About the Swedish Livestock Research Centre

The Swedish Livestock Research Centre has all the resources needed for different types of research into and education on farm animals. There are dairy cattle, pigs and poultry in housing solutions that are suitable for both research and education.

The animals are central in the research and education, which also makes the facility a major basic food producer in the region.

Dairy cattle

The cattle facility have room for 300 dairy cattle plus recruitment animals. Milking is performed daily by an automatic milking system.

Pig

The pig herd comprises 132 sows in integrated production. The pig facility also have 960 slaughter pig places and 96 growth places. Approximately 2,500 pigs are fattened for slaughter each year.

Poultry

The poultry facility allow for re-search with free-range laying hens and broiler chickens. Research with other poultry is also possible.

To ensure the quality of research, education and production, the operations at the Swedish Livestock Research Centre are certified in accordance with quality standard ISO 9001:2015.

SLU is certified according to the environmental management standard ISO 14001:2015. The Swedish Livestock Research Centre is actively engaged in environmental efforts and is working towards achieving its own local environmental objectives.

The animal facilities represent cutting-edge technology and are staffed by around 30 employees with extensive and well-documented experience in animal care, research operations, and production. Continuous monitoring and recording of animal production, consumption, behaviour, reproduction, and health is carried out. This provides you with a comprehensive overview that highlights opportunities and ensures the reliability of your trials.

The barns are heated and powered by the on-site biogas plant. All vehicles are either electric or run on HVO100 renewable fuel.

Resources for research and education

As of January 1, 2023, the research infrastructures Röbäcksdalen dairy research facility in Umeå and the Swedish Livestock Research Centre in Uppsala are managed under VH Barn Operations at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science.

Just a stone's throw from the Swedish Livestock Research Centre lies the Lövsta Field Research Station, which manages around 70 agricultural field trials and cultivates 70 hectares in the Uppsala area. Lövsta also serves as the hub for crop production on the Ultuna Estate, which encompasses approximately 1,200 hectares of arable land and 200 hectares of pasture.

All manure produced at the animal facility is digested in the biogas plant established by SLU on site. In addition to manure, large amounts of grass material produced in the local area are added. The biogas is used for heating and electricity generation. The animal barns receive both heat and power from this facility.

Pigs and cattle that leave the research facility are slaughtered at the nearby Lövsta Kött slaughterhouse. The operation is run by a private entrepreneur.

Study visits to the Swedish Livestock Research Centre in Uppsala can be arranged subject to availability and are held in the viewing room above the cattle barn. 

To request a study visit, please contact us in advance!

The conference rooms are situated at the upper floor in the same building as the dairy cattle unit.

Book a conference or teaching room!