Department of Animal Sciences
The Department of Animal Sciences is involved in research and education related to the health and welfare of animals and people. The primary focus is on the functioning of animals, both from a curiosity perspective and in relation to the various functions animals have for people.
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The Department of Animal Sciences is one of five departments at Wageningen University. It provides education and research in 3 themes:
- Animal health
- Healthy and safe nutrition
- Sustainable systems
With these themes, the Department of Animal Sciences contributes to healthy and safe products while also focussing on animal health in sustainable systems.
Subjects that are studied are, for example, animal health, animal welfare, animal nutrition, animal breeding and genetics, celbiology, zoology, ecology, sustainable husbandry, epidemiology, aquaculture, fisheries and human-animal interactions.
The eleven chair groups responsible for research and education are:
Animal Breeding and Genetics Group
The Animal Breeding and Genetics group contributes to our quality of life by providing knowledge to support the adequate supply of safe and healthy food of animal origin, and to enhance the health, welfare and productivity of animals.
Host-Microbe Interactomics
Our research ranges from work on the molecular mechanisms of diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria to the interactions between and beneficial bacteria and their human or animal hosts. The group combines expertise in cell biology, immunology, microbiology and functional genomics to further our understanding of the molecular interactions occurring in the cross-talk between microbes and their hosts.
Aquaculture and Fisheries
It is our mission to be leading in academic research and education on sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries, with a focus on society relevant questions and on the interactions between aquatic organisms and their environment.
Cell Biology and Immunology Group
The CBI group, headed by prof. Huub Savelkoul, integrates high level education at all university levels (BSc, MSc, PhD, Post-doc) with internationally competitive research in fundamental and applied immunology. The group participates in several international networks and holds a strong record in immunomodulation for health and disease resistance of animals and humans.
Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology
The group of Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology (QVE) of Wageningen University has its core business in generating and disseminating knowledge on the epidemiology of diseases in animals, especially in livestock. The emphasis is on the transmission of infectious diseases within and between groups of animals and on factors that influence that transmission.
Animal Nutrition Group
We provide education and develop and transfer knowledge of the nutrition of animals. We aim to optimise the production of safe and healthy foods for human consumption in a sustainable manner and to safeguard the health and welfare of production and companion animals.
Behavioural Ecology Group
The Behavioural Ecology Group (BHE) studies the causes and consequences of animal behaviour with a focus on social contexts. We provide education in Behavioural Ecology and Applied Animal Behaviour. Our research focuses on: • Behavioural Ecology • Applied Animals Behaviour • Behaviour of Companion Animals
Experimental Zoology Group
The Experimental Zoology Group combines physics, engineering, molecular techniques and modelling in a quantitative systems analysis to solve fundamental problems in biology. This provides insights that we use to offer solutions for practical problems with societal relevance.
Human and Animal Physiology
Human and Animal Physiology (HAP) performs molecular physiological research to elucidate mechanisms, to improve health and to substantiate the efficacy of food bioactives. We perform experimental research to investigate how energy intake, bioactive food components and physiological factors affect health and functioning of males and females, focusing on energy metabolism.
Adaptation Physiology Group
The Adaptation Physiology Group focuses on interdisciplinary research to improve and facilitate adaptation by development of robust animals in supportive environments.
Animal Production Systems Group
Research of the Animal Production Systems Group focuses on unravelling the complexity of concerns in livestock systems and exploring trade-offs and synergies of innovations regarding environmental impact, animal welfare, and economic viability, to design a more sustainable future.