Animal Husbandry

A.Y. 2025/2026
11
Max ECTS
112
Overall hours
SSD
AGR/18 AGR/19 AGR/20
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The student must build up knowledge on the peculiar characteristics of the animal production sectors (cattle, pigs, small ruminants, poultry, rabbits) providing to the market the most important products of animal origin (milk, meat, eggs).
The student has to get knowledge on the organization of the animal production sectors, the husbandry systems, the management guidelines, the different animal physiological periods, the morphological and productive traits of different breeds/genetic lines within species reared for milk, meat and egg production. The student has to know how to assess the welfare of reared animals with animal-based indicators In particular, the student must know the cattle, pigs, small ruminants, poultry and rabbit sectors, and understand the most important factors affecting productive performance. Furthermore, the student has to be conscious of the relevance to use appropriate terminology, fundamental for the correct professional communication.
The student must gain knowledge on the nutritional characteristics and safety of the feedstuffs used in animal diets as well as the nutritional requirements of the animals in the different physiological and production phases. Promote animal health through the adoption of suitable diets. Evaluate the condition of the body, the well-being and the state of nutrition of the animals in order to advise the breeder the best food solution. Consider the costs of feed in particular with regard to the production aspect.
Furthermore, the student has to be conscious of the relevance to use appropriate terminology, fundamental for the correct professional communication.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding - The student has to know the organization of the animal production sectors, the husbandry systems and the management guidelines according to the different breeds/genetic lines within species reared for milk, meat and egg production. The student has to be able to assess the welfare, the nutritional status and requirements of the animals according to different physiological and productive periods. Moreover the student has to know the feeding management applied in livestock.
Applying knowledge and understanding - The student must be able to apply the theoretical knowledge for the identification of breeds within species and for the assessment of different factors according to the different productive systems: facilities, environment, critical/strength points. The student must have the ability to apply welfare assessment at farm level with animal-based indicators. Finally, the student must demonstrate that he is able to apply the knowledge acquired through the formulation and by adjusting the rations for farm animals according to the physiological phase, the state of nutrition and the production levels.
Making judgement - The student must acquire ability of critical analysis of the information studied and be able to relate different factors to provide correct assessments.
Communication skill - The student must have communication ability using the correct terminology peculiar to each animal productive sector and in harmony with the other disciplines, according to the information provided in lectures and practices.
Life long learning skills - The student must be able to find information in database and website for his professional updating. He has to develop skills to tackle critically and autonomously the management of livestock even in different contexts compared to those presented during the course.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
Second semester
No emergency teaching
Prerequisites for admission
Only students having already passed the compulsory preparatory exams of Physiology and Ethology of Domestic Animals and Physiology and Endocrinology of Domestic Animals are admitted to the written test.
Assessment methods and Criteria
A final written exam is planned for all modules of the integrated course.
The written exam is divided into 3 sections that are carried out simultaneously.
Section 1 relates to the two modules: Livestock systems and welfare assessment in breeding and Herd management and breeding technologies. It consists of 5 multiple choice questions (4 answers, only one correct) and 5 open questions, each on a specific topic, to which the student must respond in a targeted and concise manner. The time to take the written exam for section 1 is 60 minutes.
Section 2 relates to the module Management of poultry and rabbit breeding. It consists of 11 multiple choice questions (4 answers, only 1 correct) and two open questions, each on a specific topic, to which the student must respond in a targeted and concise manner. The time to take the written exam for section 2 is 45 minutes.

Section 3 is related to the module Feeding of livestock. The written test includes A. 10 multiple choice questions (5 possible answers, of which one or more are correct); B. 2 open questions on general topics; C. a practical exercise in rationing. The section is assessed with a grade out of thirtieths; the grade must be sufficient (minimum score 18/30). The time to take the written test of section 3 is 60 minutes
The total duration of the written test of all sessions of the integrated exam is 165 minutes.
In the event that one or two modules are not passed, the student can repeat the written test of these modules in the 2 subsequent sessions.

