Animal environment and health
Animal Environment and Health explores how housing, management, and human-animal interactions influence animal health, welfare, and behaviour. Our work emphasizes preventive measures and the promotion of good animal health and welfare at the individual, group, and population levels.
Animal ethics
The animal ethics subject at THV examines ethical aspects of topical issues in society’s use of animals and analyses how they should be treated. The aim of the teaching is to inspire students to develop their reflections and discussions on animal ethics in preparation for their future professional roles.
Animal protection and animal welfare
We are one of the leading centres for research in animal welfare and animal protection. Our research is directed towards advancing fundamental and applied knowledge related to welfare science concepts, methodologies to assess animal welfare, and to animal welfare policy.
Applied ethology
We research and teach in applied ethology, the scientific study of animal behaviour. Our research on animal behaviour and stress responses is important for promoting good animal welfare and improving human-animal interactions, management and productivity.
Aquaculture
Our main focus are feed protein from circular systems, not competing with our food supply, as microbes and insects. Their effects on fish production, nutrition and metabolism are in focus in addition to growth, gut function and gut microbiota.
Avians
We focus on nutrition, housing and management of meat-type chickens and laying hens including solutions that combine improved animal welfare, high competitiveness and low environmental impact. Our research comprises both conventional and alternative production systems.
Beef and lamb production
We conduct research and education on beef and lamb production aimed at environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable systems.
Feed science
We work with processing and conservation of feeds, their nutritional and hygienic properties and with development of methods for analysis of feeds and their metabolism in the gastro-intestinal tract of farm animals and companion animals.
Forage utilization
Our unit focuses on forage utilisation in ruminant production and dairy nutrition, including strategies to reduce GHG emissions, satellite-based GHG estimation, feed efficiency and evaluation, grazing systems, young cattle rearing systems, animal welfare, and milk quality.
Monogastric animals
We conduct research and teaching in the field of nutritional physiology and metabolism of monogastric animals. Our research aims to develop the knowledge about how different types of feedstuffs and feed ingredients affect the animals' metabolism and health.
Reindeer husbandry
We perform research and education within the topic reindeer husbandry and reindeer biology. The research focuses on production conditions of the reindeer husbandry and interaction with the surrounding world.
Ruminant management
Our research on management of ruminants primarily covers dairy cows. Research projects often include animal welfare, animal health, the efficiency of production systems and possibilities to adjust grazing, housing and technology to the biology of the animals.
Ruminant nutrition
We conduct research and teach about ruminant feeding and nutrition both nationally and in low-income countries. Our research aims to develop knowledge about how different feeding strategies, feed materials and feed additives affect animals, production and how the environment is affected.