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Members:

Fabio Abeni, Umberto Bernabucci, Martino Cassandro, Giuseppe Conte, Emiliano Lasagna, Donata Marletta, Salvatore Mastrangelo

Targets:

• Sharing of project ideas on the main research topics related to Climate Change and their impact on livestock systems.

• Genomic studies on the biodiversity of autochthonous populations belonging to the main species in livestock production: Bovina, Ovina and Caprina both in Italy and in the Mediterranean area. These studies are aimed at understanding the architecture of the genetic bases involved in the physiology of adaptation to climate change.

• Identification of SNPs genotypes, associated with the tolerance of adverse climatic conditions, useful in "Genomic Selection" genetic improvement programs for speeding up genetic progress and for a more targeted and incisive action in the planning and management of future breeding schemes. -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_

• Impact of climate change on livestock production and farming systems.

• Identification of nutritional-food strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change and improve acclimatization to heat stress conditions.

• Control and modification of the stable microclimate to improve environmental conditions and promote animal welfare.

Activities 2022:
From the 24th Congress of Padua in September 2021 to the Convention of Palermo in June 2022, the activities of the commission focused on the study that has as its objective the comparison between the ability to adapt to the climatic conditions of native and international cattle breeds bred in Italy and sheep breeds. native Italians. The study of genetic variability and the relationships between the different races of the two species has already been tackled in recent years through the Bovita and Biovita research projects in which the members of the commission also participated. The aim of the project is to deepen our knowledge about the genomic areas and possible candidate genes involved in the adaptation to the environmental conditions of the farming areas and to climate change and to highlight any peculiarities of the two species.
 

A. Seminar activities:

• Professor Umberto Bernabucci presented 2 seminars entitled:

1. “The well-being of the cow in relation to the climate: which are the fundamental points to monitor. 23rd SATA Bovini Seminar: "Animal welfare. Modern strategies and old critical issue", 11 March 2021.

2.  Impact of climate change (global warming) on milk yield and quality;. Climate Change and Net Zero Carbon Emissions session. Global Dairy Talks Virtual Conference, University of Idaho, April 23, 2022 

• In the context of the seminar activities "Webinar ASPA" the Commission and Study on April 24, 2022 presented 2 seminars entitled:

1.  What selection objectives to face climate change?; Presented by the ASPA President Prof. Nicolò Pietro Paolo Macciotta University of Sassari.

2. Plasticity of farming systems in response to climate - change; Presented by Dr. Fabio Abeni CREA Research Center for Zootechnics and Aquaculture in collaboration with Prof. Umberto Bernabucci University of Tuscia

 

B. II level Master in "Sustainable Development and Climate Change" ay 2021-22 University of Pisa:

• Professor Giuseppe Conte held 2 lectures entitled:

1. LCA: structuring, theoretical bases and case studies of the livestock sector, 11 February 2022.

2. Animal breeding and climate-changing emissions: ruminants, February 25, 2022.

• Professor Roberta Ciampolini gave 1 lesson entitled

1. Genomics of animal species in zootechnical production for the study of adaptation to Climate Change, 9 April 2022

 

C. ASPA SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

The Commission for the dissemination in the social channels ASPA webinar has reported conferences and events on issues concerning climate change such as:

• "Sustainability, Water Resources and Climate Change"; April 28 at 2.00 pm, organized by the Degree in Environmental Sciences of the University of Pisa, with the patronage of CIRSEC, AISA Italian Association of Environmental Sciences, Order of Geologists of the Tuscany Region and IAH -Italy (Italian Group of the International Association of Hydrogeologists). Seminar entitled: "Sharing knowledge: the first step in protecting the water resource"; Link to follow the seminars:https://bit.ly/3JzyfIP.

• Workshop "Global Change and Water Resources: Past, Present and Future"; - 26-27 May 2022 Global Changes and Water Resources: Past, Present and Future Workshop University of Pisa Earth Sciences Department Via S. Maria 53 Room C - First floor https://www.dst.unipi.it/laurea-in-scienze-ambientali.html https://www.facebook.com/scienzeambientaliunipi https://cirsec.unipi.it/ Join the workshop here Teams

• The Commission has published the following synopsis on the issues under study:

• Adaptation to climate change in farmed ruminants: new research analyzes genes.

• The Maremma Cattle Breed: The genomic basis of adaptation to the environment

Scientific publications:

• Maggiolino A, Landi V, Bartolomeo N, Bernabucci U, Santus E, Bragaglio A and De Palo P (2022) Effect of Heat Waves on Some Italian Brown Swiss Dairy Cows' Production Patterns. Front. Anim. Sci. 2: 800680. doi: 10.3389 / fanim.2021.800680.