Duration
9h Th, 9h Pr
Number of credits
| Master in agricultural bioengineering (120 ECTS) | 2 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The environmental consequences of livestock production practices are questions of a harsh debate since the publication of FAO's report in 2006 « Livestock's long shadow ». Following a brief introduction on what these impacts are, ANIM0027 "modeling the relationships of livestock production systems on the environment" aims at teaching you how the impact of livestock systems can be assessed using modeling tools at the animal, the farm or the system level.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- apply the problem tree method using the link between livestock and the environment as concrete application;
- model simple biological systems using deterministic dynamic mathematical models;
- write simple programs in MATLAB;
- understand, interpret and criticize the diverse environmental impacts of livestock production systems using a Life-Cycle Analysis-based approach.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Basic knowledges in algorithmics, animal feeding, pasture management, and mathematics
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
This course will alternate lectures, exercises, and seminars.
During the introduction, you will build a problem tree on the links between livestock and the environment using a participatory approach.
You will build your own model of pasture in MATLAB, and use it to test various hypotheses and their consequences on the stability and the envrionement including a life-cycle analysis.
You will put experimental data in mathematical models that you will have computed yourself.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Face-to-face. All student must be present at each course!
Recommended or required readings
The teacher's notes are available on the e-campus platform and the compulsory reference book will be distributed during the class.
In addition, the students will be requested to perform additional litterature search to build their model.
The following readings are compulsory :
* Jolliet O, Saadé M, Creetaz P, Shaked S. 2010. Analyse du cycle de vie. Comprendre et réaliser un éco-bilan. Presses polytechniques et Universitaires Romandes
* Noy-Meir, I., 1975. Stability of grazing systems: an application of predator-prey graphs. The Journal of Ecology, pp.459-481.
These document are interesting in the framework of this course or for your future professional career :
* Thornley JHM & France J. 2007. Mathematical Models in Agriculture. 2ed. Wallingford, UK: CABI publishing
* Hanselman D & Littlefield B. 2005. Mastering MATLAB 7. Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Pearson Education
* Š¿epanovi¿ D. 2010. Introduction to MATLAB. Cambridge, MA, USA: MITopencourseware
* Steinfeld H. Et al 2006. Livestock's Long Shadow - Environmental Issues and Options. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organisation.
* Steinfeld H. et al. 2010. Livestock in a Changing Landscape. Vol 1 & 2. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organisation. Blanfort et al (2011). Impacts et services environnementaux de l'élevage.
* Gerber, P.J., Steinfeld, H., Henderson, B., Mottet, A., Opio, C., Dijkman, J., Falcucci, A. and Tempio, G., 2013. Tackling climate change through livestock: a global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
* European Commission's information hub on life cycle thinking based data, tools and services (http://lca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/lcainfohub/index.vm)
Assessment methods and criteria
You will assessed on the participation to the classes and the written report on modelling exercises.
Be careful, owing to the participative approach of the course, the presence of the students is COMPULSARY.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
The electronic version of the written report must be sent at latest on the first day of the exam period in January 2019. Late coming reports will not be considered and an absence mark will automatically be given.
Contacts
For any question, please feel free to contact us to arrange an appointment: jerome.bindelle@ulg.ac.be, Martine.Schroyen@uliege.be or +32 81 62 26 09
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session
Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning
Non applicable