The Swedish Livestock Research Centre is an important facility for research and teaching. On an average ten projects are running daily at the research centre.
Read about some ongoing research projects at the Swedish Livestock Research Centre. For more projects, please see the Swedish version of this page.
The objective of the project is to, based on an innovative multi-sensor technology for image sensors, develop a robust easy-to-use system for monitoring animal health, which will ease livestock management and research, improve animal health, and reduce environmental impact.
Niclas Högberg, niclas.hogberg@slu.se, tel. +4618672381
Ulf Emanuelson, ulf.emanuelson@slu.se, tel. +4618671826
Project 2023-2024
Within Swedish egg production, high ammonia levels are considered as the major environmental challenge. The majority of Swedish hens are kept in cage-free systems with access to a littered area which increases the behavioural repertoire of the laying hen in a positive way. However, manure accumulating in the litter will increase the ammonia concentration in the indoor air, as nitrogen in the manure is converted to ammonia by bacteria and in chemical processes. Lower levels of crude protein in the feed and thereby nitrogen in the manure decrease the risk of ammonia formation, however, a certain level of nitrogen in the feed is needed as building blocks for protein. Increased level of fibre in the feed might potentially also reduce the ammonia volatilization by increasing the microbial activity so more nitrogen is excreted as microbial more stable protein. The present project aims to evaluate if adjusted levels of crude protein, amino acids and fibre in the feed can lower the ammonia volatilization from the litter in laying hen facilities while animal performance and welfare are maintained.
Emma Ivarsson, Emma.Ivarsson@slu.se
Helena Wall, Helena.Wall@slu.se, tel.: +4618671716
Adnan Aslam (PhD student within the project)
Erika Ohlsson – master student within the project
Mastitis is the most prevalent production disease in dairy herds world-wide, affecting animal welfare and production. Mastitis-causing bacteria are contagious and environmental pathogens, based upon important reservoirs and modes of transmission of each group. Social and behavioural interactions play a crucial role in the transmission of diseases on dairy farms. However, observational studies of social behaviour provide insufficient information to identify transmission routes.
Nowadays, Precision livestock farming technologies offer an excellent opportunity to continuously monitor the animals and understand the transmission routes of this multifactorial disease. Previous studies of our research group described the heterogeneous nature of dyadic interactions between cows, indicating a non-random movement in the herd. Particularly, proximity loggers provide information about dyadic spatial interactions between animals, which can be used to permanently monitor the social behaviour of dairy cows and estimate spatial occupancy by applying trilateration algorithms.
In addition, automated milking systems collect daily information about individual cows' milk production (e.g., milk yield and somatic cell count). The inclusion of subclinical conditions in mastitis control protocols (i.e., somatic cell count information) in dairy cattle has been one major advance in dairy health. Diseases in dairy cows can lead to decreased milk production, as well as increased use of antibiotics and other treatments, which can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can be harmful to humans and the environment. Therefore, the application of preventive measures to reduce the incidence of mastitis in dairy cows will promote the principles of One Health in the dairy industry.
Bearing this in mind, we will explore the relationship between the social networks and area occupancy of dairy cows with the individual somatic cell count data. The results provided by this pilot study will provide a baseline for understanding how the social interactions and proximity between dairy cows could impact their somatic cell count. Based on these findings, we will design a long-term project to unravel the transmission routes of mastitis-causing bacteria within barns and to design prevention and intervention protocols for transmissible diseases in dairy cows.
Hector Marina, hector.marina@slu.se, tele +46793506609
This study aims to develop new knowledge to use available water resources on Swedish farms more effectively. This will potentially provide a solution for Swedish farmers experiencing water scarcity without negatively affecting production and animal welfare. Certain regions in Sweden periodically suffer from low groundwater levels, especially during summer. The Swedish Animal Welfare Act specifies requirements for oversight, feed and water, but the wording is unclear. It states: “Animals shall be provided with sufficient amount of feed and water of good quality. Feed, water and feeding routines shall be adapted to the needs of the animal,” but it does not further specify what this entails. The common practice is to offer the cows ad libitum access to fresh water around the clock. However, studies have shown that cows in those systems tend to use more water than they actually need. In this study, we want to investigate the possibilities of limiting access to water for high-producing dairy cows without negatively affecting their production and welfare.
Anna Jansson, anna.jansson@slu.se, tele +18672106
Lea Managos, PhD student, lea.managos@slu.se, tele, +46722380077
Sammy Pettersson, research tehnician, sammy.pettersson@slu.se, tele +4618672114
Lotta Jönsson, Research and Education Coordinator the Swedish Livestock Research Centre, SLU lotta.jonsson@slu.se, +4618673217
Johanna Grundin, Research and Education Coordinator the Swedish Livestock Research Centre, SLU johanna.grundin@slu.se, +4618671698
Linnea Eberson, Research and Education Coordinator the Swedish Livestock Research Centre, SLU linnea.eberson@slu.se, +4618672948