Animal Production
Module ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: Salvatore BORDONARO

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding abilitiesThe student will acquire knowledge on zootechnical systems, zootechnical demography and ethnology, the genetic causes of production variability, to derive principles and methods of farm management and genetic improvement of breeds and the quality of animal production.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding abilitiesThe student will be able to describe the variables of livestock systems, identifying the main production characteristics in the territories and the choices of the breeds according to their specialization: milk and meat. The student will be able to distinguish the roles of breed associations and protection consortia.

Making judgements: The diversification of teaching activities will help to enhance the autonomy of judgment and the critical sense. The set of knowledge and skills acquired through lectures and other activities (including: thematic insights, video tutorials, seminars with sector experts, classroom discussions, workshops and technical visits) will offer the student various useful forms of learning to encourage conscious learning and autonomously make the appropriate choices based on specific requests.

Communication skills: Attending lessons and reading the recommended texts will help the student in the acquisition and use of technical language; the use of study sources in English will allow you to acquire the foundations of technical language in this language too. The student will be encouraged to use technical language during classroom discussions, during other activities and during ongoing tests which will also favor the acquisition of synthesis skills.

Learning skills: The organization of teaching represents a study and work method that is based on the importance of the quality of the sources and can be replicated and pursued independently. This method can be useful for the preparation of the degree thesis, for the continuation of studies and for the continuous updating of the knowledge and skills necessary for the profession.

Course Structure

Lectures and exercises (classroom and company), also on line

If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported  syllabus.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline.

It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

Required Prerequisites

knowledge of chemical and biological areas and applied to food of animal origin

Detailed Course Content

Animal production systems:

Genetic resources and their productios.

Milk and meat production in cattle, sheep, goat and swine.

Endangered authochtonous breeds.

Zootechnical productions and choice of reproducers using phenotypic observations;

Cross breeding to improve the quality of the productions

Exercises and technical visits will be carried out at livestock farms

Textbook Information

Produzioni Animali (EdiSRS Università): Anna Sandrucci e Erminio Trevisi 

Other teaching material will be made available in the repository STUDIUM and will include:

-) Copies of the power points presented during the classes and seminars.

-) Link to the video tutorials.

-) Scientific articles and other material


AutoreTitoloEditoreAnnoIsbn

AuthorTitlePublisherYearISBN
Sandreucci e TrevisiProduzioni AnimaliEdiSES Università2022ISBN 978-88-3623-0754

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1ISTAT and VI Agricultural Census BDN (National Database). Doing business in Zootechnics: The zootechnical system Intensive, extensive, semi-extensive, semi-intensive, landless farming systems. "Hoarding or bartering"Notes of and copies of the slides presented during classes. Search for statistical sources
2Outline of animal anatomy and morphology. Morphological types and productive attitudes: Specialization in milk production; Specialization in meat production; Dual attitudeNotes of and copies of the slides presented during classes.
3Genetic types specialized for the production of milk in the bovine species, Dual breeds. Breed Association and Protection Consortia.Relevant chapters of books (2, 3 e 4). Notes of and copies of the slides presented during classes and thematic seminars, as well as links to the tutorial videos used
4Biodiversity and the role of slow food in the conservation and enhancement of breeds and products of animal origin; Quality brands, Valorisation of single-breed dairy productsNotes of and copies of the slides presented during classes.
5Specialized genetic types: The production of meat in the bovine species Quality brands: IGP White Beef of the Central Apennines. Pig breeds and quality brands: IGP Padano Pig, Mediterranean PigSpecific chapters of the suggested book (20, 21, 22, 31, 32 e 34)., notes and copies of the slides presented during lectures and thematic seminars and links to the projected videos
6Sheep and goat production: sheep's milk and Italian PDO cheeses, goat's milk and the polymorphism of milk caseins. Safeguarding of biodiversity of zootechnical interest.Specific chapters of the suggested book (17 e 18). Notes and copies of the slides presented during lectures and thematic seminars and links to the projected videos
7The quality of the milk used in the dairy supply chain: Lactodynamography and polymorphism of k casein The Parmiggiano Notes of and copies of the slides presented during classes
8Hints of genetic improvement: qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Breeding assessment test; the crossing technique aimed at improving productionsNotes of and copies of the slides presented during classes
9Technical visits to livestock farms, processing companies of products of animal origin and institutions operating in the sectorNotes of and copies of the slides presented during classes

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

In itinere tests and final oral interview.

The grading of the students will follow the following scheme:

- Not Eligible

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: important shortcomings and significant inaccuracies

Autonomy of judgment and communication skills: irrelevant. Frequent generalizations and inability to synthesize

Deepening skills: Irrelevant

- 18-21

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: low level. Demonstrates numerous deficiencies in knowledge and understanding of the study program.

Autonomy of judgment and communication skills: just sufficient. The arguments are expressed in an inconsistent and fragmented way.

Deepening skills: imprecise and irrelevant.

- 22-25

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: medium level. Demonstrate sufficient knowledge and understanding of the study program.

Autonomy of judgment and communication skills: sufficient analytical and synthesis skills. The arguments are expressed in a logical and coherent way.

Deepening skills: sufficiently relevant.

- 26-29

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: high level. Demonstrates a high knowledge and understanding of the study program.

Autonomy of judgment and communication skills: high analytical and synthesis skills. The arguments are expressed by demonstrating a high critical evaluation and good language properties

Deepening skills: high

- 30-30 with praise

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: excellent level. Demonstrates excellent knowledge and understanding of the study program.

Autonomy of judgment and communication skills: analytical and synthesis skills worthy of note. The arguments are expressed by demonstrating an excellent critical evaluation and excellent language properties.

Deepening skills: excellent

 Verification of learning can also be carried out remotely, if conditions make it necessary

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

1.  Livestock demography: number of cattle reared in Italy and main breeding regions; The landless livestock system

 2. Biometrics; The digestive system in goats and pigs

 3. Difference between "Respiratory Type" and "Digestive Type"

 4. The average production and quality of milk in Italian Bruna; examples of Sicilian livestock products enhanced by Slow Food

 5. The Italian IGP quality marks to protect national breeds; Heavy pig production in Italy

 6. Main sheep breeds with prevalent milk production; polymorphism of goat milk caseins and possible uses

 7. Lactodinamographic parameters and effects on dairy yield; Single-breed cheeses certified by the EU

 8. Difference between wool and fur; Main quantitative traits of zootechnical interest

 9. The performance test; The sib test

10. Industrial crossroads; Commercial hybrids; the selection for the quality of the milk to be used for cheese making