Transition periods
Throughout their lives, animals experience a number of transitions that invoke large physiological and behavioural changes. Examples of such transitions are hatching in chickens, the onset of lactation in dairy cows and weaning in piglets. We study the influence of environmental factors, including early life conditions, as well as individual characteristics, such as genetic background or personality, on how animals cope with these transitions.
Topics
- Optimizing lactation length for dairy cows
- Understanding chicken embryo processes
- Effects of phytobiotics in broiler breeders
- Cow-calf contact in dairy systems
- Improving maternal care of free farrowing sows
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Research themes
Transition periods
Throughout their lives, animals experience a number of transitions that invoke large physiological and behavioural changes. From hatching in chickens to weaning in piglets, we investigate how animals cope with these transitions under changing and challenging conditions.
Physical and social environment
Both the physical and social environment of animals crucially affect their health and welfare. We study the impact of environmental conditions, such as housing systems and interactions between group members, on resilience and emotional states of animals.
Global challenges, sustainability and resilience
Global challenges and mitigation measures affect the animals we keep. We study the impacts of global changes on animal health and welfare, and strategies to facilitate adaptation to changes that animals encounter.
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