SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME
Horses
TD Equine products for wellbeing and rural development. Chair: K. Potocnik
There is an increasing interest in equine products. Equids can supply a wide range of products (milk, meat, leisure riding, biological tool, therapeutical support,…) that have important outputs for wellbeing and that are an important assets for the development and maintenance of biodiversity in rural areas. Abstracts dealing with all aspects of equine products and/or production, supply, … are welcomed
D Genomics in Horse Breeding Chair: K. Stock
The session 'Genomics in horse breeding' is supposed to give an overview about ongoing research on genomic approaches in horse breeding. Genomic selection is definitively a hot topic for the equine sector - with enormous potential, but also lots of challenges. Contributions to this session may accordingly refer to the following tentative topics: new phenotypes and the new role of phenotypes in the era of genomics, preconditions for genomic selection in horses, theoretical and practical considerations regarding the implementation of genomic tools in horse breeding, (first) experiences with genomic applications in horse breeding."
TD Innovation and research for developing the horse sector - Equine practice in Science (1 day symposium) Chairs: A. S. Santos, P. Lekeux and A. Stasiowski.
Livestock Farming Systems
TD Efficiency, multifunctionality and tradeoffs in livestock production. Chair: Ripoll Bosch.
Studies oriented towards improving the efficiency are gaining ground. Under the term “efficiency” several approaches take place: implement feeding/management strategies to increase productivity; assess nutrient balances at the animal or farm level); close the nutrient loop at farm or regional scales; improve economic performances; reduce the environmental impacts; etc. However, besides food production, many livestock farming systems provide other services to society (e.g. landscape conservation, biodiversity enhancement, high standard products, and a range of ecosystem services). All those functions relate each other in very complex ways, usually conflicting, and are generally not considered. Single targeted approaches may underestimate the potential effects of one intervention on all other components and services inherent to livestock farming.
This session aims to host presentations addressing the different scopes of efficiency in livestock production, exploring the multifunctionality of the livestock farming systems, and/or shedding light on the possible trade-offs among the multiple functions.
TD Integration of new technologies in livestock farming systems. Chair: Hostiou.
Automation and electronization in livestock farms have become increasingly important in recent years in many countries, giving rise to what is called Precision Livestock Farming (PLF). The large deployment of sensors and advanced technologies meets the current economic, structural and social constraints of farms. PLF is developing in different animal sectors to facilitate the monitoring of large herds with lower workforce availability. During this session, speakers will examine and discuss the economical, technical and social consequences of the integration of news technologies in livestock farming systems. For the social dimension, news technologies can modify farmer’s labour (duration, tasks,…), and skills (due to news activities). The relationship between a farmer and his animals is also modified. This session will also take into account studies about reasons and failures for the adoption of news technologies. The impact of PLF at farm scale leads positive aspects and can be attractive for young people, but can also be sources of failure if they are not adapted to the needs and skills of farmers.
TD Future challenges and strategies for smallholders (with Eastern and Central European WG). Chair: S. Oosting and I. Stokovic.
Smallholder farms worldwide are characterised by a low input level and a low production level per farm. Major objectives of livestock in smallholder farms are food production for home consumption or for local markets, manure production, traction and capital store. Such smallholder farms with livestock are challenged: local markets are dwindling, input costs rise faster than output prices, in the European Union smallholder farms have to comply to the same regulations regarding animal welfare and environment as large scale farms and in the Tropics many smallholder farms get too small to support the household’s food security. Scale enlargement and intensification are advocated to have smallholders contribute to urban markets, to benefit of economies of scale, to comply better with animal welfare and environmental regulations and to have a higher contribution to food security. The speakers will present analyses of smallholder livestock systems, constraints and strategies for their development and impacts of interventions applied to smallholder livestock systems.
D How can we tip the balance between market and non-market outputs from livestock farming systems. Chairs: M. Zehetmeier and C. Ligda.
