Working Group Nutritional Biochemistry


Biochemical and nutritional physiological principles of feed conversion and metabolic health.

Climate change and increasingly scarce feed resources pose enormous challenges for ruminant husbandry. Prolonged periods of drought and heat not only affect feed quality and yields, but also have a direct impact on animal health and performance.

In our projects, we are researching the usability of regionally cultivated plants with high drought tolerance for feeding large and small ruminants. To this end, we are investigating the crude nutrient content, digestive processes and the post-absorptive energy and nutrient supply capacity. Special attention is paid to the effect of secondary plant ingredients on digestibility, stress resistance and the reduction of nitrogen and methane emissions. 

In order to better understand the heat stress often experienced by animals in the summer months, we are investigating the mechanisms by which the energy and intermediary metabolism and the immune system adapt to increased ambient temperatures. We utilise these findings to test feeding measures to alleviate heat stress in a subsequent step.

We also focus on the metabolic-physiological causes of differences in nutrient utilisation efficiency, ability to adapt to the environment and longevity in individual animals.

We always carry out our investigations on the whole animal and on individual organs. We use a variety of modern biochemical and physiological analysis methods.

Scientists

Dr. rer. nat. Franziska Koch
Nutrition and Metablism
+49 38208 68-870 | E-Mail
E-Mail +49 38208 68-870
Vet. Jessica Schwerdtfeger
Nutrition and Metablism
+49 38208 68-683 | E-Mail
E-Mail +49 38208 68-683

Supervised Doctoral Candidates

Kaja Helffenstein
Nutrition and Metablism
+49 38208 68-674 | E-Mail
E-Mail +49 38208 68-674
Samsunnahar Mitu Sarkar
Nutrition and Metablism
+49 38208 68-674
+49 38208 68-674