Flanders Reseach Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food hosting offers for MSCA-IF postdoc fellowships in Animal Science

MSCA postdoc fellowship hosting offers for 2021 call

The Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) is a public research institute located in Belgium. ILVO performs multidisciplinary, innovative and independent research aimed at economically, ecologically and socially sustainable agriculture and fisheries. Through this research, ILVO accumulates fundamental and applied knowledge which is vital for the improvement of products and production methods, for quality control and the safety of end products, and for the amelioration of policy instruments as a foundation for sector development and agricultural policy for rural areas.

Recently, some important management decisions have been made to orientate the research at ILVO in a holistic framework of systems thinking as well as to combine ILVO's tacit knowledge with new technological approaches like genomics, metabolomics, (remote) sensing technology, artificial intelligence, precision farming, innovative food/feed production technology, new breeding technologies, animal models, modelling as well as participatory social sciences approaches. This means that a lot of the research at ILVO is conducted in Living Labs, such as a Food Pilot, fishing vessels, modern greenhouses and animal farming units, and in the context of inter- and transdisciplinary research. To accelerate and further improve this new research process, ILVO is looking to host young and experienced researchers at post-doc level in the framework of Marie Sklodowska-Curie individual fellowships within the new Horizon Europe framework programmaoriHor.

Possible research items are shown below and are divided over the different research units of ILVO. Please contact the respective contact persons if you are interested in a specific item or research unit.

Animal Sciences

Contact person: Sam De Campeneere; sam.decampeneere@ilvo.vlaanderen.be

*Untargeted proteomics in animal production

Untargeted-OMICS research is an analytical approach in which the whole of components belonging to a certain class (e.g. metabolites, proteins, sugars, fats, ...) are profiled and in which interesting components can be further identified. This is in contrast to targeted analysis, where certain components are selected in advance for analysis. The major advantage of the untargeted -OMICS approach is that it provides a much broader view of what is present and what is happening in a particular biological process, potentially leading to the discovery of biomarkers for biological mechanisms. In recent years, ILVO has invested in the appropriate equipment (High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HR-MS)) and starts to implement the technology in research projects on livestock farming.

One research topic in which untargeted metabolomics can be of added value is the investigation of factors that influence colostrum quality. Ruminants have a synepitheliochorous placenta which prevents the transfer of antibodies from the mother to the foetus. As a result, calves are born without antibodies and are entirely dependent on immunoglubulins (Ig) taken from colostrum just after birth to build up their passive immunity. Although every farmer is aware of the importance of colostrum for the health and development of the calf, it appears that not all calves take up enough Ig's from colostrum, resulting in a higher risk of illness and mortality. This phenomenon is also known as 'failure of passive transfer' and can partly be explained by the fact that colostrum does not always contain the same amount of Ig's, but also because the calf does not always absorb them efficiently.

In an ongoing project, we search for an explanation why calves do not always succeed in absorbing sufficient Ig's from colostrum. We look beyond the known influencing factors such as time of milking and colostrum supply. Colostrum naturally contains a microflora and this microflora is partly responsible for the first microbial colonisation of the calf's intestine and hence plays a role in gut health and immunity. In addition, colostrum is very rich in microRNAs, which are encapsulated in microvesicles so that they are not broken down in the abomasum and can be absorbed in the calf's intestine. As a result of this project, ILVO has an extensive database of more than 100 colostrum samples that are currently characterized for their microbial and microRNA composition. Untargeted proteomics and metabolomics on these colostrum samples can be a very valuable addition to the microbiome and miRNome data. In addition, untargeted omics of blood and fecal samples from the newborn calf may enhance the understanding of the influence of colostrum composition on calves gut health and immunity and may clarify the complex relationship between the host and his microbiome. Research into hitherto unknown bioactive components in colostrum is not only very valuable for cattle farmers or producers of colostrum substitutes and milk powders, but there is also interest from the human medical sector and food industry.

*Welfare & behaviour of farmed animals.

ILVO animal science unit has great facilities and long-standing expertise for conducting research on assessing, monitoring and improving the welfare of poultry, pigs, cattle and other farmed animals. These facilities include behavioural surveillance hard- & software, sensor technologies (such as automated real-time UWB position tracking) and experimental herds (cattle, poultry and pigs). Our expertise and research includes all stages of the production chain, including early-life conditions, production phase, depopulation, transport and slaughter. Interested post-doc researchers are welcome to contact the research group for suggestions of research topics or for discussing their own research proposals as long as they contribute to a better understanding of the behaviour and/or to a better quality of life of farmed animals.

Contact: Frank Tuyttens (frank.tuyttens@ilvo.vlaanderen.be)

*Youngstock feeding and management.

ILVO is running several trials with dairy (Holstein) and beef (Belgian white & blue) young stock on colostrum management & feeding management. Especially of interest are the impact of feeding and management strategies on growth performance, rumen development, rumen and intestine microbiome development and function, feed efficiency. Our research and collaboration with e.g. Ghent University, University of Liège combines specialties of feed, feed evaluation, performance trials and in depth microbiome analyses techniques. Besides trials in our specialized animal facilities, we also work closely together with Flemish dairy and beef farms to translate interesting findings to the sector. Interested post-doc researchers are welcome to perform synergetic research activities in the area of microbiome development and evolution, rumen physiologic research and/or immunological research in cattle young stock.

*Non-invasive monitoring of nitrogen excretion and efficiency in cattle.

