Equipment, Plants and Machinery for Livestock Production
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The course aims to: provide the skills related to the aspects of mechanization for livestock husbandry including systems at high automation level; study the operating principles of machines and plants; evaluate their performances and limitations of use, also from the safety point of view. With regard to the structures for livestock breeding, the course aims to provide knowledge about the structures supporting the animal housing, with particular reference to milking parlours, storages for forage and livestock feed. The course also aims to provide knowledge and design elements to deal with the problems of agricultural waste management from the point of view of structures and plant engineering, with particular reference to the management of livestock manure in protecting the environment and technologies and processes for its agronomic treatment and enhancement.
Expected learning outcomes
Ability to define and critically choose automatic milking and feeding systems. To perform performance and energetic analysis on machines and plants for the livestock farm. To acquire the capability to dimension and design milk storage and cooling systems. To define the most important criteria about safety for designing and using machines and plants for livestock husbandry. Critical evaluation of the requirements of the structures of livestock farms supporting production and criteria for their sizing in relation to farm needs. Design and functional criteria of structures and facilities for the management of agricultural wastes. Calculation and simulation tools to support the correct management and treatment of livestock effluents for environmental protection.
Lesson period: First 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
First semester
Didactic methods
The lessons will be held remotely on the Microsoft Teams platform in synchronous mode according to the established schedule. The lessons will be recorded and available to students for asynchronous viewing.
Some face-to-face lessons may be scheduled (presentation of the teaching and distance learning organization, instructions for creating the report required for the exam, discussion). In any case it will be possible to attend these lessons online.
Program and reference material
The program and reference material will not change. Recordings of the lessons and supplementary material in the form of videos will be made available on the ARIEL website of the various teaching units.
Learning assessment procedures and assessment criteria
Examination according to the procedures provided using the Microsoft Teams platform or, where the regulations allow, in presence.
The lessons will be held remotely on the Microsoft Teams platform in synchronous mode according to the established schedule. The lessons will be recorded and available to students for asynchronous viewing.
Some face-to-face lessons may be scheduled (presentation of the teaching and distance learning organization, instructions for creating the report required for the exam, discussion). In any case it will be possible to attend these lessons online.
Program and reference material
The program and reference material will not change. Recordings of the lessons and supplementary material in the form of videos will be made available on the ARIEL website of the various teaching units.
Learning assessment procedures and assessment criteria
Examination according to the procedures provided using the Microsoft Teams platform or, where the regulations allow, in presence.
Course syllabus
Teaching unit: Mechanization of livestock farms
The automatic milking systems (AMS). Characteristics, operation principles, dimensioning and adaptation of the barn layout according to a correct internal logistic.
The automatic feeding systems (AFS). Typologies, functional principles and criteria of operative choices.
Verification of performances related to milking machines and plants, using measuring instruments and standardised methods. The measure of vacuum, the pulsation cycle analysis, the methods for technical and energetic analysis of electric engines, principles of safety related to electric plants for barn.
Milk storage and cooling at farm level: description, operation principles and dimensioning according to the milk production and the requested temperature.
Teaching unit: Livestock structures
The ancillary structures for livestock farms: milking parlor, food and forage deposits.
Criteria for the sizing of milking facilities.
Food storage design: vertical and horizontal silos.
Safety in livestock farms.
Design criteria for removal systems and effluent storage facilities in relation to the risk of environmental impact
Containers for the storage of effluents. Types and sizing criteria.
Teaching unit: Manure management
Characteristics of wastewater and regulatory constraints.
Characteristics and management methods of agricultural waste.
Regulatory and legislative references.
Criteria for choosing the effluent management system according to the relationship between agricultural settlement and surrounding area. The agronomic use of livestock manure. The drafting of the nutrient management plans. The treatment of animal manure. Main processes for the treatment (chemical, physical, biological). Aerobic and anaerobic treatments. Structures and plants for manure treatment: separators; settlers, aeration basins, digesters, filters. The production of energy from anaerobic plants. Design of anaerobic and aerobic plant. The management of wastewater in relation to farm and environmental needs. Constructed wetlands systems. Systems for the transport and distribution of manure. Criteria for choosing the wastewater management system based on plant alternatives.
The automatic milking systems (AMS). Characteristics, operation principles, dimensioning and adaptation of the barn layout according to a correct internal logistic.
The automatic feeding systems (AFS). Typologies, functional principles and criteria of operative choices.
Verification of performances related to milking machines and plants, using measuring instruments and standardised methods. The measure of vacuum, the pulsation cycle analysis, the methods for technical and energetic analysis of electric engines, principles of safety related to electric plants for barn.
Milk storage and cooling at farm level: description, operation principles and dimensioning according to the milk production and the requested temperature.
Teaching unit: Livestock structures
The ancillary structures for livestock farms: milking parlor, food and forage deposits.
Criteria for the sizing of milking facilities.
Food storage design: vertical and horizontal silos.
