B9739 - Systems and Technologies for a Sustainable Livestock Farming

Learning outcomes

The students will acquire the knowledge on innovative technologies for a sustainable livestock farming. In particular, the course will focus on the automatization and informatization of animal management (precision livestock farming), the reduction of livestock environmental impact (with reference to Italian and European legislation), the slurry management and the production and use of renewable energy at farm level (with a focus on biogas plants for energy and biomethane production).

Course contents

Teaching module 1:

• Sustainable development: Definition, evolution of the concept of sustainability. Key principles, objectives, regulations objectives. Livestock-environment interactions.

• Challenges of the livestock sector in sustainable development and its contribution to climate change: Environmental balances and climate change, animal health and welfare, climate and natural land use.

• Emissions and environmental impact of livestock systems, assessment methodologies and sustainable mitigation practices. Overview of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology: definition, potential use, benefits, and challenges. Principles and methods of Life Cycle Thinking and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The 4 common stages of LCA: i) Goal and Scope definition; ii) Life Cycle Inventory Analysis; iii) Life Cycle Impact Assessment; iv) Interpretation. Examples of LCA studies applied in livestock farming.

Teaching module 2:

Systems and technologies to increase livestock farming sustainability:

• Technologies for automated barn systems and precision livestock farming;
• Biogas plants: anaerobic digestion process, technologies for livestock manure management and valorisation;
• Agrivoltaic and modern photovoltaic systems

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials for this course are available on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en ).

Further readings:

• Allevamento animale e sostenibilità ambientale: i principi, Vol. 1, Franco Angeli ed., 2018
• Allevamento animale e sostenibilità ambientale: le tecnologie, Vol. 2, Franco Angeli ed., 2018
• Gian Luca Baldo, Massimo Marino, Stefano Rossi. Analisi del ciclo di vita LCA- Gli strumenti per la progettazione sostenibile di materiali, prodotti e processi. Manuali di progettazione sostenibile - Edizioni Ambiente 2008 - ISBN 9788889014820
• Calamari L., Bertoni G., Model to evaluate welfare in dairy cow farms. Ital. J. Anim. Sci. 2009, 8, 301-323.
• EFSA, Scientific report on the effects of farming systems on dairy cow welfare and disease. Report of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare. Annex to the EFSA J. 2009, 1143:1-38
• Arthur Wellinger, Jerry Murphy, David Baxter, The biogas handbook: science, production and applications. Woodhead Publishing, 2013
• AA.VV. Precision livestock farming applications. Making sense of sensors to support farm management Edited by Ilan Halachmi Wageningen Academic Publishers.
  
• A. Guidobono Cavalchini, La mungitura. Tecnologie, scelta e gestione degli impianti, Edagricole, 2010
• Supplementary material related to topical issues. 

Teaching methods

Lectures in class.

During the course technical visits and/or seminars will be planned and will be held by experts.

With regards to the laboratory activities and technical visits, the following protocol holds: in consideration of the types of activities and teaching methods adopted, the attendance of the activity requires the attendance and completion of Modules 1 and 2 in e-learning mode [https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio] and the attendance of Module 3 of specific training on safety and health in study places. Information on dates and methods of attendance for Module 3 can be consulted in the specific section of the degree program website.

Assessment methods

The assessment of learning takes place solely through the final exam, which verifies the acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills through an oral test lasting approximately 30 minutes, without the aid of notes or books. The oral test consists of three questions for each module, covering the topics discussed during the course.

In Learning Module 1, students are afforded the opportunity to craft a presentation that delves into the topics covered throughout the course. Based on this presentation, questions will be asked.

The evaluation will be proportional to the student's ability to properly and critically argue the answers to the questions asked during the examination.The grading criterion for the mark will be, therefore, as far as possible, the following:

Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course, and ability to analyse which emerges only with the help of the teacher, expression in a overall correct language: 18-19;
Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and ability to autonomously analyse only on purely executive issues, expression in correct language: 20-24;
Preparation on a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous critical analysis, control of specific terminology: 25-29;
Substantially comprehensive preparation on the topics faced in the course, ability to make autonomous critical analysis and linking, full control of the specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflect: 30-30L.

The recording teacher is Prof. Mirko Maraldi.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Instruments and lab material, computer, videos, animal monitoring softwares.

Office hours

See the website of Mirko Maraldi

See the website of Francesca Valenti