NEW REPRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUES AND PHYSIOLOGY APPLIED TO ANIMAL PRODUCTIONS
cod. 1008441

Academic year 2024/25
1° year of course - First semester
Professor responsible for the course unit
Fabio DE RENSIS
integrated course unit
12 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN

Learning objectives

After the training the student must have acquired knowledge of the physiology of the digestive, endocrine digestive with reference to livestock. In particular, the student should be able to: a) know the physiological mechanisms of pets from income that reproductive, digestive functions and behavioural control. b) be able to use the specific language of the discipline and appropriate scientific terminology. c) understand the interactions and operations among the various organ systems and the effects of behavior d) Be able to explain with clarity the physiology, ethology and the welfare of livestock animals and) knowing how to discuss topics of animal physiology based on the knowledge gained and the needs animal husbandry with autonomy of judgement. f) connect the various topics considered between them and with the disciplines related to livestock production. g) understand basic neuro-physiological of animal behavior. h) develop the skills of critical analysis aimed at resolving problems related to the future profession. Educational objectives of the practical part: will be to reinforce the principles discussed during classes and allow a direct experience of acquisition and interpretation of physiological and behavioural parameters in modern livestock farming.

Prerequisites

none as it is considered by the plan of the course

Course unit content

The course consider the study of physiological mechanisms that supervise the organic functions that control reproduction, the digestive system, locomotor system, metabolism and animal welfare. Are then treated systems that homeostasis of the organism as a close attention to acid-basic and electrochemical system. Are considered in detail the hormonal mechanisms that control the main production in livestock animals. During the course is carried out a depth description of neurohormonal mechanisms that control stress in domestic animal raised under intensive farming. The course considers the ethology of domestic animals and describes the different etogram of livestock species. Dutring the course are treated the technological systems and the biotechnology that can be apply in improving animal welfare and breeding of the livestok farming.
The metabolism of domestic animals
The physiology of exercise and the control of metabolism in the horses athletes.
Behavior and welfare in domestic animals. Basic of the ethology of domestic animal. The ethogram of Bovine, horses, swine, rabbit and poultry The basis of the domestic animal behavior. Technology applied in intensive farm to improve behavior and welfare of the animals. The behavior of the horses, bovine, pigs, sheep and poultry.

Full programme

1 CFU The control of movement and the metabolism of muscolar system.The metabolism: The neuroendocrine control of the metabolism. The effects of nutrient on metabolism. The catabolism and anabolism.
1 CFU. Physiology digestive system in monogastric and ruminant species. The rumen metabolism and the control of the ruminal activity in dairy cow.
1 CFU The physiology of acid-basic system and the buffer system. Thermoregulation: The control of thermoregulation in domestic animals and effect of heat stress on animal production
1 CFU The management of reproduction: The neurohormonal control of physiology of reproduction. The physiology of oestrus cycle. The control of oestrus cycle, ovulation induction and synchronization. The heat behavior and the system to detect it. The system to synchronize ovulation and fixed time artificial insemination.
1 CFU The stress and the neuroendocrine mechanism that control of the stress. The hyphothalamus pituitary and adrenal cortecs axis. The adrenal system.

Homeostasis and the neuroendocrine mechanism that control of physiology of homeostasis.

Bibliography

• Gobetto, Pelagalli, Anatomia e Fisiologia degli Animali Domestici, UTET
• Guyton, A. Trattato di Fisiologia Medica,.C., PICCIN, Padova.
• Cunningham,J.G., Texbook of Veterinary Physiology, Saunders Company, USA.
• Duke's, Physiology of Domestic Animals, Melvin, J.S., Cordell University press.
• De Rensis Fisiologia degli Animali domestici
• Eckert R, Fisiologia animale, Zanichelli, Bologna.
• Moruzzi G. Fisiologia della vita di relazione, UTET, Torino.
• Gordon Fisiologia Animale Piccin
• Schmidt Nielsen Fisiologia Animale Piccin
Siaastad, K. Hove, O. Sand: Physiology of Domestic Animals, 2nd Edition, Scandinavian Veterinary Press, P. Jensen: The Ethology of Domestic
Animals, 2nd Edition, An Introductory Text, CABI Publishing.
• Carenzi, Corrado; Panzera, Michele, Etologia applicata e benessere animale a cura di Corrado Carenzi e Michele Panzera. Milano: PVI Point vétérinaire Italie, 2008. Parte 1 e Parte 2
• Grandin, Temple, Improving animal welfarea practical approachby Temple Grandin. Wallingford: Oxfordshire, Cambridge (MA), CABI, 2010

Teaching methods

The teaching methods and teaching methodologies in relation to the educational objectives stated above will consist of lectures, exercises, seminars, laboratory activities, research in the archive or library.
The activities will take place in telepresence through the use of the Teams and Elly platforms. In particular, they will be
lessons were carried out both in synchronous mode (via Teams) and asynchronously (uploaded on the Elly page of the course). During the lessons the general problems connected with physiology will be discussed, with particular attention to pets.
The practical exercises, if carried out, will have the purpose of providing the possibility for each student to be able to measure themselves in the design of autonomous solutions to the real problems that will be posed. These activities will be programmed so that within each exercise the student can practically realize the solutions of the problems outlined in theoretical form during the lessons.

Assessment methods and criteria

The student will be assessed through an oral exam. The exam will take place electronically using the TEAMS platform of the University of Parma
The exam will be considered passed when the candidate demonstrates knowledge of the basic concepts of innovative biotechnologies applied to animal production, maintenance of homeostasis, resilience to stress and its interactions with the environment. During the oral exam, the student's logical and critical ability in dealing with animal adaptation problems in livestock farming, the ability to integrate different topics and find solutions to problems related to physiology and animal welfare will be verified.

Other information

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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development

Score 2, 3 and 12