Safety in livestock farms.
Design criteria for removal systems and effluent storage facilities in relation to the risk of environmental impact
Containers for the storage of effluents. Types and sizing criteria.
Teaching unit: Manure management
Characteristics of wastewater and regulatory constraints.
Characteristics and management methods of agricultural waste.
Regulatory and legislative references.
Criteria for choosing the effluent management system according to the relationship between agricultural settlement and surrounding area. The agronomic use of livestock manure. The drafting of the nutrient management plans. The treatment of animal manure. Main processes for the treatment (chemical, physical, biological). Aerobic and anaerobic treatments. Structures and plants for manure treatment: separators; settlers, aeration basins, digesters, filters. The production of energy from anaerobic plants. Design of anaerobic and aerobic plant. The management of wastewater in relation to farm and environmental needs. Constructed wetlands systems. Systems for the transport and distribution of manure. Criteria for choosing the wastewater management system based on plant alternatives.
Prerequisites for admission
Being a first year, first semester course, there are no specific prerequisites other than those required for enrolment to the degree course
Teaching methods
The teaching methods consist of:
a) frontal lesson
b) classroom exercises also with group work
c) field visits
The course does not have compulsory attendance, but it is strongly recommended the lessons participation.
a) frontal lesson
b) classroom exercises also with group work
c) field visits
The course does not have compulsory attendance, but it is strongly recommended the lessons participation.
Teaching Resources
Teaching unit: Mechanization of livestock farms
1. Notes of the lessons on the Ariel website
3. Monographic articles indicated during the lessons
Teaching unit: Livestock Structures
1. Notes of the lessons on the Ariel website
Teaching unit: Manure management
1. Notes of the lessons on the Ariel website
2. Research Report n. 93 - Lombardy Region
3. Monographic articles indicated during the lessons
1. Notes of the lessons on the Ariel website
3. Monographic articles indicated during the lessons
Teaching unit: Livestock Structures
1. Notes of the lessons on the Ariel website
Teaching unit: Manure management
1. Notes of the lessons on the Ariel website
2. Research Report n. 93 - Lombardy Region
3. Monographic articles indicated during the lessons
Assessment methods and Criteria
For the unit of mechanization of livestock farms, the exam consists of a written test, with sizing exercises on machines and systems, followed by an oral interview.
For the unit of Structures for zootechnical farms, there is a written exam through which the degree of mastery of the design tools provided during the lessons will be assessed.
For the manure management unit, an examination based on an individual report is envisaged. The exam involves the discussion of the report through which the degree of mastery of the design tools provided during the lessons will be assessed.
For the three teaching units, the exam mark will be based on:
- theoretical knowledge of the topics of Teaching Unit;
- practical knowledge of the subject matter of Teaching Unit:
- ability to speak technical language correlated with Teaching Unit.
The final mark will be calculated as weighted average of the mark that the student will get in the
three different Teaching Units, and it will be expressed in thirty.
For the unit of Structures for zootechnical farms, there is a written exam through which the degree of mastery of the design tools provided during the lessons will be assessed.
For the manure management unit, an examination based on an individual report is envisaged. The exam involves the discussion of the report through which the degree of mastery of the design tools provided during the lessons will be assessed.
For the three teaching units, the exam mark will be based on:
- theoretical knowledge of the topics of Teaching Unit;
- practical knowledge of the subject matter of Teaching Unit:
- ability to speak technical language correlated with Teaching Unit.
The final mark will be calculated as weighted average of the mark that the student will get in the
three different Teaching Units, and it will be expressed in thirty.
Gestione dei reflui zootecnici
AGR/09 - AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AND MECHANIZATION
AGR/10 - RURAL BUILDINGS AND AGRO - FOREST LAND PLANNING
AGR/10 - RURAL BUILDINGS AND AGRO - FOREST LAND PLANNING
Field activity: 4 hours
Practicals: 12 hours
Lessons: 24 hours
Practicals: 12 hours
Lessons: 24 hours
Professor:
Provolo Giorgio Mario
Meccanizzazione degli allevamenti zootecnici
AGR/09 - AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AND MECHANIZATION
AGR/10 - RURAL BUILDINGS AND AGRO - FOREST LAND PLANNING
AGR/10 - RURAL BUILDINGS AND AGRO - FOREST LAND PLANNING
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 8 hours
Lessons: 8 hours
Professor:
Calcante Aldo
Strutture per gli allevamenti zootecnici
AGR/09 - AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AND MECHANIZATION
AGR/10 - RURAL BUILDINGS AND AGRO - FOREST LAND PLANNING
AGR/10 - RURAL BUILDINGS AND AGRO - FOREST LAND PLANNING
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 8 hours
Lessons: 8 hours
Professor:
Riva Elisabetta
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment only
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Agricultural Engineering area
Reception:
on demand previuos contact by email
Dept. Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Agricultural Engineering Building n. 10 - Farm Structures and Environment group