Aarhus University

About

Aarhus University (AU) is a public Danish research university with international research covering the entire research spectrum. In 2023, AU has app. 32.000 students 2.000 PhD students and in 2022 a total of 8.500 employees. Research is carried out in five faculties: Arts, Health, Natural Sciences Technical Sciences, and School of Business and Social Sciences.

Research in livestock production is primarily carried out at Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics.

The main focus areas are:

• Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences:
  • Management and Modelling
  • Gut and Host Health
  • Behaviour, Stress and Welfare
  • Monogastric Nutrition
  • Ruminant Nutrition
  • Climate, Environment and Animal-derived Food
  • Green & Blue Biomass for Feed
  • One Wefare
  • One Health
  • Digital Transformation
• Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics: Models and methods for genetic/genomic evaluation
  • Selection for increase production, efficiency and reduce climate impact
  • Improvement in disease resistance, health, and welfare
  • Breeding plan
  • Integrative genomics
  • Genetic diversity and conservation
  • Large-scale phenotyping using computer vision and artificial intelligence
    Insect production for food and feed
  • Role of rumen microbiome in methane production

A number of related research activities are carried out at the Department of Agroecology, Food Science, Biological and Chemical Engineering and in departments within School of Business and Social Sciences.

Vision

An overall perspective of the research in livestock is to compose input factors (nutrition, management, production system) that are optimally adapted to the animals’ biological needs. Equally, production efficiency and economy, reproduction, product quality, health, and behavior together with environmental and climate impact are taken into account.

Through mutual adaptation of animals and production methods the goal is to develop livestock production systems providing good animal welfare and food products of high quality and safety combined with limited use of medication.

Livestock health and welfare is also promoted by utilizing new technologies including biotechnology and selection markers in early diagnosis of selected production diseases.

Aarhus University in the Animal Task Force

Aarhus University is representing the Danish knowledge institutes in the ATF. Animal research at AU is conducted with focus on development of health, reproduction, welfare and quality-enhancing strategies, taking into account environmental, climate, efficiency and economy. The objective is to generate knowledge and solutions that relate to current and future demands for knowledge on efficient and sustainable livestock production in the EU.

AU is dedicated to contribute its knowledge to the expertise of the Animal Task Force.