The farm animal sector have a strong need for developing sustainable feedstuffs to support the expected growth in animal production to feed the world. In addition to simply providing nutrients, several of the upcoming biomasses will be potential sources of bioactive compounds, which may have valuable effects on animal production performance and health.

The PhD project will focus on studying the potential of both marine and insect biomasses for improving production performance and health of pigs and poultry. As part of larger projects with the aim of developing the full circle of bio-based economy and nutrient utilization in relation to the mentioned biomasses, activities will be dedicated to study the animal responses to feeding blue mussels, seaweed and insects to poultry and pigs.

Specific activities include:

1) evaluation of different types of mussel meal on production performance of organic laying hens and the quality of eggs for human consumption

2) evaluation of mussel meal and mussel silage on production performance and health of organic piglets in commercial conditions, and

3) the specific effects of these mussel products on feed intake and appetite regulation of piglets.

4) Seaweed of Danish origin will be fed to piglets to evaluate the effect on production performance and intestinal health, and lastly,

5) chickens will be fed mealworms to study their nutritional properties and their use as a behavioral stimulant.

The work is carried out in collaboration with several Danish and international industry and academic partners. The projects, in which the activities take basis are:

• Mussel farming – mitigation and protein source for organic husbandry (MuMiPro), financed mainly by Innovation Fund Denmark (http://www.mumipro.dk)
• Danish seaweed resources into play – for food, feed and as mitigation for the marine environment (Tang.nu), financed mainly by the Velux Foundations (https://tangnu.dk)
• Insect value chain in a circular bioeconomy (inVALUABLE), financed mainly by Innovation Fund Denmark (http://www.invaluable.dk). Co-financing is also granted from the Center for Circular Bioeconomy (http://cbio.au.dk/).

Place of employment and place of work
Aarhus University, Department of Animal Science, Blichers Alle 20, 8830 Tjele, Foulum, Denmark.