Animal Welfare and Extensive Husbandry System

The teaching aims to clarify the role of extensive livestock systems within agricultural systems and to provide the necessary tools for an adequate assessment of animal welfare. The objectives of the course are: to provide students with the tools to analyze animal welfare issues in the variety of extensive and organic husbandry systems; to evaluate the welfare conditions of animals using indicators; to support correctly the management choices of farmers having knowledge of the ethological needs of different animal species. The course also aims to define the types of breeding and feeding for extensive and semi-extensive livestock linking the traditional knowledge of livestock with the new needs of rural development; moreover, to manage organic livestock in reference to the regulations in force.

The teaching will allow to identify situations of compromised animal welfare and to intervene correctly to resolve the situation. Thanks to the knowledge acquired, students will be aware of the most critical issues in extensive farming and will be able to suggest animal welfare-friendly farming systems. They will learn how to evaluate animal welfare through the use of indicators. In addition, the skills acquired will allow the proper management of breeding techniques, feeding and rationing and reproduction of farm animals mainly in extensive or semi-extensive farming systems with particular regard to the environmental impact of the farm, the enhancement of animal resources and production in the systems considered. Skills will be acquired on the links between livestock activities and agro-ecological systems. Skills will be acquired on the management of organic livestock.