35681 - Animal Breeding

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows all the elements needed for a morphological evaluation of livestock species, and the main features of ethnographics.

Course contents

Introduction and zootechnical terminology: The concept of animal breeding and zoognostic. Taxonomy and subspecies groups. Nomenclature of different species of breeding interest. Terminology applied to morpho-functional evaluation of livestock species: beauty, merits, vices, defects. The student is expected to learn and correctly use all the different terminologies learnt.

Traits and zoometry: Animal morphological, physiological, and psychological traits. Habitus, temperament and morphological types. Zoometry and different measurements in livestock species. The student is expected to know the different types of livestock animals; he is expected to know also the most important linear measurements in livestock.

Coats: Coats classification of livestock species. The student is expected to recognize and distinguish the different coats of livestock animals (bovine, swine, ovine, caprine, equine).

Bovine breeds: Dairy specialized breeds, meat specialized breeds, and dual-purpose breeds reared in Italy and abroad. The student is expected to know the main morphological, (re)productive, and functional characteristics of the different bovine breeds and their main area of breeding.

Swine breeds: Occidental, Oriental and autochthonous breeds. Heavy pigs and crossbreeding. The student is expected to know the main morphological, (re)productive and functional characteristics of the different swine pigs.

Ovine and caprine breeds: The main dairy specialized, meat specialized, and dual-purpose sheep and goat breeds reared in Italy and abroad. The student is expected to know the main morphological, (re)productive and functional characteristics of ovine and caprine breeds, as well as their area of breeding.

Morphological regions: Regions of head, body, udder, and legs. The student is expected to know the anatomic bases of the different regions and being able to recognize merits and defects.

Animal mechanics: Animal postures, legs, movements, and locomotion. The student is expected to be able to evaluate animals’ feet and legs, its locomotion and recognize defects.

Milk production: Milk production in Italy and in the world. Types of farming, milk components in different livestock species. Lactation curve; colostrum. The student is expected to distinguish the main types of farming, and to define the different milk component and to properly describe the lactation curve.

Meat production: Meat production in Italy and in the world. Types of farming; meat definition and composition in different livestock species. Efficiency indicators of meat farming. Slaughtering phases in cattle and pigs. Commercial evaluation of bovine and swine carcasses. The student is expected to distinguish the different types of farming, define the different meat components, as well as the main efficiency indicators of meat farming.

Practical lessons: The three practical lessons (4 students groups, 2 hours/student for each practical lesson) are focused on the determination of age from teeth observation in cattle and horses. A visit in the experimental farm of the department is organized and is focused on the morpho-functional evaluation, body condition scoring and age determination in dairy cows.

Readings/Bibliography

Books for exam preparation:

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

Bittante G., Andrighetto I., Ramanzin M. - Tecniche di produzione animale, Liviana Ed. 2005

 

The material presented during the lectures will be available in VITUALE website (https://virtuale.unibo.it/); password for accessing the material is available from the lecturer upon request and at the beginning of the lectures. Other material is available from the Department website (http://www.portaledidatticovet.org/).

Teaching methods

Lessons, seminars, and group/individual practical activities (in the classroom and in the cattle barn).

Assessment methods

The final exam is written with open and multiple-choice questions, using EOL website (https://eol.unibo.it/). Multiple-choice questions are 10 and each correct answer is evaluated +1.25 points, 0 for each wrong or missing answer. Open questions are 10 and each correct answer is evaluated +2.25, 0 for each wrong or missing question.

Time given to complete the exam is 90 minutes. During the exam no support, such as textbooks, notes, are allowed.

The maximum evaluation 30/30 cum laude. The exam is passed with a final evaluation of at least 18/30.

Teaching tools

Theorical lessons will be given in the classroom with slides, videoprojector and Microsoft Teams; practical lessons on age determination will be given in the classroom. Practical lessons on dairy cattle will be given in the experimental dairy farm of the Department.

Boots are available in the farm but it is suggested to students to bring their own coat and boots.

Office hours

See the website of Giulio Visentin