Sustainable Animal Husbandry
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course aims to clarify the role of livestock systems in the context of agricultural systems and to investigate aspects of the sustainability of livestock activities in terms of pollution, production, product quality and animal welfare. It will also provide the skills and tools for the evaluation of resources and critical factors of modern farming systems.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will have acquired knowledge to monitor and improve modern livestock systems, thanks to the study of sustainability parameters and to the most current research methods in the field.
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
Main topics: - Livestock farming in Italy and in the world; - Livestock farming and environment: excretions, emissions and non renewable resources consumption; nitrogen excretion and methane emissions; regulations, evaluation and mitigation strategies; evaluation of environmental impact through Life Cycle Assessment. - Food safety: main risks associated to animal origin food; regulations and strategies to reduce the risks - Animal Welfare: stress factors and methods for the evaluation; regulations concerning animal husbandry, transportation and slaughtering. -
Visits to livestock farms
Visits to livestock farms
Prerequisites for admission
General information about animal husbandry and animal nutrition
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with student involvement; computer classroom lessons for learning the rudiments of the use of programs for environmental impact assessment through the Life Cycle Assessment method; educational visits to intensive and extensive livestock farms
Teaching Resources
Notes from the course lesson and online documents on ARIEL UNIMI website
Books: 1) B. Stefanon , M. Mele , G. Pulina. Allevamento animale e sostenibilità ambientale: I principi. Franco Angeli; 2) B. Stefanon , M. Mele , G. Pulina. Allevamento animale e sostenibilità ambientale: Le tecnologie. Franco Angeli
Books: 1) B. Stefanon , M. Mele , G. Pulina. Allevamento animale e sostenibilità ambientale: I principi. Franco Angeli; 2) B. Stefanon , M. Mele , G. Pulina. Allevamento animale e sostenibilità ambientale: Le tecnologie. Franco Angeli
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a written test divided into three open questions that will focus on the main areas of sustainability covered in the course: environment, food safety and animal welfare.
Evaluation criteria: adherence to the question; ability to correctly frame discuss the topic; logic and sequence of concepts; ability to synthesize; correctness of the Italian form
The mark is expressed in thirtieths
Evaluation criteria: adherence to the question; ability to correctly frame discuss the topic; logic and sequence of concepts; ability to synthesize; correctness of the Italian form
The mark is expressed in thirtieths
AGR/19 - ANIMAL SCIENCE - University credits: 6
Field activity: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Via Celoria 2
Reception:
by appointment (send an email)
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali (sezione Zootecnica) via Celoria 2 Milano