Livestock Feeding and Environmental Impact

The aim of the course in Rationing, feeding and environmental impact is to provide students with the basics related to the issue of climate change and related aspects of sustainability, from a scientific point of view, focusing on the role of animal husbandry and the determination of environmental impact. In addition, the basics of the main government policies and acts related to the sustainability of livestock farms will be provided. Some practical, managerial and nutritional strategies aimed at mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing the sustainability of the supply chain will also be studied.

1. Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course, the student will have to demonstrate scientific knowledge of the aspects related to climate change, as well as demonstrate an understanding of the positioning of the different economic-productive sectors in the context of environmental impacts. The student will also have to demonstrate that he/she understands the very meaning of "sustainability" in general and with specific reference to livestock production. The student will have to demonstrate knowledge of the main improvement strategies applicable in breeding.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student will have to demonstrate that he/she possesses knowledge and concepts useful in order to argue the topics covered, with scientific foundations and personal reasoning, in order also to discuss some potential fake news and to discuss the application in breeding and in the supply chain of potential improvement strategies.
3. Critical and judgement skills: the student will have to demonstrate the ability to critically argue the information acquired, applying the notions acquired in class in broader discussions and to the possible implementation of paths to improve sustainability levels with reference to potential practical situations.
4. Ability to communicate what has been learned: the student will have to demonstrate the ability to express himself with scientifically appropriate terminology, in particular with regard to the terminology related to the scientific assessment of environmental impacts and to the language present in the main policy lines treated and studied.
5. Ability to continue the study autonomously throughout life: the student will have to demonstrate the ability to use the acquired knowledge to interpret problems, criticalities, scientific data, new strategies, with the help of available sources of knowledge and a good mental organization.