ILVO animal science unit has a long track record on feeding trials, feed evaluation and nitrogen balance trials. We are well equipped in these research area with up to data dairy cattle production facilities, several single and few double cannulated cows within our herd to perform in sacco feed evaluation trials. Recent research is oriented towards low protein diets both in dairy and beef in order to work on ammonia emission reduction in a source oriented way. Within the different feeding and nitrogen balance trials, we have collected a elaborative set of feed, milk, urine and feces samples. Interested post-docs could develop a non-invasive or limited invasive ready to use monitoring system for nitrogen excretion, ammonia emission and nitrogen efficiency based on milk, saliva, blood and/or spot urine samples.

*Livestock emissions on animal level.

ILVO animal science unit has an experience of almost a decade to measure greenhouse emissions of individual animals. The facility contains open circuit chambers and different onsite gas emission analyzers including GreenFeeds. This makes measurement possible in our research barn and at animal farms. Our research and collaboration efforts aim to investigate the effect of different diets and additives on the production of greenhouse gases by the targeted animals. Most research is done on dairy cows and methane since they are the major emitters and with the most impact in animal agriculture. Interested post-doc researchers test new or promising diets and additives to mitigate on-farm methane emissions.

*Macromineral requirements and interactions between minerals in pig diets.

The development of phytase allowed to produce low phosphorus pig feeds. However, in the field, nutritionists fear the effect on bone health. In this renewed context of low phosphorus diets, there is increased interest and questions on the interactions between minerals and how these affect the requirements. While this knowledge is well studied in poultry, in pig diets there are still ample questions remaining on the digestible calcium and phosphorus content for optimal growth, bone health, intestinal health and minimal excretion to the environment. ILVO has the equipment and expertise to carry out performance trials, digestibility trials, determination of body composition to get better insights in these questions.

*In vitro methods for pig feed evaluation.

Optimal nutrition starts with proper evaluation of feedstuffs. Especially, byproducts show a large variation in quality so that correct feed evaluation is crucial for incorporating them in pig diets. As in vivo trials are time-consuming and expensive, ILVO is developing in vitro methods and NIRS techniques to estimate the digestibility, energy and protein value of pig feeds.

*Increase the taste and quality of the Flemish pork

Future Flemish Pig is a research project that aims to combine innovations in genetics, animal nutrition, slaughter and processing in Piétrain crossbred fattening pigs. Moreover, through a multidisciplinary research approach, insights are sought that may contribute to the role of fattening pigs in circular agro-food systems in the longer term. By implementing data sharing via innovative blockchain technology, not only the developed strategies to improve animal welfare, efficiency in breeding or slaughtering processes but also quality aspects of taste or food safety in both meat portions or dried hams can contribute to increased transparency not only for the pork chain players involved but also for the end consumers.

The work plan aims to 1/ develop strategies that improve animal welfare, 2/ reduce losses both at the animal (pre-slaughter) and carcass (post-slaughter) level, 3/ improve the taste and quality of fresh pork and dry-cured ham to a level perceptible by the consumer, 4/ obtain new insights into the resilience of fattening pigs with a Piétrain sire to major feed fluctuations, especially if this feed is mainly composed of variable and fibre-rich co-products, 4/ to obtain new insights into the resilience of fattening pigs sired by Piétrain to major fluctuations in feed, especially if that feed is primarily composed of variable and fibre-rich side stream ingredients (feed resilience), 5/ to unlock the potential of blockchain technology in the pig production and processing chain based on improved transparency and automated traceability.

*Extended production cycle in laying hens

Laying hens are kept in production until the age of 75-80 week, but the actual egg production period is only 55-60 weeks long. During a single laying cycle a hen can produce on average 360 eggs. Extending the egg production period and keeping hens longer, possibly until 100 week of age would not only contribute to increased profitability but also to more sustainable food production. However, there are several bottlenecks in extending the production period of laying hens such as declining persistency and egg quality, decreased bone quality, health and welfare. To tackle these problems, a multifactorial approach is needed. Improved genetic selection has to be accompanied by optimal nutrition and management to be able to produce 500 eggs until 100 week of age which should be feasible by 2020, as layer breeding companies predict. ILVO has the equipment and expertise to carry out layer performance trials, digestibility trials, determination of egg quality and body composition to get better insights in these questions.

*To reduce emissions from the poultry industry

For the poultry industry, concerns about emissions such as ammonia, odor and dust are multifaceted and include issues of poultry performance, health, and welfare, and environmental impact. Pressure is being placed on poultry producers to reduce their emissions but at the moment they are lacking efficient and affordable solutions. Research is needed to improve or develop methods of new techniques in poultry husbandry management or concerning adaptations in nutrition to reduce the poultry emissions. Environmental pressure is an important scientific topic within ILVO that has the expertise as well as the equipment for investigating emission reducing strategies.

*Alternative protein sources for the poultry industry

In the last years more attention is being put on the use of local feed resources, particularly for protein sources, both for broilers and laying hens. The feed industry and by-product industry is active in this topic and several alternatives to soya have appeared in the last 10 years: macro and micro algae, new by-products from the rapeseed and sunflower processing industry, legumes (peas, faba beans, etc) , insects, single cell protein production from bacteria and/or yeasts and extraction of protein from grass and other green crops. However, there is still information lacking and research is needed on how poultry react to these protein sources in terms of performance, health and welfare. ILVO has the expertise and the facilities to carry on scientific research that evaluates the impact of new feedstuffs and protein sources on animal digestive physiology, health and performance.