Alternative Production Systems and Techniques

Code: ZOO12374L

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Animal Science

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

This module introduces the main scientific foundations, basic techniques and socio-economic potential inherent to animal production systems 'alternative' to those mostly adopted in the Western world.

Sustainable Development Goals

Erradicar a fome - Acabar com a fome, alcançar a segurança alimentar e melhoria da nutrição e promover a agricultura sustentável.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Produção e consumo sustentáveis - Assegurar padrões de produção e de consumo sustentáveis.

Proteger a vida marinha - Conservação e uso sustentável dos oceanos, dos mares, e dos recursos marinhos para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

Proteger a vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

Objectives: To allow students to become aware of the main scientific principles, to understand the basic techniques and to recognize the potential inherent to a series of alternative production systems to the most frequently practised in the ocidental world. Some possibilities to diversify incomes from alternative animal production/farming will be revealed.
Skills: To identify the scientific bases and to explain the essential techniques that support the different animal production systems to be studied. To understand how different input combinations or management schemes can influence production outcomes. To defend the animal production systems to be studied, separately or integrated in more traditional ones, showing awareness for related environmental and ethical issues. To use appropriate computer and linguistic skills to gather, process and communicate specific information.

The animal productions to be studied (apiculture, aquaculture, key game species and main laboratory animals) will be approached respecting, at least, the following common approach: origin, evolution, and current state; species anatomic and physiologic bases; biogeography of the (sub)species; species regulation strategies (at individual and colony level); strategies and behaviours to react to environmental changes; basics of facilities/equipments, behaviour, and well-being, feeding, reproduction; animal health and pathology; management practices, production types and derived products; production ecology and ethics; notions of production economy and markets; major regulatory frameworks; possible integration in other bio-production systems; major sector-specific difficulties faced nowadays and expected developments.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methodologies: Presentation and discussion of subjects in collective sessions and on an e-learning platform. Implementation and presentation of one field or laboratory work (to be carried out in group). Individual reports of one seminar and one study visit.
Evaluation: A written exam (50 %), an oral test (25%), field or laboratory work (25 %), reports or oral communications (20 %).

Teaching Staff

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