Animal Health

Study at WUR

• Bachelor's
• Master's - Collaborate with WUR

Animal health: boosting defences and resilience in livestock

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• Genetics - Microbiology

Introduction

Healthy and strong animals are less affected by diseases and require less medication. In WUR studies on livestock systems, preventive care is central, to stimulate resilience in animals. To-gether with entrepreneurs and experts from the business community, among others, we are working on indicators to measure resilience.

Healthy animals are the basis for sustainable livestock farming. However, intensive animal farming involves welfare and health-related risks. WUR therefore focuses on preventive animal health: preventing diseases and problems from arising. We develop preventive strategies that boost animal resilience by combining knowledge on nutrition, housing, breeding, genetics and microbiology.

In doing so, we use precision farming, with smart technology and real-time data, to identify health problems early and optimise management and the living environment. We pay special attention to vulnerable phases, during calving in cows or weaning in piglets, for example. If animals do get ill, we explore how to optimally support recovery and resistance, through nutrition, stress reduction or pen enrichment, for example. We also take into account new challenges such as climate change, heat stress and the shift to circular food systems. In this way, we work together to make livestock farming future-proof.

Expertises

Pen enrichment

Sustainable barn systems

Pen enrichment

In humane livestock farming, housing is designed to allow natural behaviour. This allows farm animals to live the best life possible. WUR conducted a lot of research on pen enrichment to improve species-specific behaviour in various animal species. That also prevents damaging behaviour such as feather pecking and tail biting.

Sustainable barn systems

WUR conducts a ...