Feed and feeding research services in farm animals
Innovative feed solutions promote animal welfare, improve the profitability of farm production, and reduce environmental impacts by improving resource efficiency.
Luke’s research services include studies on the production, preservation, processing, and use of feeds, including the development of novel feeds and efficient utilization of by-products from for example food industry. New types of diets can be developed from a variety of side streams, ranging from wood to algae.
Benefits for the Customer
Product development and testing of feeds and feed additives, based on the customer’s needs, are core areas of Luke’s expertise. In collaboration with Luke, customers develop competitive feeding solutions whose effects on animal performance are well understood.
As a result of this development work, customers gain insights into how the products affect the feed intake, growth and nutrient digestibility, and metabolism of the animal, feed efficiency, and nutrient excretion, methane formation in the rumen, and ultimately the quality of the end products (milk, meat and eggs).
Examples of Services
- Identifying the customer’s needs
- Measuring the nutritional quality and effect on animal performance of various feeding solutions (feed ingredients, feed additives, feeding strategies):
- Based on existing knowledge, e.g. literature reviews
- Using laboratory methods (e.g. in vitro rumen systems)
- Conducting in vivo experiments in experimental environments
- Determination of official feed values (www.luke.fi/feedtables)
- Research on feed digestibility, animal growth, and feed efficiency
- Studies on the quality of the final product
- Measurements of animal physiology
- Microbiome analyses and gut health assessments (histology, microbiome, metagenomics)
- Preparation of a confidential report for the customer
Why Luke?
Luke has extensive, long-standing research-based expertise in developing various feed solutions and Luke offers versatile research environments. Luke’s research and expertise cover the entire production chain, from field to fork, and the institute has comprehensive knowledge of the regulatory processes related to feeds.
Luke’s feed and feed ingredient research services cover a wide range of animal species: dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs, poultry, horses, reindeer, and fish.
