Animal Welfare and Sustainable Animal Production
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The main goals of the course are to provide the essential knowledge of animal welfare concept and the animal husbandry techniques that are able to respect physiological demands and behaviour, and of the meaning of sustainable breeding associated to the main techniques necessary for an environmentally friendly animal husbandry.
Expected learning outcomes
The course will provide the students with the necessary skills to evaluate and recognize, through scientific methods, the application of guidelines regarding animal welfare, and to evaluate the sustainability of animal production.
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
Course syllabus
E.U. 1:
Introduction to the concept of animal welfare (2 hours)
On-farm welfare assessment (3 hours)
Approach to behavioural studies: adaptation, behavioural needs, and stress (2 hours)
The domestication process (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of dairy cattle (3 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of beef cattle (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of pigs (3 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of goats (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of sheep (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of buffaloes (1 hour)
Behaviour and welfare of equids (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of poultry (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of rabbits (1 hour)
Animal welfare during transport (2 hours)
Animal welfare at the slaughterhouse (2 hours)
Methods for measuring behaviour (1 hour)
E.U. 2:
- Introduction to the concept of sustainable livestock farming: environmental impact, animal welfare and food safety
- Characteristics and sustainability of some intensive and extensive farming systems in Italy (indoor conventional livestock farming, organic livestock farming, mountain livestock farming, outdoor livestock farming)
- Precision livestock farming and sustainability
- Educational visits to livestock farms
Introduction to the concept of animal welfare (2 hours)
On-farm welfare assessment (3 hours)
Approach to behavioural studies: adaptation, behavioural needs, and stress (2 hours)
The domestication process (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of dairy cattle (3 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of beef cattle (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of pigs (3 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of goats (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of sheep (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of buffaloes (1 hour)
Behaviour and welfare of equids (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of poultry (2 hours)
Behaviour and welfare of rabbits (1 hour)
Animal welfare during transport (2 hours)
Animal welfare at the slaughterhouse (2 hours)
Methods for measuring behaviour (1 hour)
E.U. 2:
- Introduction to the concept of sustainable livestock farming: environmental impact, animal welfare and food safety
- Characteristics and sustainability of some intensive and extensive farming systems in Italy (indoor conventional livestock farming, organic livestock farming, mountain livestock farming, outdoor livestock farming)
- Precision livestock farming and sustainability
- Educational visits to livestock farms
Prerequisites for admission
E.U. 1: Basic knowledge of husbandry systems and anatomy and physiology of farm animals
E.U. 2: Basic knowledge of husbandry and feeding techniques of the main livestock species.
E.U. 2: Basic knowledge of husbandry and feeding techniques of the main livestock species.
Teaching methods
E.U. 1: Frontal lectures, classroom practice and seminar activities.
E.U. 2: Frontal lectures with student involvement; educational visits to intensive, extensive and organic livestock farms
Attendance is highly recommended. The face-to-face lessons are streamed on the Teams channel of the course, while all the slides presented during the lessons are available on Ariel.
E.U. 2: Frontal lectures with student involvement; educational visits to intensive, extensive and organic livestock farms
Attendance is highly recommended. The face-to-face lessons are streamed on the Teams channel of the course, while all the slides presented during the lessons are available on Ariel.
Teaching Resources
E.U. 1: Lecture slides, lecture recordings and scientific papers available online on the Ariel web site
Additional insights:
· C. Carenzi e M. Panzera (Eds) 2008. "Etologia applicata e benessere animale". Vol. 1 - Parte generale. Le Point Veterinaire Italie srl, Milano. ISBN 978-88-95995-52-6.
· C. Carenzi e M. Panzera (Eds) 2009. "Etologia applicata e benessere animale". Vol. 2 - Parte speciale. Le Point Veterinaire Italie srl, Milano. ISBN 978-88-95995-53-3.
· Protocolli Welfare Quality®: www.welfarequality.net/en-us/home/
· Protocolli AWIN: https://air.unimi.it (cercare "AWIN protocol")
· University Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW): www.ufaw.org.uk
· International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE): http://www.applied-ethology.org/index.html
· Commissione Europea (Animal Welfare): https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/welfare_en
· Organizzazione Mondiale per la Sanità Animale (OIE): www.oie.it
· Autorità Europea per la Sicurezza Alimentare (EFSA): www.efsa.europa.eu/it
E.U. 2: Lecture slides and scientific papers available online on the Ariel web site
Additional insights:
· C. Carenzi e M. Panzera (Eds) 2008. "Etologia applicata e benessere animale". Vol. 1 - Parte generale. Le Point Veterinaire Italie srl, Milano. ISBN 978-88-95995-52-6.
· C. Carenzi e M. Panzera (Eds) 2009. "Etologia applicata e benessere animale". Vol. 2 - Parte speciale. Le Point Veterinaire Italie srl, Milano. ISBN 978-88-95995-53-3.
· Protocolli Welfare Quality®: www.welfarequality.net/en-us/home/
· Protocolli AWIN: https://air.unimi.it (cercare "AWIN protocol")
· University Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW): www.ufaw.org.uk
· International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE): http://www.applied-ethology.org/index.html
· Commissione Europea (Animal Welfare): https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/welfare_en
· Organizzazione Mondiale per la Sanità Animale (OIE): www.oie.it
· Autorità Europea per la Sicurezza Alimentare (EFSA): www.efsa.europa.eu/it
E.U. 2: Lecture slides and scientific papers available online on the Ariel web site
Assessment methods and Criteria
E.U. 1 and E.U. 2
The exam consists of an oral test at the end of the course
Evaluation criteria: theoretical and applicative knowledge of the subjects; ability to correctly frame the topic with proper connections; properties of technical and scientific language.
The grade is expressed in thirtieths and will derive from the weighed average of the evaluations obtained for the two educational units
The exam consists of an oral test at the end of the course
Evaluation criteria: theoretical and applicative knowledge of the subjects; ability to correctly frame the topic with proper connections; properties of technical and scientific language.
The grade is expressed in thirtieths and will derive from the weighed average of the evaluations obtained for the two educational units
Benessere animale
AGR/19 - ANIMAL SCIENCE - University credits: 4
Lessons: 32 hours
Professor:
Battini Monica
Zootecnia sostenibile
AGR/19 - ANIMAL SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Field activity: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor:
Sandrucci Anna Alfea
Professor(s)
Reception:
on appointment
Reception:
by appointment
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Via Celoria 2