Aarhus University

About

Aarhus University’s (AU’s) academic portfolio is broad ranging, from the classic university disciplines of the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, health sciences and theology to business and engineering, educational theory and practice and the environmental and agricultural sciences. This breadth gives the university a unique opportunity to combine strong disciplines in the creation of research breakthroughs, and to establish close collaboration with many sectors to the benefit of society. AU has app. 36.000 students, 2.000 PhD students and 8.500 employees.

Research and research-based educations and public authority service in Animal Science are carried out at Campus AU Viborg – Research Centre Foulum and at selected Departments at the Faculty of Technology at the main campus situated in the city of Aarhus. As the only university in Denmark, AU will be running the education in Animal Science. This education together with the educations in Veterinary Science and Plant- and Food Science was established at the campus AU Viborg in 2024. This campus will be housing around 900 students in the future.

Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences (ANIVET) at the Technical Faculty at AU performs basic, strategic and applied research and innovation within core activities related to health, welfare and nutrition and disease prevention in livestock, in horses and companion animals, and also other animal species such as insects for feed production. The Department has several animal experimental facilities at the Campus for small-scale and individual animal testing, including an organic experimental research platform, infection stables, and a feed processing plant. The cattle experimental facility contains a herd of dairy cows for running production trials, including studies of cattle on pasture, and respiration chambers, and both the cattle and pig research facilities have novel equipment to measure emission of gases and excretion of nutrients of the individual animal. Several research projects have major focus on the green transition of the livestock production, on alternatives to antibiotics to reduce antimicrobial resistance, and on improvement of animal health and welfare in the production systems. ANIVET is hosting the educations in Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, and the integrated education model facilitates the integration research and education.

At the Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG), the Animal Genetics Section focuses on advancing the understanding of genetics, breeding, and genomics to provide knowledge and tools for efficient and sustainable livestock production, biodiversity conservation, reduction in climate and environmental impact, thereby ensuring supply of safe and healthy food of animal origin.

The Department of Agroecology has research activities supporting the green transition of agriculture through research including organic/outdoor animal production systems, life cycle analyses and integration of crop- and livestock systems.

At the Department of Food Science, research contributes to a sustainable food production including product quality studies on dairy and egg products as well as meat from cattle, pigs and chickens, including under climate-friendly production methods.

Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering carries out research in environmental engineering and industrial biotechnology. The Department has also facilities to measure gaseous emissions from livestock facilities as well as green biorefining technologies.

Vision

Research in Animal Science at AU aims at being nationally and internationally recognized for the contribution in solving future challenges to maintain a sustainable and environmental-friendly livestock production. The goal is to contribute with knowledge, which can enhance a resource-efficient livestock production ensuring good animal health and welfare, while delivering safe and healthy animal food of high quality for the benefit of human nutrition. The research is dedicated to providing innovative tools and solutions for sustainable livestock production with reduced climate and environmental impact, improved biodiversity, and thereby contribute significantly to the green transition.

Aarhus University in the Animal Task Force

AU represents livestock research at institutions in Denmark. Being a leading research institution in the EU in relation to animal science, AU’s contribution is devoted to the dissemination of knowledge and expertise based on basic, strategic and applied research and innovation within core disciplines such as animal nutrition, health and welfare, genetics and genomics, animal food quality and safety, and climate and environmental impact.