Livestock farming systems (LFS) apart from the provision of milk, meat, and other commodities deliver multiple non-market outputs to society. However a number of factors, as high production costs, work-load, limited supply channels for 'specialist' products, lack of knowledge, technology and innovation hinder the expansion of NM outputs at the supply side. At the demand there is still limited recognition that valuable 'non- market' (NM) outputs are indeed delivered from such systems. A diverse set of NM values leads to different types of valuation methods used to quantify the benefits of NM outputs. The speakers will discuss valuation methods and pathways that address constraints and support the increase in relevance of LFS with valuable NM outputs. They will cover the diversity of valuable NM outputs with reference to the environmental, socio-economic and cultural values provided by livestock systems, including sheep and goat systems.
C Data in livestock farming systems : does the science supply meet farmers' needs? Chair: S. Ingrand.
Both farmers and researchers use more and more data to do their job. The former by using their computer, their smartphone and some machineries and devices to collect data on crop and animal performance. The latter by modeling and by gathering data obtained in previous trials (metanalyses). In several scientific studies, data are also collected directly in private farms, thanks to interviews. Some scientists also provide farmers with decision-making tools. The challenge session will discuss the following questions: (i) To what extent do the data generated in science and used by farmers are the same, or at least, can be connected? (ii) How can we ensure a reciprocal usefulness of data between science and farmers? (iii) What are the skills required for farmers to manage hightech systems?
Genetics
TD Optimising breeding programmes in the genomic era. Chair: T. Meuwissen and A. de Vries.
TD/I Efficient computation strategies in genomic prediction (with Interbull) Chair: Z. Liu.
In the last years we have witnessed a rapid development of genotyping techniques in livestock from low- to high density chips to whole-genome sequencing. The number of genotyped animals has increased nearly exponentially. Moreover, bias in conventional genetic evaluation caused by genomic pre-selection is looming. A solution to this problem is the application of a single-step genomic model, which, however, requires efficient computation strategies for large-scale routine evaluations. This session focuses on new developments in computational algorithms for large-scale genomic evaluations in livestock. Additionally, new ideas on the incorporation of sequence data information in the genomic evaluation will be discussed.
TD Integrating biological knowledge into genetic studies. Chair: T. Suchocki.
The genetic variation of quantitative traits is usually determined by several loci with large effects - so called major genes, a number of loci with intermediate expression and many loci with a very small effect - jointly treated as polygenes. Despite the great success of GWAS methods in identification of the common genetic variants, the current GWAS have mainly focused on a single-locus analysis. However, single-locus analysis often identifies only a few of the most significant SNPs that account for a small proportion of the genetic variants and offers only a limited understanding of complex traits. In the era of functional genomics it is possible to analyse all genes together, describe their physiological functions and interactions between them, by the numerous biological pathway or gene networks approaches, which profits from the information stored in publicly available data bases.
WG Strategies of national gene banks for AnGR in Europe for long term conservation purposes and to support in situ conservation of endangered breeds (with Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources) Chair: Hiemstra.
In European countries gene bank collections have been established to conserve farm animal genetic diversity, as an important complementary strategy to in vivo conservation. Gene banks usually have long term conservation objectives, but often they also play a role to support the in situ conservation of endangered breeds. National gene banks will benefit from exchange of information and knowledge, in order to rationalize and to optimize their strategies. This Session will deal with a number of priority issues, including, genetic strategies to establish (core) collections, use of genomic information to characterize and to optimize gene bank collections, use of gene bank collections to support in situ conservation of endangered breeds, institutional and legal aspects of national gene bank collections, or cases of transboundary collaboration.
D Correctly reporting statistical genetics results in the genomic era. Chair: G. Pollott.
New developments in the application of molecular genetics to livestock production are really innovative and exciting! Many of our young scientists are caught up in the thrill of applying cutting-edge methods to seemingly intractable problems. They should, of course, be encouraged in this endeavour. However, they should not forget the realities of the data that they are working with and the application of suitable statistical analyses to there is of key importance, as it ever was.
This session will highlight examples where suitable statistical methods have been ignored and outline possibilities for the future in this field.
Y Young scientist competition in the Genetics Commission. Chair: H Mulder.
Young scientists are encouraged to enter abstracts for this session, all those accepted being eligible for a prize for the best presentation.This session is devoted to the young scientist competition. All PhD-students, Postdocs, and other young researchers that are 38 or younger and working on exciting research in animal breeding and genetics are encouraged to present their work in this competition. The jury will judge the presentations on the quality of the presentation and the science.
