Unit FARM ANIMAL MANAGEMENT: PRACTICAL WORK (BASIC COURSE)
- Course
- Veterinary medicine
- Study-unit Code
- 85009101
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Katia Cappelli
- Teachers
-
- Katia Cappelli
- Hours
- 25 ore - Katia Cappelli
- CFU
- 1
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2025
- Offered
- 2025/26
- Learning activities
- Affine/integrativa
- Area
- Attività formative affini o integrative
- Sector
- AGR/17
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- Knowledge of the main characteristics of an animal farm and of food administration to livestock.
- Reference texts
- No specific reference text is available.
- Educational objectives
- D1 - The student will have to acquire the elementary knowledge about the organization of a livestock farm and the management of livestock in housing, understanding the rationale of the various practical activities. D2 - The student must be able to apply the knowledge to his own behavior in a livestock farm, understanding its importance for his own and others' safety, for animal welfare, for the environment, and for production economy and hygiene. D3 - The student should be able to independently judge whether the main aspects of animal management are adequate from the point of view of safety, welfare, hygiene, and productivity. D4 - The student must be able to communicate efficiently and effectively with the operators within the company (owner, labor, veterinarians, technicians), using an appropriate and correct vocabulary from a technical-scientific point of view. D5 - The student must be able to learn independently, or with a short technical instruction, the correct behavior to be followed in the different types of livestock farm. EAEVE Day One Competences: 1.16 (handle and restrain animal patiens safely and with respect of the animal, and instruct others in helping the veterinarian perform these techniques) and 2.4 (a knowledge of the business related to animal breeding, production and keeping). LOGBOOK - 2nd paragraph "restrain livestock in the right way": how to get closer to livestock; fitting the hackamore and horse handling; restrain cattle and/or horses; restrain sheep and/or pigs. Day-one competences ESEVT SOP 2023: 1, 3, 4, 17, 18, 29
- Prerequisites
- Students must have complied with the D. Lgs. 81/2008 course (safety in a workplace) and the antitetanic vacination. No specific skills is required to gain basic knowledge on the management of farm animals stables and on the right approach different domestic animals.
- Teaching methods
- Introductory frontal lecture and practical lessons. It is strongly stimulated the interaction student - teacher / tutor to clarify animal practical management and execution, by the students, of the manual tasks related to animal cleaning, handling and feeding.
- Other information
- Student must comply with all farm policies regarding personal safety and biohazard.
- Learning verification modality
- Final assessment: a questionnaire on Unistudium to be completed in 15 minutes in the presence of the instructor, consisting of 16 dichotomous questions (3 of which may be followed by an open field) and 2 multiple-choice questions. No score will be assigned, only a pass/fail judgment (at least 14 correct answers).
- Extended program
- General introduction
Presentation of the practical activity, its learning objectives, and the main behavioural and safety rules to be followed on the farm.
Guided visit to the University Teaching Livestock Farm, including a description of the animal species and breeds present, the housing facilities, and the main productive and teaching purposes of the farm.
Horses
Activities aimed at approaching horses, observing animal behaviour, and learning appropriate interaction methods.
Introduction to the main techniques for safe restraint and handling.
Practical exercises in leading horses by hand and basic management of the animal during routine procedures.
Cattle
Collection of information on the cattle herd, including the total number of animals, presence of calves, group organisation, and main health and management aspects.
Observation of heat detection methods and basic reproductive management procedures.
Participation in feeding activities.
Introduction to correct procedures for approaching, restraining, and moving cattle safely.
Simulation of the preparation of an animal for a livestock fair or show, including practical exercises in hand-leading.
Sheep
Visit to the sheep housing facilities, with a description of the breeds present, group organisation, and main productive and management characteristics.
Activities aimed at approaching the animals and introducing basic restraint and handling techniques.
Participation in feeding activities.
Involvement in daily practical activities selected according to the time of year and the management needs of the flock.
Pigs
Collection of information on the pigs present on the farm, including observation of group organisation and housing facilities.
Visual inspection of the animals and observation of their behaviour.
Participation in feeding activities.
When scheduled during the training period, students may take part, under supervision, in routine health management procedures and in the administration of pharmacological treatments.
Final assessment
At the end of the practical activity, students will complete a final test aimed at assessing the basic knowledge acquired regarding the livestock species observed, the correct methods for approaching and handling animals, and the main management activities carried out during the training period.