Ree Smartcow - Precision Dairy Farming
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The laboratory aims to offer to the student the opportunity to understand the current challenges of precision livestock farming using tools and sensors that are used in research and in the commercial field to monitor the conditions of animals and their performances as well as the efficiency and adequacy of the systems and structures that come into contact with them. The topic will be addressed as a research project, starting from a theoretical study of a problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting, processing and interpreting measured data.
Expected learning outcomes
The student will learn about the main indicators and tools to monitor and study the main aspects related to dairy farming: milk production and quality, well-being and behavior, health, farming environment, efficiency of plant and equipment operation. He/she will acquire the ability to process, integrate and interpret output data from sensors, instruments and other sources, also developing simple forecasting models for decision support. The activities will favor the development of soft skills such as team working, leadership, autonomy, problem solving, communication skills.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The laboratory will focus on a topic of Precision Livestock Farming that will change from year to year. Among the proposed topics are:
Milking efficiency and udder health.
Welfare, behavior, health, and reproductive efficiency of cattle.
Monitoring environmental, behavioral, and physiological indicators for assessing the health and welfare of replacement calves.
The laboratory will primarily take place at the educational and experimental farm Menozzi in Landriano (PV), affiliated with the University of Milan. A day in the Computer Lab at Via Celoria 2 is also scheduled.
Milking efficiency and udder health.
Welfare, behavior, health, and reproductive efficiency of cattle.
Monitoring environmental, behavioral, and physiological indicators for assessing the health and welfare of replacement calves.
The laboratory will primarily take place at the educational and experimental farm Menozzi in Landriano (PV), affiliated with the University of Milan. A day in the Computer Lab at Via Celoria 2 is also scheduled.
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of the physiology and husbandry techniques of the main livestock species
Teaching methods
The laboratory will be structured as follows:
Lectures will be given to introduce the topics covered and the safety regulations at the farm. There will also be a lecture on report preparation.
Practical sessions will be held in the stable to learn the use of tools, sensors, and protocols, as well as to collect experimental data.
The students themselves, guided by the teachers, will engage in theoretical in-class activities, focusing on indicators and their meanings (physiological, productive, etc.), information provided by currently available tools and sensors, and opportunities offered by integrating data from different sources.
In-class activities will involve data processing, including data analysis, interpretation, and the development of simple predictive models to support decision-making.
Prior to the laboratory, enrolled students will be provided with bibliographic material for further exploration of the project's topics.
At the end of the laboratory, students will prepare a written report in English and give a presentation of the results.
Lectures will be given to introduce the topics covered and the safety regulations at the farm. There will also be a lecture on report preparation.
Practical sessions will be held in the stable to learn the use of tools, sensors, and protocols, as well as to collect experimental data.
The students themselves, guided by the teachers, will engage in theoretical in-class activities, focusing on indicators and their meanings (physiological, productive, etc.), information provided by currently available tools and sensors, and opportunities offered by integrating data from different sources.
In-class activities will involve data processing, including data analysis, interpretation, and the development of simple predictive models to support decision-making.
Prior to the laboratory, enrolled students will be provided with bibliographic material for further exploration of the project's topics.
At the end of the laboratory, students will prepare a written report in English and give a presentation of the results.
Teaching Resources
Students will be provided with scientific papers on the topics covered
Assessment methods and Criteria
The assessment of learning outcomes will be based on the written report in English and the final presentation by the students. In particular, the evaluation criteria will be based on: demonstration of theoretical and applied knowledge of the matter; ability to properly frame the topic and discuss it with appropriate connections; logic and sequence in introducing concepts; adequacy of the statistical approach; proficiency in technical and scientific language.
The evaluation will consist of a pass/fail judgment.
The evaluation will consist of a pass/fail judgment.
AGR/19 - ANIMAL SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Field activity: 32 hours
Lessons: 8 hours
Lessons: 8 hours
Professors:
Bava Luciana, Sandrucci Anna Alfea
Professor(s)
Reception:
on request
Reception:
by appointment
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Via Celoria 2