Working Groups

At the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), cooperation between workgroups in close physical proximity working on related topics with a high degree of specialization for the six institutes forms the basis for the interdisciplinary and systemic research approach.

The following research focal points are investigated

• Developing and optimising statistical methods for the modelling, planning and evaluation of experiments and their application in the selection and breeding of farm animals (integration of information from genome analysis)
• Clarification of the genetic and epigenetic fundamentals of the occurrence and inheritance of select characteristics (disease resistance/immune competence, fertility and specific metabolic performance) that determine the productivity of farm animals, with the goal of deriving effective selection criteria and methods
• Clarification of regulation mechanisms in ovarian follicle and egg cell development, as well as researching embryo/foetus development processes and the interactions between the embryo/foetus and dam
• Investigating psychoneuroendocrine and immune biology consequences of dealing with stress as well as the ethophysiology of cognitive and bioacoustic behaviour in farm animals
• Researching the genetic/physiological fundamentals of myogenesis and adipogenesis as well as the influence of breeding, feeding and husbandry on muscle growth and meat quality
• Investigations for the regulation of protein and energy conversion as well as long-term physiological and molecular aspects of prenatal and early postnatal nutrition under consideration of the gastrointestinal microbiota