Degree Course: Technologies for the sustainable management of livestock systems Syllabus for A.Y. 2022/2023  

1. Neuroendocrine system.
2. Digestive function.
3. Reproduction.
4. Physiology of lactation.
5. Growth.
6. Thermoregulation.
7. Stress physiology.
8. Immune system.

Fisiologia degli animali domestici. Con elementi di etologia.
Giovanni Aguggini, Viscardo Beghelli, Ludovico Giulio.
UTET, 1992.

Concepts of quantitative and molecular genetics applied to animal husbandry: definition of locus, genes, gene and genotype frequencies; Mendel's laws; Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
Concepts of molecular biology, genetic markers, genotyping and sequencing. Additive, dominant and recessive models. Genomic diseases.
Inheritability of productive and reproductive traits. Concept of kinship and consanguinity.
Selection and genetic improvement. Evaluation of genetic progress.
The objectives and selection schemes in different livestock species: pedigree, performance, sib and progeny test
Estimation of reproductive values, expected genetic progress (EBV) and reliability.
Genomic selection
Reproduction technologies: artificial insemination, ovum pick up and use of embryos

Teaching materials: slide and video on moodle

Statistics applied to genetic improvement: from basic concepts to the calculation of inbreeding, heritability of characters, the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test.
How to build a breeding scheme in different livestock species.
How to use data produced with genotyping in breeding: genomic selection and identification of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL)

Teaching materials: slide and video on moodle

• Generalities and definitions
• Elements of physics: pressure, thermodynamic aspects, references to energy balances and heat exchange.
• Environmental parameters: physical parameters.
• Simulation models for microclimatic parameters
• continuous monitoring of external environmental parameters (temperature, pressure, speed; and wind direction, solar radiation) by means of special control units;
• monitoring of the microclimate of indoor environments with unmanned control units: from the survey of the main environmental parameters (air temperature, average radiant temperature, air speed, relative humidity, dew temperature, atmospheric pressure, average natural lighting) it is possible to determine the indices of well-being (UNI 7730), such as the expected average grade (PMV) and the value of the expected percentage of dissatisfied (PPD).
• Evaluation of environmental parameters for monitoring in severe hot and cold environments (IREQ and PHS).
• Air quality monitoring systems in indoor and outdoor environments (carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, benzene and ozone)
• measurements of the concentration of radon gas in indoor environments;
• monitoring of polluting emissions (carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, dust) of heating systems powered by different fuels and the effect on the environment.
• Sensors for monitoring environmental parameters and data acquisition and processing: data loggers and PLCs and transducers.
• Man-machine interconnected systems for the livestock sector.
• Practise

Lecture notes and lecture notes (available online).

Elements of General Chemistry. Electronic structure of the atom. Electronic configuration. Lewis structures. Chemical bonds. Types of bonds. Inorganic chemical compounds. Acids and bases. pH of solutions. Hybridization.
Organic Chemistry. Classes of compounds. Functional groups. Alkanes: structure, nomenclature and properties. Structural isomers. Conformational isomers. Alkenes, alkynes, halogenated compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene derivatives, aromatic heterocyclic compounds, alcohols, phenols, ethers, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids: structure, nomenclature and properties. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Acidity. Amines: structure, nomenclature and properties. Basicity. Stereoisomers. Chiral molecules. Biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, peptides, proteins, purines, pyrimidines, nucleosides, nucleotides, nucleic acids: chemical structure and biological role.

Lecture slides are available on the UnitusMoodle platform but to achieve a good level of preparation, the following text is recommended:
Essential Organic Chemistry - B. Botta, edi-ermes

1. Behavioral aspects.
2. Grasping of food, chewing, rumination and defecation.
3. Estral manifestations.
4. Milk ejection.
5. Sucking milk.
6. Thermoregulation.
7. Evaluation of the protective value of colostrum.

Fisiologia degli animali domestici. Con elementi di etologia.
Giovanni Aguggini, Viscardo Beghelli, Ludovico Giulio.
UTET, 1992.

1. Introduction to the course: aims and articulation.
2. Farms’ evolution in recent decades.
3. Livestock farms economics.
a. Classification of livestock farms’ capitals.
b. Economic evaluation of livestock farms’ capitals.
c. General classification of production costs and typical production costs of livestock farms.
d. The economic balance of livestock farms.
4. Livestock farm accounting.
a. Accounting records.
b. Elementary book-keeping entries.
c. General book-keeping entries.
5. Livestock farm management.
a. Reconstruction of the cultivation costs of fodder crops.
b. Reconstruction of the milk production costs.
6. Analysis of a business plan of livestock farm.

Teaching materials made available by the teacher.

1. Data collection and processing of market prices of livestock products
2. Reconstruction of the cultivation costs for a forage system through the use of crop-growing schemes
3. Reconstruction of the cost of feed rations
4. Reconstruction of the herd value
5. Use of accounting and management software for the survey of accounting data and elaboration of the economic budget

Material made available by the teacher.

Introduction to crops with hints on the main agronomic techniques for crop management.
Forage crops:
- Definition, classification and diffusion in the national territory in relation to pedo-climatic and structural constraints.
- Bio-physiological and agronomic characteristics of the main essences.
- Classification, evaluation, management and improvement of natural forage resources;
- Technical cultivation itineraries.

Use of fodder:
- Methods of using forage;
- Grazing;
- Conditioning and conservation (haymaking and silage).

Pasture forage systems:
- Organization, classification, structure and functioning of extensive forage systems.
Intensive forage systems:
- Organization, classification, structure and functioning of intensive forage systems, in support of dairy cattle and sheep breeding.

- R. Baldoni, L. Giardini, Coltivazioni Erbacee – Vol. 3 Foraggere e tappeti erbosi. Ed. Patron, Bologna ;
- Monographs and scientific articles of specific interest will be recommended during the lessons.

Field and laboratory exercises related to:
- agronomic cultivation techniques (tilling the land, fertilizing, irrigation, sowing, mowing, forage conservation)
- analytical determinations
- forage crops
- grazing management
- forage systems

teaching material distributed by the teacher