The 3 sections are assessed separately with a grade out of thirtieths and the minimum grade considered sufficient for each section is 18/30. The final grade of the integrated course, always expressed in thirtieths, is the weighted average of the grades obtained in the 3 sections.
The written test of the integrated exam corresponds to 30 points. The written test is passed by those who obtain at least 18 points.
In the assignments that receive the maximum grade, honors are awarded when the overall result is well above the level expected from a student at the corresponding level of study.
There are 8 exam sessions during the Academic Year and they take place in the months of: January, February, April, June, July, September, October, November and/or December according to the schedule established by the Teaching Board of Veterinary Medicine.
To take the exam, registration for the exam is required through the ONLINE SIFA service. Students who are not regularly registered through the SIFA service are not admitted to the exam
The partial grade of the section is published on the ARIEL website of the module and, following the student's response whether he or she decides to accept or not, transmitted to the President of the Examination Commission for the calculation of the weighted average with the grades obtained in the other sections of the Course which is recorded and published on ONLINE SIFA.
Evaluation criteria:
Each correct answer to the multiple choice questions corresponds to 2 points.
The mandatory ration formulation exercise provides for a maximum score of 2 points and gives the student the opportunity to recover any points lost during the test.
The evaluation of the open answers is carried out with the following judgment elements for sessions 1 and 2:
· 4 points: excellent and in-depth knowledge of the topics. Clarity of presentation and excellent use of the terminology of the subject. Excellent order and summary.
· 3 points points: good knowledge of the topics. Clarity of presentation and correct use of the terminology of the subject. Good order and summary.
· 2 points: superficial or partial knowledge of the topics. Partial expository clarity and sometimes imprecise use of the terminology of the subject. Order and summary only acceptable. point: very partial or poor knowledge of the topics; very partial explanatory clarity and imprecise use of the specific zootechnical terminology of the sectors; order and summary only acceptable.
1 point: the answer is very partial and has little knowledge of the topics. Very partial expository clarity and imprecise use of the terminology of the subject. Order and summary only acceptable
· 0 points: the response is almost or completely absent; completely insufficient knowledge of the topics; disorganized exposition, devoid of scientific logic and expressed with incorrect terminology; inadequate order and synthesis.
Module Livestock feeding A. Each correct answer for the multiple-choice questions corresponds to 2.
B. The evaluation of open answers adopts the following elements of judgment:
4 points: excellent and in-depth knowledge of the topics. Clarity of presentation and perfect use of the terminology. Excellent order and synthesis.
3 points: good knowledge of the topics. Clarity of presentation and correct use of the terminology. Good order and synthesis.
2 points: superficial knowledge of the topics. Partial clarity and sometimes imprecise use of the terminology. Acceptable order and synthesis.
1 point: the answer is very partial, poor knowledge of the topics. Very partial clarity of exposition and imprecise use of the terminology of the subject. Order and synthesis only acceptable.
0 point: the answer is severely lacking or completely missing. Knowledge of the topics is completely insufficient. Disorganized exposition, lacking scientific logic and expressed with incorrect subject terminology. Inadequate order and synthesis.
C. It provides a maximum score of 2.
Zootechnics systems and farm animal welfare
Course syllabus
Module Syllabus
Animal production systems related to different geographical areas Statistics, population trend of the reared species: present situation and future of dairy and meat industries. 2 hours.
Intensive and extensive systems: advantages and constrains. 1 hour
Cattle and swine principal foreign and Italian breeds: morphological and productive traits. 4 hours.
Notes on goat, sheep and buffalo principal foreign and Italian breeds: morphological and productive traits. 1 hour.
Milk production. 1 hour.
Meat production: animal growth from birth to carcass evaluation. 3 hours.
Human-animal relationship from domestication up to intensive systems and animal welfare 1 hour .
Assessing animal welfare at farm level resource- and animal-based indicators (Welfare Quality, Classyfarm, SNQBA) 3 hours.

