71543 - Systems and Technologies for a Sustainable Livestock Production

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

Module 1 (prof. Paolo Liberati, verbalizing teacher)

Sustainability aspects: definitions and concepts.

Environmental sustainability. Sources of pollution of livestock origin. Chemical-biological mechanisms of organic matter pollution.

Precision livestock farming: animal monitoring and diagnostics. Animal welfare aspects.

Automation and robotization of livestock farming.

Energy saving technologies (topic integrated with Module 2).

Manure treatment. Innovative techniques to remove nitrogen from livestock manure.

Environmental legislation (Italian and Eurpean). Integrated Environmental Authorisation and Best Available Techniques (BAT); "Nitrates Directive", regional laws and setting up of the agronomic nitrogen utilisation plan.

Module 2 (prof. Mirko Maraldi)

Introduction to renewables: global state and role of renewables; general features of renewables.

Main renewable sources: specific features, limitations, potentiality, application

Thermal Physics: Energy Conservation Law; efficiency; degradation of energy and its relevance to sustainability and circularity; thermodynamic cycles.

Renewable energy plants: layout, main machinery and global efficiency estimation

Laboratory tests for the determination of the calorific value and of the biochemical methane potential.

Energy from biomass: thermochemical and biochemical processes; anaerobic digestion.

Biogas plants: most used layout configurations; main machinery; biomass pre-treatment; upgrading techniques; digester diet formulation; preliminary design.

Solar energy: relevance to the farm context; main technical solutions and plant design.

 

Readings/Bibliography

AA.VV., L’innovazione nella stalla da latte, Milano, Edagricole-New Business Media, 2018.

Renato Vismara, Francesca Malpei, Roberto Canziani, Sergio Piccinini, Biogas da agrozootecnia e agroindustria - Produzione di Energia da impianti di biogas da agricoltura, Ed. Flaccovio, 2011.

Clipboard of the lessons.

Supplementary material for more advanced study and integration (optional).

 

Teaching methods

Teaching is articulated in frontal lectures and lab experiments.
Technical visits to farms.

 

Assessment methods

The knowledge verification will be only through the final examination, which verifies the acquisition of knowledge and skills expected by an oral examination of about 30 minutes without the aid of notes or books. The oral examination consists of three questions each learning module.

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.

Teaching tools

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

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Liberati

See the website of Mirko Maraldi