Projects

Ranging from malpractices in abattoirs to the selling of expired meat: during the past year meat production has shown up in media in a very negative light. Elaborate selective breeding in livestock has produced animals which perform efficient both economically and environmentally (e.g. lower impact on climate change). The downside, however, is that animals are pushed towards their biological limits and even beyond, for example with ...

Tanzania has the third largest livestock population on the African continent, comprising among others 25 million cattle. In Tanzania, livestock particularly cattle is the sole source of livelihood, food (meat and milk) and income (money) for pastoralist and agro-pastoralists communities. At the wildlife livestock interface, tick borne related diseases, particularly East Coast Fever (ECF) caused by Theileria parva is the main cause of reported ...

The vocalizations of animals can serve as important indicators of health and emotional state. In livestock farming sound analysis is now emerging as a interesting component of automated ainimal welfare monitoring. In this project we will develop new sound analysis tools to monitor and enable timely management of the stress experienced by three farmed animals species: pigs, chickens and fish. For pigs we will work out new approaches to ...

In this multidisciplinary project proposal, we look for long-term conservation strategies for the 4 old Flemish cattle breeds: the Red cattle from West Flanders, the White-red cattle from East Flanders, the Kempen cattle and the White-blue from Brabant. Conservation will only succeed if we keep enough breeders motivated to continue breeding with these breeds and if we can attract new, young breeders to ensure continuity. Supporting the ...

Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) are essential micronutrients widely added to animal feed to promote growth and eliminate diseases. However, a significant part of Cu/Zn is excreted and transported to the soil with manure applications, causing Cu and Zn accumulation in soils. Phytoextraction was proposed to be considered as a potential technology to produce Cu/Zn-biofortified alfalfa from Cu/Zn-enriched soils as an alternative for Cu/Zn ...

With this project we aim to investigate host pathogen interactions that occur during infections of farm animals from the bench up to the farmstead. With a systems Immunology take on intra- and inter-host difference in immune response we want to develop a bio-inspired immune engineering strategy. This strategy will allow to translate the insights gained in therapeutic or prophylactic options such as vaccines, immunomodulators or drugs.