Organic Animal Husbandry and Feeding
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the basic knowledge on animal production and nutrition in organic farming, with a special focus on production efficiency, animal welfare and feeding strategies capable to satisfy nutritional requirements.
Students will develop theoretical and operational skills necessary to understand, analyse and evaluate the prominent attributes of organic farming for the main livestock systems, according to EU legislation and principles of the organic movements at international level.
The course aims to provide students with the basis of animal nutrition of the main livestock species according to EU regulations legislation on organic farming as well as hints on the supply and availability of feed commodities for organic livestock farming.
Students will develop theoretical and operational skills necessary to understand, analyse and evaluate the prominent attributes of organic farming for the main livestock systems, according to EU legislation and principles of the organic movements at international level.
The course aims to provide students with the basis of animal nutrition of the main livestock species according to EU regulations legislation on organic farming as well as hints on the supply and availability of feed commodities for organic livestock farming.
Expected learning outcomes
- Knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of animal production and nutrition in organic farming.
- Applying acquired knowledge to farm management under organic principles.
- Applying acquired knowledge to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of diets according to the species considered and their physiological state.
- Applying acquired knowledge during farm visits and by discussing simple cases.
- Presenting the acquired knowledge in a clear and orderly way, using appropriate terminology.
- Applying acquired knowledge to farm management under organic principles.
- Applying acquired knowledge to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of diets according to the species considered and their physiological state.
- Applying acquired knowledge during farm visits and by discussing simple cases.
- Presenting the acquired knowledge in a clear and orderly way, using appropriate terminology.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
LECTURES
- Introduction to the topic and presentation of the course. 1 hour.
- General statistical elements: production and market. 2 hours.
- History of the organic movement. 2 hours.
- Principles and values of organic farming. 2 hours.
- Animal production in the context of organic farming. 1 hour.
- Regulatory framework in international and national laws. 4 hours.
- The role of animal welfare in organic farming. 2 hours.
- Selection and breeds for organic production. 2 hours.
- Prevention and treatment in the framework of organic farming. 2 hours
- Production techniques in organic farming: feeding and grazing. 2 hours.
- Organic animal feed: quality of animal nutrition and feed rations. 3 hours.
- Organic animal feed: safety issues. 2 hours.
- Feeding the animals during the conversion phase. 2 hours.
- Formulating balanced rations in organic livestock production. 2 hours.
- Basic information on ruminant and pig farming according to certified organic method. 4 hours.
- Traceability and labelling of organic products. 2 hours.
- Development cooperation projects and organic agriculture. 2 hours.
- Future developments of standards and new alternative approaches to agricultural systems. 3 hours.
PRACTICAL
Practical visits to organic livestock farms. 8 hours
Feed Analysis methods. 3 hours
Control and certification to organic farming methods. 3 hours
Notification steps for starting the conversion phase. 2 hours
- Introduction to the topic and presentation of the course. 1 hour.
- General statistical elements: production and market. 2 hours.
- History of the organic movement. 2 hours.
- Principles and values of organic farming. 2 hours.
- Animal production in the context of organic farming. 1 hour.
- Regulatory framework in international and national laws. 4 hours.
- The role of animal welfare in organic farming. 2 hours.
- Selection and breeds for organic production. 2 hours.
- Prevention and treatment in the framework of organic farming. 2 hours
- Production techniques in organic farming: feeding and grazing. 2 hours.
- Organic animal feed: quality of animal nutrition and feed rations. 3 hours.
- Organic animal feed: safety issues. 2 hours.
- Feeding the animals during the conversion phase. 2 hours.
- Formulating balanced rations in organic livestock production. 2 hours.
- Basic information on ruminant and pig farming according to certified organic method. 4 hours.
- Traceability and labelling of organic products. 2 hours.
- Development cooperation projects and organic agriculture. 2 hours.
- Future developments of standards and new alternative approaches to agricultural systems. 3 hours.
PRACTICAL
Practical visits to organic livestock farms. 8 hours
Feed Analysis methods. 3 hours
Control and certification to organic farming methods. 3 hours
Notification steps for starting the conversion phase. 2 hours
Prerequisites for admission
There are no compulsory propaedeutic exams (barrier exams) but basic knowledge of animal production and nutrition.
Teaching methods
Lectures (40 hours) with projected slides containing text, diagrams or images and videos. Experts may supplement lectures. During lectures specific aspects will be exploited through interactive discussions.
Practicals (16 hours) will be run as specified at the couse syllabus in class, teaching labs (chemical and biological lab) and field visits.
Practicals (16 hours) will be run as specified at the couse syllabus in class, teaching labs (chemical and biological lab) and field visits.
Teaching Resources
Presentations and teaching materials discussed during the course will be available on Ariel website.
Assessment methods and Criteria
There are 7 exam sessions taking place in: January, February, April, June, July, September and October. Extra exam sessions only for students enrolled in supplementary years take place on request in March, May and November/December.
It is compulsory to register for the exam trough the SIFA online service.
Verification will take place through a single exam, consisting of an oral interview aimed to evaluate knowledge and understanding of the lectures' subjects and of the practice activities. The test will be evaluated in thirtieths and the score will take into account the accuracy and the capacity to motivate the answers, as well as the capacity to explain the concepts acquired with appropriate and updated terminology.
It is compulsory to register for the exam trough the SIFA online service.
Verification will take place through a single exam, consisting of an oral interview aimed to evaluate knowledge and understanding of the lectures' subjects and of the practice activities. The test will be evaluated in thirtieths and the score will take into account the accuracy and the capacity to motivate the answers, as well as the capacity to explain the concepts acquired with appropriate and updated terminology.
AGR/18 - ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEEDING
AGR/19 - ANIMAL SCIENCE
AGR/19 - ANIMAL SCIENCE
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professors:
Barbieri Sara, Rebucci Raffaella
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)