35681 - Animal Breeding

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows all the elements necessary for morphological evaluation of the major livestock species and the main features of ethnographic.

Course contents

Morphological, physiological, biological and psychological characters. Habitus and complexion. Species, sub groups and specific race. Regions in bovine, equine and pigs. Perpendicularity, on-site movements and gaits. Coats and their peculiarities. Age determination in cattle and horses. Determination of body condition score (BCS) in cattle and horses. Productive attitudes. Main breeds of cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and ewes. Livestock breeding methods in practice. Methods of castration and effects of castration. Variability of characters. Causes of changes: environment, nutrition, fitness function of different organs.

Readings/Bibliography

Falaschini A. Zootecnia generale, Edagricole Bologna, 1994

Veggetti A., Falaschini A. Anatomia, fisiologia, zoognostica. Edagricole scolastico, 2009

Bittante G., Andrighetto I., Ramanzin M. Fondamenti di Zootecnica, Liviana Ed. 1990

Iconographic material of the ethnography of the different species prepared by the students is available online at: http://erclib.vet.unibo.it/jb/ud/falaschini/

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars and practical activities. During the course frequently is required by the teacher the interactivity with students on issues already undertaken necessary to understand the topic of the day.

Assessment methods

Final oral test will be done at the end of the course.

Teaching tools

The course for the theoretical part will be done in the classroom with audio-visual systems; the practical part, evaluations of the animals, measurements, etc. .. is performed in specially equipped classrooms for the containment of horses and cattle to allow the student a first approach with the animal also physically. Exercises are also conducted on dairy cattle in the experimental cowshed.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Tassinari