Livestock Farming in Mountain Areas

Module 1 - Anatomy and physiology of domestic animals
The module aims to provide the student with the necessary knowledge to understand how to provide the animals with the optimal conditions for their well-being and health.
· Basic notions of animal cells and tissues (characteristics and functions of epithelial, connective, muscular and nervous tissues), (8 hours)
· Locomotor system: structure and physiology of the bone. Anatomy and physiology of the muscle fiber, (2 hours).
· Circulatory system. Anatomy of the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries. Physiology of the myocardium, cardiac cycle, regulation of cardiovascular functions. Blood cells, plasma and serum. Hemopoiesis, hemostasis and coagulation. Lymph and lymphatic tracts (2 hours).
· Respiratory system. Anatomy of the respiratory tract, lungs, pleura. Respiratory cycle physiology, gas transport, nervous breath control (2 hours).
· Digestive system. Anatomy of the oral cavity, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach in the monogastric, stomach in the polygastric, intestines, pancreas and liver. Physiology of food chewing, salivary secretion, swallowing, motility of the stomach and forestomach, rumen fermentations, gastric, pancreatic, and enteric juice, bile, intestinal motility, digestion and absorption (4 hours).
· Urinary system. Anatomy of kidney, ureter, bladder and urethra, renal circulation. Physiology of glomerular filtration, reabsorption and secretion, endocrine regulation, renal hormones, water-saline homeostasis, urine composition (2 hours).
· Female reproductive system. Anatomy of ovary, fallopian tube, uterus. Physiology of oogenesis, estrus cycle, female reproductive hormones. Pregnancy and parturition (2 hours).
· Male reproductive system. Anatomy of testis, spermatic ducts, sexual glands accessory. Physiology of spermatogenesis, male reproductive hormones, related glands, and their function. Sperm structure and fertilization process (2 hours).
· Integumentary system and related glands. Udder morphology and mammary gland structure. Physiology of lactogenesis (milk and colostrum), endocrinology of lactation and milk synthesis (2 hours).
· Anatomy, physiology, and habitat of some wild species (2 hours)

Lectures will be completed with 8 hours of practical classes (equal to 0.5 CFU) divided into microscopy sessions that will allow the student to personally apply the knowledge acquired to the description and evaluation of histological preparations; interactive seminars on the main morphological and physiological investigation methods. Attendance at both is strongly recommended.

Module 2 - Animal Production
The aim of the course is to provide the basic knowledge about husbandry, breeding and feeding techniques of dairy and beef cattle with a specific focus on the issues of alpine areas.
The course will give the skills to understand and assess the main issues of animal food quality and the relationships between productive factors and final products.
- Statistics, economics and regulations: animal production in Italy and Europe; main issues of the alpine area; IGP and DOP products; notices of laws and regulations on animal production and animal food.
- Elements of animal genetics: principles in cattle selection, genealogy books, dairy and beef cattle breeds.
- Elements of nutrition of domestic animals: animal feeds and their evaluation.
- Milk production: factors affecting yield and quality of milk and milk products (genetics, feeding and environment). Dairy herd management and feeding. Laws and regulations on milk production.
- Replacement farm: clves and heifers.
- Beef cattle production: carcass evaluation; beef cattle breeds; factors affecting meat production and quality. Relationships between breed, rearing techniques and quality of meat and meat products. Laws and regulations on meat production