Zooculture

MANAGEMENT OF AVIAN, AQUATIC AND LAGOMORPH SPECIES

MANAGEMENT OF AVIAN SPECIES
The aims is to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge of game birds reared both for hunting and for conservation. The course will provide a basic understanding of the biology, behavior and management techniques of the main species.
Moreover it will provide students with knowledge on alternative poultry rearing system different from the intensive integrated system. The learning will be supported by lectures and visits to alternative poultry and wildlife farms.

STRUCTURE OF COURSE:
Lectures 2 CFU = 16 hours
Introduction, classification of species and relative importance 2 hours
General principles of the rearing techniques for the following species:
Pheasant 2 hours
Partridge 2 hours
Red-legged partridge 1 hour
Quail 1 hour
Anseriformes 2 hours

Alternative poultry production:

Morphological and behavioural description of poultry breeds 2 hours
Extensive and organic poultry rearing systems with standards 4 hours

AQUACULTURE AND RESTOCKING
This module teaches the basic principles of fish farming and stock enhancement. Water quality and principles of ecology of inland water are also covered.
STRUCTURE OF THE MODULE:
Aquatic environment
Lake environment: types of lakes, trophic status, areas of lakes
River environment: the continuum river from source to mouth
Aquatic fauna
Native species
Exotic species
Fish hatcheries
Farming trout for restocking
Farming of other salmonids (whitefish, char, grayling)
Sturgeons farming
Cyprinids farming
Pike and perch farming
Eels farming

BREEDING OF LAGOMORPHS

AIMS:

The course of breeding of Lagomorphs aims to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge of the management of the rabbit and the hare bred for recreational purposes and wildlife-hunting, compared to intensive farming, in accordance with the law relating to animal welfare .
The lectures will be supported by video recordings and exercises on the matters dealt with and visits to farms sector.

Lectures (theoretical lessons):

Lagomorphs: evolution of the species. (1 hour)
Feeding of the Lagomorphs: nutritional principles, digestive physiology and cecotrophy. (3 hours)
Reproduction and Artificial Insemination (2 hours)
Environmental Microbiology (2 hours)
Breeding and Management of Rabbit: Managerial Aspects and Animal Health. (2 hours)
Breeding and Management of Hare: Managerial Aspects and Animal Health. (4 hours)
Legislative Aspects and Animal Welfare (2 hours)

Exercises (practical lessons):

Visits to farms and structures in the sector (12 hours)
Infrared Thermography for the Census of Wildlife: Theoretical and Applied Aspects. (4 hours)

The module provides exhaustive knowledge of the macro- and microanatomy in aquatic species (digestive, integument, respiratory, urogenital and nervous systems). The module comprises 16 hours of theoretical teaching with or without the use of models.