Access to multifunctional research facility for livestock
Research on rearing conditions, feed ingredients, and feed formulations for pigs and poultry.
Studies focus on animal growth, welfare, gut health, and end-product quality.
Development of research equipment, feeding strategies, and production systems.
The multifunctional research facility for livestock supports a variety of research experiments on broilers, laying hens, piglets and fattening pigs, all of which are reared under standardised conditions. The platform can be used to conduct research on feed digestibility, animal growth, feed conversion efficiency, end-product quality and animal physiology or microbiome. It also enables the testing and development of pilot-scale equipment.
Animals can be fed individually or in groups. Luke’s in-house feed mixing facility enables the preparation of various feed mixtures.
Research is conducted using the minimum number of animals and shortest possible duration while meeting scientific quality standards. Production-scale experiments are carried out in collaboration with partner farms.
Sample collection
- Sample types include feed samples, intestinal contents, urine and feces, blood and tissue samples, meat and bone samples, and tissue biopsies.
- Samples can be collected from animals in a dedicated handling and procedure room.
- Most sampling equipment is brought in per project.
- Samples are stabilized at the sampling site.
- Short-term sample storage is available.
Target groups
Researchers, research groups, research communities, research networks, research projects, research organizations, companies.
Access type
- Physical, remote or hybrid access.
- Minimum reservation duration: 1 week.
- Available units: laying hens 2 separate units, broilers 3 separate units, pigs 2 separate units, one unit for egg storage and incubation, one unit for animal handling/procedures.
- Units can be booked one at a time or negotiated separately.
Service usage restrictions
- Importing animal diseases and pests to the multifunctional research facility for livestock is only allowed in accordance with legislation and through case-by-case negotiation.
- Feed materials brought in from outside must always be certified salmonella-free.
Information to support the application
- Animal species and group used in the experiment, including genetics and number of animals if necessary.
- Description of the experiment’s objectives, treatments, data collection, and required monitoring information.
- Description of treatments, rearing conditions, data collection, and monitoring requirements.
