resources
There are no specific textbooks; students will be provided with bibliographic references and links to maximize their educational process
MANAGEMENT OF RUMINANT PARASITIC DISEASES
Course syllabus
Evaluation of risk factors, biosecurity measures, prophylaxis and control plans for parasitic diseases of dairy cattle, beef and calves (10 hours)
- Diagnostic activities in the laboratory (12 hours)
- Visits to dairy cattle farms (10 hours)
Teaching methods
The first part of the course includes seminar activities in which students, through material provided by the teacher, will discuss the risk factors for parasitic diseases of cattle in different farming systems, biosecurity measures and the preparation of control and prophylaxis plans. In the second part, through visits to farms, practical surveys will be carried out to highlight the herd peculiarities that lead to different epidemiological conditions relating to parasitic diseases and diagnostic activities will be carried out in the laboratory on material sampled in the farms
Teaching Resources
No specific material is provided, reading scientific articles suggested by the teacher will be recommended
PREVENTION AND HYGIENIC MANAGEMENT OF UDDER DISEASES
Course syllabus
The course consists of 16 hours of farms visit and workshop relate to this topics:
Analysis of critical points in dairy farms and data analysis relate to milk quality (4h)
Management of bedding and environmental microorganism correlate with intramammary infections (2 h)
Management of colostrum and mastitis disease (2h)
Case report from dairy farm with mastitis problem (2H)
Teaching methods
Management of real case report
Teaching Resources
DHIA data
Scientific literature provided by the teacher
CATTLE FOOT LESIONS
Course syllabus
Anatomy and alterations of the bovine foot (4 hours)
- Anatomical dissections of the bovine foot (3 hours)
- Lesion recognition and description (3 hours)
- Inspections on dairy cattle farms (6 hours)
Teaching methods
All lessons will be set up with deductive teaching in three distinct phases. There are 1- anatomical dissections of the foot - 2- Lesion recognition and description sessions - 3 a practical session in field with direct evaluations of lesions and hands-on program in preventive foot medicine and lesion treatment procedures
Teaching Resources
The reference material will be indicated to the student in the individual lessons and available on the course's Ariel website
BOVINE BREEDING AND NUTRITION
Course syllabus
- Practical analysis of the critical points of the production process, how to identify the critical points and what are the strategies in the farm to plan their effective management, as well as specific managerial and nutritional strategies for stress phases (4 hours)
- How to behave for a correct interaction with animals, practical use of tools to monitor the response of animals to management and nutritional approaches: from the checklist for the evaluation of welfare to the sifting of the diet and faeces, practical rationing and criticality indicators (BCS, Fecal Score, Rumen fill, health, ecc) (4 hours)
- Visits to farms: (8 ore)
Teaching methods
The first part of the course involves a face-to-face discussion on the nutritional and management factors that lead to a reduction in well-being and health status. The topics will be addressed on the basis of the most important and previous scientific studies. In the second part, practical experiences and examples of rations related to health disorders will be discussed.
Teaching Resources
related bibbliography, slides and papers given by the lecturer
PRECISION LIVESTOCK FARMING FOR THE HEALTH MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY CATTLE
Course syllabus
The course consists of 16 hours of exercises divided into practical application activities (4 hours) carried out in the mechanisation laboratory (didactic milking machine ) and exercises (12 hours) using spreadsheets, statistical software, herd management software
Teaching methods
.
The planned activities will be carried out in the farms or in a IT laboratory
Teaching Resources
In electronic format (available on the Ariel website).
Scientific literature provided by the teacher
BOVINE BREEDING AND NUTRITION
AGR/18 - ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEEDING - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Sgoifo Rossi Carlo Angelo
CATTLE FOOT LESIONS
VET/09 - VETERINARY CLINICAL SURGERY - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Shifts:
MANAGEMENT OF RUMINANT PARASITIC DISEASES
VET/06 - PARASITOLOGY AND ANIMAL PARASITIC DISEASES - University credits: 2
Practicals: 32 hours
Shifts:
Turno
Professors: Manfredi Maria Teresa, Villa Luca
PHISIOLOGY OF LACTATION IN RUMINANTS: PRATICAL ASPECTS
VET/02 - VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Professor: Curone Giulio
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Curone Giulio
PRECISION LIVESTOCK FARMING FOR THE HEALTH MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY CATTLE
AGR/09 - AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AND MECHANIZATION - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Tangorra Francesco Maria
PREVENTION AND HYGIENIC MANAGEMENT OF UDDER DISEASES
VET/05 - INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Professor: Moroni Paolo
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Moroni Paolo
REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY IN RUMINANTS
VET/02 - VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Professor: Vigo Daniele
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Vigo Daniele
Professor(s)