Ruminant Nutrition

What we do

We develop science-based solutions promoting effective and sustainable ruminant production and thereby supporting the green transition of agriculture in Denmark and internationally. This is done by developing and optimising nutritional and management strategies that fulfil the ruminant animal´s nutrient requirements, secure a resource efficient production taking environmental and climate aspects into account, and improve product quality, feed safety, and animal health and welfare.

We conduct state of the art teaching within ruminant nutrition and physiology from BSc to Post.doc level.

We provide public authorities with research-based state of the art advice on feed evaluation and safety, nutrition, metabolism, physiology, and production with respect to environmental and climate aspects of ruminant production systems.

We base our teaching and public advice on research conducted in world class research facilities.

We disseminate our knowledge broadly for the benefit of society, industry and other stakeholders.

Our primary focus areas

Develop sustainable dairy and beef production systems
Quantify nutrient requirements in relation to the animals' various physiological stages
Develop methods and systems for feed evaluation
Develop novel feed additives and strategies to mitigate emission of methane and other greenhouse gasses
Provide feeding strategies to optimize nutrient efficiency and reduce environmental impacts of nitrogen, ammonia, and minerals including heavy metals
Provide calf nutrition strategies for improving health and long-term performance
Improve resource utilisation and develop sustainable feedstuffs in a circular bio-economy
Investigate basic aspects of digestion, metabolism, and toxicology of bioactive components in feeds or feed additives
Provide knowledge on quantification and regulation of biological processes in tissues and organs involved in milk synthesis, growth and development
Identify biomarkers for metabolic and physiological status and lifetime performance
Prevent production diseases related to ruminant nutrition, metabolism and digestive and mammary function
Develop alternative experimental animal models and less invasive experimental procedures
Model biological and production processes
Provide sustainable solutions to develop organic production
Utilize the gained knowledge on ruminants to optimise nutrition of other herbivore species