In this module the following day one competences (DOCs) required by EAEVE will be provided: 5,12, 16,21,26,29
Teaching methods
Frontal teaching (16 hours) in classroom using multimedia supports.
Teaching Resources
teaching website https://myariel.unimi.it/
Suggested text book
A. Sandrucci, E. Trevisi Produzioni animali, 2022, EdiSes
Herd management and breeding
Course syllabus
Module Syllabus
Management and husbandry of animals for meat production: cattle ,swine, sheep and goat. 8 hours.
Management and husbandry of animals for dairy production: cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat. 8 hours.
Practical training: in class or at farm, farm welfare assessment with resources and animal-based indicators. 16 hours.
In this module the following day one competences (DOCs) required by EAEVE will be provided: 5,12, 16,21,26,29
Teaching methods
Frontal teaching (2 CFU - 16 hours) consisting of lessons held in the classroom with the aid of slides and educational videos;
The practical training (1 CFU - 16 hours) is carried out in the following way: 8 hours are carried out in the classroom individually or in groups of 3/5 students and on the following topics: recognition and use of resource-based animal-based indicators for the evaluation of animal welfare, critical or strong points, structures and management of animals, group work and final discussion on native breeds and their management and production.
8 hours in a farm in groups of 3-5 students on the following topics: animal management, critical points and evaluation of welfare with animal-based and resource-based indicators.
Some of the hours of practice relating to the pig species will be carried out in the classroom with the aid of photographic material and videos selected online.
Teaching Resources
teaching website https://myariel.unimi.it/
Suggested text book
A. Sandrucci, E. Trevisi Produzioni animali, 2022, EdiSes
links to the selected videos
Avian and rabbit farming management
Course syllabus
Course Syllabus
The theoretical teaching is aimed to describe the following subjects:
Introduction and statistics on poultry and rabbit production (1 hour)
Hatchery and artificial incubation (2 hour)
Rearing system for poultry and rabbit meat production (5 hours)
EU directive and national legislation on welfare of broilers (1 hours)
Feeding programs for broilers (1 hour)
Rearing systems for table egg production (4 hours)
EU directive and national legislation on welfare of laying hens (1 hour)
Feeding programs for laying hens (1 hour)
Practical training is aimed to outline facilities, equipments and technologies for rearing and the practice of artificial incubation. Professional experts of the poultry sector are invited to held seminars on the role of the veterinarian in the integrated poultry productive chain.
The following day one competences (DOCs) according to EAEVE rules will be acquired: 5, 12, 16, 21, 26, 29.
Teaching methods
Module Syllabus
The module comprises 32 hours in total, divided as follows:
· theoretical teaching (16 hours) in classroom using slide support;
· practical training (16 hours) in classroom with multimedia support (videos and photos provided by the teacher and selected from the web); seminars held by professional experts from the poultry sector are planned.
Teaching Resources
Bibliography
Book: Avicoltura e Coniglicoltura (2018) Editors Cerolini S., Marzoni M., Romboli I., Schiavone A., Zaniboni L, Le Point Veterinaire Italie, Milano, 2nd Edition.
Website in myAriel: https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=6602
Links of selected videos.
Livestock feeding
Course syllabus
Lectures
Nutrient utilization in Ruminants for achieving efficiency and sustainability (3 hours)
Dairy cow: Feeding dry and lactating cow (2 hours)
Feeding calf and heifer (1 hour)
Metabolic disorders; nutritional aspects (2 hours)
Diet and milk quality (1 hour)
Beef cattle: nutritional requirements and feeding (3 hours)
Buffalo and small ruminants: nutritional requirements and feeding (1 hour)
Pig: Nutritional requirements of sows and reproductive efficiency; piglets weaning nutritional strategies; precision feeding in growing-fattening pigs (4 hours)

Practical training
Formulating balanced rations for dairy cattle (4 hours)
Formulating balanced rations for beef cattle (2 hours)
Formulating balanced rations for pigs (4 hours)
Feeding systems evaluation in different livestock conditions (2 hours)
Practical activities at farms: Body Condition Score, rations, and feed evaluation (4 hours)
In this module the following day one competences (DOCs) required by EAEVE will be provided:
12, 21, 36
Teaching methods
Module syllabus
Lectures: 16 hours (Prof. Valentino Bontempo)
Practical training: 16 hours (Prof. Valentino Bontempo)
- 12 hours (one cycle)
- 4 hours x 6 student groups (repeated)
The course includes lectures and practical activities aimed at evaluating and developing feeding plans for livestock, both manually and using specialized software. Field visits to farms are planned to analyze feeding practices, complemented by classroom screenings of explanatory videos produced at different farming operations, in order to broaden the comparative analysis.
These activities will be followed by group discussions among students to encourage critical thinking and the exchange of perspectives.
Teaching Resources
Suggested text books
- Cevolani D. 2021 - Prontuario degli alimenti per il suino - Edagricole, Bologna
- Ronchi B., Savoini G., Trabalza Marinucci M. 2020 - Manuale di Nutrizione dei Ruminanti da Latte - EdiSES Università, Napoli.
- Antongiovanni M., Buccioni A., Mele M. 2021. Nutrizione e Alimentazione degli Animali in Produzione Zootecnica - Bovini, suini e polli. Edagricole, Bologna.
- Handouts, lecture notes, copies of relevant articles in the area, and video showing feeding management and feed evaluation will be provided online at: https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=8250
Modules or teaching units
Avian and rabbit farming management
AGR/20 - AQUACULTURE, POULTRY AND RABBIT SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor: Cerolini Silvia

Herd management and breeding
AGR/19 - ANIMAL SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Shifts:
1 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Canali Elisabetta Maria Bianca Francesca A
2 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Canali Elisabetta Maria Bianca Francesca A
3 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Barbieri Sara
4 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Barbieri Sara
turno unico per tutti gli studenti
Professor: Canali Elisabetta Maria Bianca Francesca A

Livestock feeding
AGR/18 - ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEEDING - University credits: 3
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor: Bontempo Valentino
Shifts:
Professor: Bontempo Valentino
1 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Bontempo Valentino
2 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Bontempo Valentino
3 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Bontempo Valentino
4 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Bontempo Valentino
5 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Bontempo Valentino
6 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor: Bontempo Valentino
turno unico per tutti gli studenti
Professor: Bontempo Valentino

Zootechnics systems and farm animal welfare
AGR/19 - ANIMAL SCIENCE - University credits: 2
Lessons: 16 hours