Silvana Pietrosemoli

Bio

Pasture Pig Research and Extension: The program’s overall aim is to enhance the environmental sustainability of pasture pig production systems. The results of our research studies reveal the positive influence of appropriate stocking rates and rotational stocking methods in pasture pig systems in terms of vegetative ground cover maintenance, soil properties, and animal performance. Implementing best management practices for these production systems will empower the maintenance of the ecosystem’s multifunctionality. Under the umbrella of this program, best management practices for pasture pork production systems have been tested. They are being disseminated by different means to alleviate the information gap related to these differentiated production systems. In addition, technical support is offered to Extension agents, farmers, and other interested third parties.

Developing Spanish communicative competence among veterinary and animal science students as a means for improving U.S. agriculture: This USDA-funded research project aims at providing students with specific Spanish language skills to overcome the widely reported communication gap between veterinarians and animal scientists, and Spanish-speaking on-farm workforce and thus, contribute to improving animal welfare, animal health, and food safety. Three communicative Spanish courses and their corresponding instructional materials are being designed to help students build their Spanish language competency in the framework of situations that resemble real-life on-farm settings. Upon completing the Spanish courses, students will demonstrate language proficiency by participating in a 12-week on-farm internship. The project involves the combined efforts of specialists from NC State, TTU, TSU, UNAM, and LUZ.

Collaborating Institutions:

• National
  • Texas Tech University
  • Tarleton State University
• International
  • Universidad Autónoma de México, México
  • Universidad de Los Llanos, Colombia
  • La Universidad del Zulia, Venezuela
  • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain

Dr. Pietrosemoli was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela – South America. She joined the NC State Department of Animal Science in October 2008. Previously, she was a professor and also held the department head position in the Animal Science Department of La Universidad Del Zulia, Venezuela, where she also had been Extension director in the College of Agronomy.

Area(s) of Expertise

• Sustainable animal production
• Pasture based production systems
• Low input animal production
• Animal welfare