I Genomic selection in practice. Chair: I Misztal.
Pigs
TD Feeding the lactating sow. Chair: E. Knol.
A piglet should be optimally prepared at the start of the finishing phase. What are the possibilities of improving piglet quality during lactation and is it possible to positively influence the follicle pool for the next gestation. Work on restoring body condition loss during gestation and work on parity segregation are welcomed. Ideas on genetic priming during gestation could be valuable for the overall picture.
TD Pork carcass; meat quantity or meat quality? Chair: S. Millet.
Consumers expect high quality meat. This includes lack of pathogens, antibiotics and other unwanted insertions, while preferentially yielding beneficial health effects and a good taste. Still, even today, farmers are paid based on carcass quality rather than on meat quality. For them it is most beneficial to focus on efficient production, which implies lean carcasses with a high yield and possibly less emphasis on health related issues. How do we cope with these possibly conflicting interests in the light of sustainable pork production, in structure, management, and selection?
I Phosphorus: supply and requirements and environmental impact, recovery of P-sources.
Physiology
TD Cellular physiology of the reproductive processes. Chair: C. Perez-Marin.
This is the third in a series of three sessions focused on cellular physiology, bridging the genome: animal gap. Reproduction involves complex interactions between hypothalamus, pituitary, gonads, uterus and a whole new individual. Nevertheless, these interactions would not be possible if the individual cellular events in the ovaries, testes and conceptus were not carefully regulated. This is the focus of this session
TD Applying physiology - Improvements in food animal productivity, welfare and behaviour (utilizing animal physiology) Chair: C.H. Knight
The traditional view of physiology as an “organ” or “tissue” level science is changing. Not only has the importance of animal level physiology been recognized, it is also now apparent that physiology applies at herd and environmental levels, influencing the response of individual animals. This session will explore specific ways in which this “new” physiology impacts on healthy and biologically natural productivity of cattle, pigs and poultry
TD Nutrient sensing and metabolic signalling. Chair: H. Sauerwein.
The molecular nutrient-sensing network senses nutrient-status and other relevant information such as stress. It coordinates metabolic homeostasis, growth, development, stress resistance, immune defense and reproduction and is therefore of central importance for all production traits in farm animals. The session will address nutrient sensing pathways both in the gut and in brain and peripheral, metabolically relevant tissues such as adipose tissue.
D Physiology of water efficiency. Chair N. Silanikove.
The peculiarities of water metabolism in ruminants result from their spacious rumen and the copious fluid and electrolyte exchange through saliva secretion and re-absorption. Genetic selection for milk yield in dairy animals also increased their use and turnover of water. Increasing heat stress due to climate changes, associated with shortage of water requires understanding water metabolism and its regulation. This session will cover the issue from the whole organism to recent advances on the molecular level on water movement through cells and epithelia in ruminants.
Sheep and Goats
TD Biotechnological and genomic advances in small ruminant production. Chair: R Rupp.
TD Using electronic identification (EID) and other technological advances in small ruminant farming. Chair: C Morgan-Davies.
D Endemic disease in small ruminants; how to move on from the status quo. Chair: G Arsenos
Cattle
TD Ways of improving udder health and fertility in cattle. Chairs: B. Fürst-Waltl/M. Klopčič.
Udder health and fertility are fields that ask for improvement. Abstracts are invited that deal with the prevention of these complex health issues. Especially novel approaches are warmly welcomed.
TD Beef production, supply and quality from farm to fork. Chairs: J.F. Hocquette/K. de Roest.
Abstracts dealing with all aspects of beef production, supply and quality from producers to consumers are welcomed. Optimizing the work and sharing the added value along the chain and guaranteeing beef quality and composition plus gaining the trust of the consumer are essential for the future of the beef sector.
TD New developments, techniques and research in cattle housing systems. Chairs: Y. Bewley/P. Galama.
Presentations of sustainable and animal welfare friendly housing systems for dairy cows, beef cattle and calves are encouraged. Economic considerations also play a role in the development. All aspects contributing to this are welcomed.
