96986 - Applied Ethology and Precision Livestock Farming

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will reach a good level of knowledge of the main behaviors, physiology and pathological symptoms in production animals (ruminants, small ruminants, horses, and pigs). The student will be able to apply this knowledge to obtain an in-depth understanding of the monitoring system named precision livestock system (LPF) applied to the direct management of animals both from the point of reproductive and food production. In particular, the student is able to: - understand the principles on which LPF is based, be able to understand critically, interpreting the data generated by the various monitoring systems on the market, and propose solutions to the farmer in case of warnings for the health and welfare of animals reported by the monitoring system.

Course contents

Introduction to behaviour and its evaluation. Social, feeding, sexual and maternal behaviour in ruminants, small ruminants, horses and pigs. Principles of welfare assessment. Main behavioural variations caused by the main technopathologies affecting production animals. Introduction to precision devices for animal husbandry on the market. Evaluation of their effectiveness in farm operations.

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching material consists of both the material presented in lectures and made available to students on the virtual platform, and the teaching reference text.
Reference text:
Precision animal husbandry and innovative technologies in animal husbandry. (in Italian)

Teaching methods

The teaching will comprise 20 hours of lectures, supported by images and films, with the aim of enabling the student to acquire a range of basic information to evaluate the main aspects of ethology and PLF. The remaining hours will be used for study visits and seminars held by specialists in the field.

Assessment methods

The examination is based on a powerpoint presentation in Italian (14-15 slides) addressing one or more precision techniques adopted in one or more livestock species, describing their positive and negative aspects. This will be followed by two questions on the behavioural aspects addressed in the lecture.

Learning will be assessed as follows
a very thorough knowledge of the topics covered in the course, together with high levels of critical analysis, linking skills and mastery of specific terminology will be assessed with the maximum mark (30-30L);
a thorough knowledge of the topics addressed in the course, together with good analytical and critical skills and a secure command of the specific terminology will be assessed with good marks (27-29);
a technically adequate preparation and sufficient capacity for analysis, even if not particularly articulate, expressed in correct language, will produce fair marks (23-26);
sufficient preparation and sufficient ability to analyse, expressed in barely formally correct language, will result in sufficient marks (18-22).

Teaching tools

PC, projector of images, thermocamera

Office hours

See the website of Leonardo Nanni Costa