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
Due to periodic water scarcity in certain parts of Sweden where cattle production is common, it is necessary to investigate possible alternative drinking water sources for cattle. Results from other studies have shown that ruminants can drink water with some salinity without negative effects. To date, farmers have also been using brackish Baltic Sea water as a source for their grazing cattle, without observing any obvious health issues. This study is needed to investigate the ability of high-producing dairy cows to drink brackish water with a salinity up to 8 g NaCl per litter of water, which corresponds to the salinity of the Baltic Sea in southern Sweden. In this study, 18 cows in Latin-Square design will be offered drinking water with three different salt concentrations, determined based on the results from the pilot study.
Anna Jansson, anna.jansson@slu.se, tel.: +4618672106
Sigrid Agenäs, sigrid.agenas@slu.se, tel.: +4618671633
Lea Managos, doktorand, lea.managos@slu.se, tel.: +46722380077
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
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