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| RAVT3221-1 | Livestock farming techniques and genetic improvement in tropical regions
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| Duration : | 42h Th |
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| Number of credits : |
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| Lecturer : | Nicolas Antoine-Moussiaux, Jérôme Bindelle, Hamidou Boly, Jean-Paul Dehoux, Pascal Leroy |
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| Coordinator : | Pascal Leroy |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| French language |
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Organisation and examination :
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| Teaching in the second semester |
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Course contents :
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| The course "Animal rearing techniques and animal genetic improvement in the Tropics" RAVT3221 presents to the students the link between the abiotic, biotic and human environment in the Tropics and the kind of forage-based rearing system that are found there with ruminants. We will go through
3 major rearing systems: (1) extensive ruminant production systems (African and Asian pastoralism and ranching), (2) monogastric species and (3) mini-livestock (unconventional species: rodents, invertebrates, etc.).We will also set the basis for animal genetic improvement (selection basis, recording the performances, optimization of the selection, local genetic resources and interbreeding). We will see in which environments these systems are found, how the genetic, feed, forage and land resources are managed, how the herds are managed, the animal species and breeds that are found, and the constraints and advantages of each system, etc. |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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| At the end of the course, you will:
- understand the origin of the diversity of the production systems and the breeds in the tropics and their connection to the specific environmental constraints
- be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of some systems and you will be able to suggest means to improve the animal productions in the tropics, preseving the environment and, possibly, optimizing synergies with agriculture
- will have improved your skills in written and oral scientific communication
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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| In order to attend this course, I advise you to have knowledge in agrostology and plant production in the Tropics and in animal feeding. |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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| The course will start with a introduction lecture of 3 x 6 h. Afterwards, you will have to work on a case study that you will have chosen. You are free to use any reference and ask the teachers for help to help you with the feed-back work that you will prepare. You will present your case study to the class for 10 min. The teachers will give you some useful comments to improve your work. In the end, you will be assessed on a written document describing your case study. |
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| Lecture : 18 h
Mid-term oral presentation
Case study and individualized coaching |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| The course is of course not exhaustive. If wish to go into further details now or during your future professional life, we recommend you as first reading the following references:
- Payne WJA, Wilson RT. 1999. An introduction to animal husbandry in the tropics. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Science.
- Coulon JB, Lecomte P, Boval M, Perez JM (coord.). 2011. Elevage en régions chaudes. Numéro Spécial. INRA Productions animales. 24(1). http://www.inra.fr/productions-animales/spip.php?rubrique157
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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| You will assessed on the oral presentation et the written feed-back you will yield at the end of the course. Personally, I pay attention to the following point:
the scientific quality of the document
the originality and their feasibility (quantified proposal or only suggestions)
quality of the references used (recent? scientific? relevant?)
the quality of the document (use the standards for a MSc thesis) |
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Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
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| The exact date for sending the written report will be announced during the oral presentation to the teachers.
In any case, this date will never be later than the first day of the 1st or 2nd session of examination. Late comming reports will not be considered and an absence mark will automatically be given.
The written report must be sent by email to all the teachers of the course, without exception. |
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Contacts :
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| For any question, please feel free to contact us to arrange an appointment: jerome.bindelle@ulg.ac.be or +32 81 62 26 09
jean-paul.dehoux@uclouvain.be ou +32 2 764 56 22
Pascal.Leroy@ulg.ac.be ou +32 4 3664120 |
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