Extensive Livestock Feeding and Grazing
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the student principles of livestock nutrition in free range-based farming systems and of grazing management. In this respect, the course provides insights into the evaluation of nutritive characteristics of different feed and pastures, monitoring of feeding behaviour,, and guidelines for feed supplementation. Moreover, the course provides basic information on grazing methods and techniques to maintain and restore productive grassland.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: the student, at the end of the course, will have to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles of nutrition management in free range and pasture-based farming systems and management and maintenance of grazing resources. Applying knowledge and understanding : the student will have to demonstrate ability to apply knowledge of animal nutrition and maintenance of grazing resources management to simple simulated cases. Making judgments: the student will have to demonstrate the ability to critically present the information acquired, by means of discussions in class and specific seminars. Communication: the student is expected to use scientifically appropriate language, in particular terminology referring to animal nutrition and grazing management. The practical activities and seminars are intended to stimulate the ability to use specific terminology and the ability to discuss scientifically with peers. Lifelong learning skills: the student must gain the ability to use acquired knowledge to interpret new scenarios , for instance searching scientific databases and critically organising new information.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Lectures
Pasture-based ecosystems in Alpine, Apennine and Mediterranean areas (3 hours)
Different methodologies for the evaluation of pasture quality and yield (3 hours)
Foraging behaviour and diet selection of different grazing species: cattle, sheep, goats, equine, swine (3 hours)
Feed intake in pasture-based systems: forage quality, level of pasture substitution, estimation of pasture intake (4 hours)
Pasture and grazing management: grazing systems (4 hours)
Management and maintenance of grazing resources: techniques to maintain and restore productive grassland (4 hours)
Management and maintenance of grazing resources: preventing pasture degradation (3 hours)
Assessing the nutritional status of grazing livestock. Indicators of the nutritional status of grazing animals (4 hours)
Nutritional management of dairy cows in Alpine pasture-based systems . Energy and protein balance. Supplementation of dairy cows grazing Alpine pastures: guidelines (4 hours)
Nutritional management of dairy sheep and goats in Mediterranean pasture-based systems (4 hours)
Pasture and animal product quality: milk, meat, fibre (4 hours)
Practice
Nutritional evaluation of fresh grass from different pastures: main chemical composition. Lipid components. Plant secondary metabolites. (4 hours)
Practical guidelines for supplementing grazing animals (4 hours)
Seminars on technical aspects and management of livestock nutrition in pasture-based systems/guided visits to pasture-based farms (8 hours)
Lectures
Pasture-based ecosystems in Alpine, Apennine and Mediterranean areas
Different methodologies for the evaluation of pasture quality and yield
Foraging behaviour and diet selection of different grazing species: cattle, sheep, goats, equine, swine
Feed intake in pasture-based systems: forage quality, level of pasture substitution, estimation of pasture intake
Pasture and grazing management: grazing systems.
Management and maintenance of grazing resources: techniques to maintain and restore productive grassland.
Management and maintenance of grazing resources: preventing pasture degradation
Assessing the nutritional status of grazing livestock. Indicators of the nutritional status of grazing animals
Nutritional management of dairy cows in Alpine pasture-based systems . Energy and protein balance. Supplementation of dairy cows grazing Alpine pastures: guidelines
Nutritional management of dairy sheep and goats in Mediterranean pasture-based systems
Pasture and animal product quality: milk, meat, fibre
Practice
Nutritional evaluation of fresh grass from different pastures
Seminars on technical aspects and management of livestock nutrition in pasture-based systems
Practical guidelines for supplementing grazing animals
Pasture-based ecosystems in Alpine, Apennine and Mediterranean areas (3 hours)
Different methodologies for the evaluation of pasture quality and yield (3 hours)
Foraging behaviour and diet selection of different grazing species: cattle, sheep, goats, equine, swine (3 hours)
Feed intake in pasture-based systems: forage quality, level of pasture substitution, estimation of pasture intake (4 hours)
Pasture and grazing management: grazing systems (4 hours)
Management and maintenance of grazing resources: techniques to maintain and restore productive grassland (4 hours)
Management and maintenance of grazing resources: preventing pasture degradation (3 hours)
Assessing the nutritional status of grazing livestock. Indicators of the nutritional status of grazing animals (4 hours)
Nutritional management of dairy cows in Alpine pasture-based systems . Energy and protein balance. Supplementation of dairy cows grazing Alpine pastures: guidelines (4 hours)
Nutritional management of dairy sheep and goats in Mediterranean pasture-based systems (4 hours)
Pasture and animal product quality: milk, meat, fibre (4 hours)
Practice
Nutritional evaluation of fresh grass from different pastures: main chemical composition. Lipid components. Plant secondary metabolites. (4 hours)
Practical guidelines for supplementing grazing animals (4 hours)
Seminars on technical aspects and management of livestock nutrition in pasture-based systems/guided visits to pasture-based farms (8 hours)
Lectures
Pasture-based ecosystems in Alpine, Apennine and Mediterranean areas
Different methodologies for the evaluation of pasture quality and yield
Foraging behaviour and diet selection of different grazing species: cattle, sheep, goats, equine, swine
Feed intake in pasture-based systems: forage quality, level of pasture substitution, estimation of pasture intake
Pasture and grazing management: grazing systems.
Management and maintenance of grazing resources: techniques to maintain and restore productive grassland.
Management and maintenance of grazing resources: preventing pasture degradation
Assessing the nutritional status of grazing livestock. Indicators of the nutritional status of grazing animals
Nutritional management of dairy cows in Alpine pasture-based systems . Energy and protein balance. Supplementation of dairy cows grazing Alpine pastures: guidelines
Nutritional management of dairy sheep and goats in Mediterranean pasture-based systems
Pasture and animal product quality: milk, meat, fibre
Practice
Nutritional evaluation of fresh grass from different pastures
Seminars on technical aspects and management of livestock nutrition in pasture-based systems
Practical guidelines for supplementing grazing animals
Prerequisites for admission
The course has no specific prerequisites
Teaching methods
Lectures (40 hours, 5 CFU). Practical activities (16 hours, 1 CFU). Lectures and seminars will be presented with the support of Power Point slides.
Teaching Resources
Lecture notes on each topic will be provided online (in PDF format) prior to each class session.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The methods and criteria for assessing the student's performance are made available by the professor at the beginning of the didactic activities. The exam consists of a written final test with three open-ended questions and an optional partial ongoing test. The time given for the written test is 30 minutes. The score is expressed in thirtieths. The assessments are designed to test students' retention of core knowledge and measure their ability to apply this in different contexts. The results of the written exams will be available on Ariel. .
AGR/18 - ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEEDING - University credits: 6
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professors:
Cattaneo Donata Maria Iolanda Renata, Savoini Giovanni
Shifts:
Professor(s)