A5084714355- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Food Supply Chain Traceability
- Energy, Environment, Agriculture Analysis
- Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
- Agricultural Economics and Policy
- Metallurgy and Material Science
- Odor and Emission Control Technologies
- Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
- Urban Planning and Landscape Design
- Agricultural economics and policies
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- RFID technology advancements
- Agriculture and Rural Development Research
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Urban Planning and Valuation
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis
- Ultra-Wideband Communications Technology
- Animal Diversity and Health Studies
- Phosphorus and nutrient management
- Milk Quality and Mastitis in Dairy Cows
- Innovations in Concrete and Construction Materials
University of Florence
2013-2024
University of Palermo
2024
Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority
2017-2021
Organizzazione per la Tutela Forestale, Ambientale e Agroalimentare
2018
Feeding behaviour is an important parameter of animal performance, health and welfare, as well reflecting levels quality feed available. Previously, sensors were only used for measuring feeding in indoor housing systems. However, such the RumiWatchSystem can also monitor continuously pasture-based environments. Therefore, aim this study was to validate record cow activity a system. The evaluated against visual observation across two different experiments. time duration per hour at grazing,...
The commercially available collar device MooMonitor+ was evaluated with regards to accuracy and application potential for measuring grazing behavior. These automated measurements are crucial as cows feed intake behavior at pasture is an important parameter of animal performance, health welfare well being indicator availability. Compared laborious time-consuming visual observation, the continuous measurement may support improve management dairy on pasture. Therefore, there were two...
Body condition scores (BCS) measure a cow’s fat reserves and is important for management research. Manual BCS assessment subjective, time-consuming, requires trained personnel. The BodyMat F (BMF, Ingenera SA, Cureglia, Switzerland) an automated body scoring system using 3D sensor to estimate BCS. This study assesses the BMF. One hundred three Holstein Friesian cows were assessed by BMF two assessors throughout lactation. output in 0–5 scale commonly used France. We develop report first...
The bedding material used in barns for dairy cows has a significant effect on animal welfare and performance. Bedding influences the duration which animals remain lying down and, consequently, processes of rumination milk production. It is crucial to have complete understanding properties materials effects alternative cattle. This paper aims evaluate physical, chemical, biological various conventional cattle use compost bedded pack or freestall barn systems. We analyzed 50 samples 17...
Earth-to-air heat exchangers (EAHE) can reduce the energy consumption required for heating and cooling of buildings. The composition thermal characteristics soil influence exchange capacity, moisture furthermore affect performance EAHE. aim this study was to compare EAHE in dry artificially wetted soil. Tests were carried out Basra Province (Iraq), a semi-desert area. Two experimental built poultry barn tested from June 2013 September 2013. pipe buried at 2 m deep. One exchanger operated...
The purpose of this study was to compare animal health in compost-bedded pack (CBP) and cubicle housing (CH) systems using data from dairy herd improvement associations. Thirty-two commercial farms located Austria, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden were included the study. A matching design (pairing CBP CH within country) according selection criteria used. We explored following indicators: somatic cell counts (SCC), high SCC, new ketosis risk, prolonged calving intervals,...
The use of sensor technologies to monitor cows' behavior is becoming commonplace in the context dairy production. This study aimed at validating a commercial collar-based system, AFICollar® (Afimilk, Kibbutz Afikim, Israel), designed cattle feeding and ruminating behavior. Additionally, performances two versions software for classification, current AFIfarm® 5.4 updated version 5.5, were compared. involved twenty Holstein-Friesian cows fitted with collars. To evaluate performance under...
Compost-bedded pack barns, generally known as compost dairy are alternative housing systems for cows. In these the whole surface of resting area is covered with a deep-bedded that frequently stirred in order to incorporate fresh manure into and enhance evaporation water. Experiences bedded barns cows reported literature from USA, Israel, Netherlands Austria. The main advantages regard animal welfare management. Since 2006, this system has been applied consistently Italy. However, scientific...
Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) techniques include sensors and tools to install on livestock farms and/or animals monitor them support the decision making process of farmers, finally early detecting alerting conditions improving efficiency. Direct consequences this monitoring enhanced animal welfare, health productivity, improved farmer lifestyle, knowledge, traceability products. The indirect consequences, instead, Carbon Footprint socio-economic indicators In context, aim paper is...
Compost-bedded pack barns (CBPB), generally known as compost dairy barns, are alternative housing systems for cows. In these the whole surface of resting area is covered with a deepbedded that frequently stirred in order to incorporate fresh manure into and enhance evaporation water. Experiences CBPB cows reported literature from US, Israel, Netherlands Austria. Potential advantages regard animal welfare management. Since 2006, this system has been widely applied Italy. However, there still...
The bedding materials used in dairy cow housing systems are extremely important for animal welfare and performance. A wide range of can be as cattle, but their physical properties must analysed to evaluate potential. In the present study, various cattle were investigated, different fuzzy clustering algorithms employed cluster these based on properties. total 51 from places Europe collected tested. Physical analyses carried out following parameters: bulk density (BD), water holding capacity...
Precision livestock farming uses biosensors to measure different parameters of individual animals support farmers in the decision making process. Although sensor development is advanced, there still little implementation sensor-based solutions on commercial farms. Especially pasture-based dairy systems, grazing management cows largely not supported by technology. A key factor milk production correct grass allocation maximize utilization per cow, while optimizing cow performance. Currently,...
Bedding materials are aimed at providing a safe and comfortable resting environment for cows. Control of pathogen proliferation in these substrates is crucial to prevent intramammary infections dairy cows, as can significantly impact milk quality, cow health, farm productivity. This particularly relevant the case organic bedding substrates, including manure-derived materials. study evaluate vitro effect lime-based conditioner (LBC), composed CaCO 3 MgCO <mml:math...
By-products from forestry, agriculture and nature areas are used in compost bedded-pack housing (CBP) systems for animals. In this communication, we discuss the application of a CBP system to animal farms aspects related recycling reuse materials context circular economy. This study is based on data ongoing projects literature. The following discussed: (i) composting material applied specialized system; (ii) adding horticultural component farm by reusing compost, (iii) cooperative mixed...
Sensor technologies that measure grazing and ruminating behaviour as well physical activities of individual cows are intended to be included in precision pasture management. One the advantages sensor data is they can analysed support farmers many decision-making processes. This article thus considers performance a set RumiWatchSystem recorded variables prediction insufficient herbage allowance for spring calving dairy cows. Several commonly used models machine learning (ML) were applied...
Compost-bedded pack barns (CBPB), generally known as compost dairy barns, are alternative housing systems for cows. In these the whole surface of resting area is covered with a deepbedded that frequently stirred in order to incorporate fresh manure into and enhance evaporation water. Experiences CBPB cows reported literature from US, Israel, Netherlands Austria. Potential advantages regard animal welfare management. Since 2006, this system has been widely applied Italy. However, there still...
In livestock farming, maintaining dry bedding is considered to be important for maximising animal performance and welfare. A better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate drying has potential improve management reduce production costs. custom laboratory-scale method was developed explore effects environmental conditions characteristics on rate (DR). Samples (n = 256) different types materials were exposed controlled by using a climate chamber equipped with cabinet capable simulating...
Received: January 5th, 2021 ; Accepted: March 27th, Published: April 16th, Correspondence: matteo.barbari@unifi.it