POULTRY AND RABBIT PRODUCTION - By means of classroom lessons and of guided technical visits to poultry and rabbit farms, the breeding cycles and the management of the reproductive and productive phases, as well as the feeding methods, are presented. These visits also represent an opportunity to learn and practice the correct methods of handling, sexing animals, A.I. Knowledge and skills to be acquired: the course aims to provide the student with specific basic knowledge on the production chains and on the breeding systems of broiler chicken, laying hen, breeding chicken and meat rabbit. For the different poultry and rabbit production categories, the housing methods, the management of the reproductive and production phases and the feeding techniques are presented with attention to animal welfare, product quality and respect for the environment. Through specific activities conducted by students and under the supervision of the teacher, the course also intends to guide the student in the acquisition of skills relating to: ability to collect and interpret useful data to formulate independent judgments; ability to communicate with specialist interlocutors and with different forms; ability to work in a team. At the end of the course, the student will be able to: design the standard organization of a farm for poultry or rabbit production; measure the production results of a poultry or rabbit farm; use the available data to identify any deficits in the management of structures and animals that may affect production and economic results.
The following variations possibly implemented due to the Covid-19 emergency phase: the lessons will be held on the Microsoft Teams platform in sync on the basis of the second semester timetable.
SPECIAL ZOOTECHNICS 1 - The course is made up of theoretical lectures held in the classroom and practical lectures with live animals and anatomical parts. The lecturer discusses with students about the theoretical topics, which are later performed by the students during the practical lecturer, the so-called “hands-on activities”. In case of face-to-face live lectures are not allowed because of health restrictions, lecture are synchronous events organized in a live virtual hall on the app Microsoft teams (team “Zootecnica speciale 1”). Lectures are recorded and later available on the same app.
SPECIAL ZOOTECHNICS 2 – The course is made up of theoretical lectures held in the classroom, 44 hours, and practical lectures at the farms and laboratories, 22 hours. Theoretical lectures are organized in serial groups of students. Theoretical and practical lectures are based on the interaction between the lecturer, with technical assistants at the farms and laboratories, and the students. In order to attend properly the practical lecturer, students are encouraged to attend previously the theoretical lectures regarding the same topic.