Animal Nutrition
Nutrition is essential for the health and welfare of all animals in our society, for sustainable animal agri-food systems to provide high-quality and nutritious foods, and to ensure global food security. The Animal Nutrition group, led by Wouter Hendriks, focuses on fundamental and practical aspects of nutrition. We study the effects of feed formulation on health, growth, welfare, and the longevity of various animal species.
Research themes
Indirect calorimetry
We study energy metabolism using indirect calorimetry. This technique provides unique information, is non-invasive, and is used to investigate nutrient assimilation, thermogenesis, and energetics of physical activity.
Mathematical modelling
Modelling digestive and metabolic processes in animals has a prominent standing within the Animal Nutrition Group. Mathematical modelling is a central and integral part of the scientific method.
Nutrigenomics
We study how energy balance and metabolic homeostasis are maintained by complex regulatory systems at the molecular level. We are interested in nutrient-sensing regulatory pathways, particularly those triggered by cell-surface receptors.
Education
Education by Animal Nutrition
The Animal Nutrition group provides education and training at the BSc, MSc, and PhD level. Our thesis and research practice topics vary considerably and can cover a whole range of animal species, research techniques and disciplines of animal nutrition.
Publications & Projects
Core areas of our research are feed technology, digestive processes, nutrient metabolism, nutrient sensing, the interaction between nutrients and gene expression, and mechanistic modelling of nutrient utilisation. Researchers at the Animal Nutrition group publish on a regular basis in scientific journals, professional journals, scientific and popular books, and proceedings.
Highlighted publications
- The optimal isoleucine to lysine ratio in diets for postweaning piglets
- A meta-analysis of effects of seaweed and other bromoform-containing feed ingredients on methane production, yield, and intensity in cattle
- Feed additive carriers affected the physiological effects of a lactobacilli-based pro- and postbiotic in broilers
Chair Holder
Wouter H. Hendriks, Ph.D., holds the chair of Animal Nutrition at the Department of Animal Science of Wageningen University. His expertise is in protein nutrition, digestive physiology, and comparative nutrition, with special interest in companion animals. Aside from teaching, he manages active research programs on general mammalian and avian nutrition and physiology, and holds editorial board positions at 2 international journals related to animal nutrition.
prof.dr.ir. WH (Wouter) Hendriks
Chairholder
People of Animal Nutrition
Each chair group of Wageningen University & Research, under leadership of a professor, has its own area of expertise. Meet the people of this Chair Group.
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