45605 - Buildings and Plants

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Animal Production (cod. 8882)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student acquires general knowledge regarding the construction techniques of zootechnical buildings. Moreover, the student acquire specific knowledge about the functional design and management of animal houses, with special reference to dairy cattle and pigs. In particular, the student is able to develop draft design of farm buildings and contribute to the control of working.

Course contents

Animal housing
Organization, distribution and dimensions of buildings for animal housing, with regard to Animal welfare and sustainability.
Dairy cattle and pigs housing.
Management and treatment of waste and nitrogen removal techniques.
Building materials: physical and mechanical properties and use.
Environmental control
Recall of physics and physiology on heat exchange between animal and environment. Building-animal heat balance. Calculation for the inside environmental control. Design and construction criteria to achieve the optimal climatic conditions, also relating the climate change.
Precision livestock farming - Outline
Monitoring techniques and diagnostic systems.
Automation: milking, forage distribution and other farming tasks.
Legislation
European Union Directives: Regulations concerning the protection and welfare of breeding animals.
Manure management and treatment; agronomic use plan; Integral Environmental Authorization (AIA).
Rules and structures for organic farming.

Readings/Bibliography

1) La nuova stalla da latte: per una zootecnia innovativa e sostenibile - a cura di Roberto Bartolini, Edagricole, Bologna, 2013;
2) Livestock housing: modern management to ensure optimal health and welfare of farm animals. Edited by Andres Aland, Thomas Banhazi - Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, 2013;
3) Chiumenti R., Costruzioni rurali, Ed agricole, Bologna, 2011;
4) C.R.P.A., Strutture, attrezzature e impianti per vacche da latte, Edizioni L'informatore agrario, 2002;
5) C.R.P.A., Ricoveri, attrezzature e impianti per l'allevamento dei suini, Edizioni L'informatore agrario, 2004;
6) The Design of Dairy Cow and Replacement Heifer Housing. Report of the CIGR Section II, Working Group N° 14, Cattle Housing, 2014;
7) Used material during Lesson.

Teaching methods

The theory will be supported by practical exercises. Specific exercises will be dedicated to the design of a stall and/or a piggery.
Excursions are planned to visit stables and Exhibitions.

Assessment methods

The learning assessment of the part of the sub-course on "Buildings and Plant" is done through an oral examination; first the candidate shows a his own barn design (of his choice), successively the assessment keep on with three questions on the topics covered during the course.
The sub-course on "Buildings and Plant", together with the one of "Machinery and Plant", is part of the course on"Buildings, Machinery and Plant for animal husbandry" (65982). The final vote is calculated by averaging the scores achieved in each of the two courses, which, in both cases, must be greater than or equal to 18/30.

Teaching tools

Electronic board (selected parts are saved and distributed as lecture notes), simulation software.

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Liberati

SDGs

Affordable and clean energy Responsible consumption and production Climate Action

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.