Y Young train "Dairy innovative research and extension" - includes NOVUS Award - General session in cooperation with Young Scientists Club. Chairs: A. Kuipers/P. Aad.
Young scientists (students, PhDs and early stage of career; up to 35 year) are invited to present their own research and/or innovative extension work related to dairying (animal, herd, farm, product, system or environment). The session intends to stimulate discussion and to further design his/her research or extension work and to contribute to the societal debate. In this session a candidate will be chosen for the NOVUS Award for the best dairy presentation, offering a visit to the ADSA/ASAS congress in 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Moreover, Wageningen Academic Publishers offers a scholarship to attend the EAAP congress in 2016 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
I Industry session (with ICAR): New sources of phenotypes in cattle production. Chairs: G. Thaller/C. Egger-Danner.
Cattle production faces new challenges regarding sustainability with its three pillars - economic, societal and environmental. These three main factors will drive cattle selection in the future. Additional novel direct or indicator traits from existing recording systems or from the recent and rapid development of new technologies and automation on farm can be used. Approaches for generating and utilising deeper phenotypes (traits closer to the genotype) are of interest as well. Abstracts dealing with these aspects are specially appreciated and welcomed.
TD Joint session with INTERBULL: In the age of genotype, the breeding objective is queen. Chair: M. Coffey/R. Reents.
To calculate genomic breeding values we need genotypes (easy) and phenotypes (difficult). However, once we have those and can calculate gEBVs we can move very fast in the breeding programs because of the short generation interval. The question is what direction is best to move in? What traits should be in the breeding goal and at what relative value? How do we monitor the response in correlated traits not in the breeding goal? Since genetic (genomic) change is occurring at DNA level how do we monitor genetic variability? Abstracts contributing to this challenge are warmly welcome.
TD All aspects of automatic milking including combination with grazing (in cooperation with EU project "Autograssmilk") Chairs: A. van den Pol-van Dasselaar/A. Kuipers.
Abstracts on all aspects related to the current state of automatic milking are welcomed. The combination of automatic milking and grazing is the central theme in the EU project "Autograssmilk”. Abstracts contributing to this challenge are especially appreciated.
TD Climate smart cattle farming and breeding (in cooperation with EU projects METHAGENE, RUMINOMICS, OPTIBARN). a. General overviews – O. Vangen/M: Klopčič;
Abstracts dealing with general, farming system, housing, economic and technical aspects of climate change in cattle farming are welcomed in the morning session
b. Genetic and nutrition aspects – Y. De Haas/C. Thomas.
Abstracts dealing with nutritional and genetic aspects of climate change are most welcome in the afternoon session. This includes aspects of connecting the animal genome, gastrointestinal microbiomes and nutrition to improve digestion efficiency and the environmental impacts of livestock production, the role of 'omics' technologies and aspects of variability among livestock in methane production, digestibility and feed efficiency.
Nutrition
TD Nutritional and management strategies in animal disease prevention. Chair: G. Savoini.
Farm management is an important factor in animal disease prevention, with nutrition being one of the major determinants. This session is about nutrition and management strategies to prevent animal health problems, e.g. during transition phases.
TD Customised nutrition taking into account the health status of farms and individual animals. Chair: E. Tsiplakou.
Nutrient requirements of animals are influenced by farm conditions, whereas individual differences between animals are an additional source of variation. How can we take farm conditions, such as health status, into account in diet formulation and how can we customise nutrition for individual animals or at farm level?
Livestock animals have the ability to convert human inedible materials to high quality food. There are increasing opportunities to add value to by-products from the food and biofuel industry by their use as feed materials. Trends, new applications and state-of-the-art will be discussed.
C Towards a framework for multifunctional feeding systems. Chair: J. Van Milgen.
Current feeding systems usually ignore the fact that the animal responds to nutrient supply in a dynamic manner, and that this response is to be considered in a multifunctional manner (e.g., environmental impact, production quality, animal health and welfare). In this session, the interest and feasibility for the development of a framework for a future multifunctional system of livestock nutrition will be discussed. What are the needs and expectations of stakeholders and end-users and what can be delivered?
I Role of plant bioactive compounds in animal nutrition. Chairs: E. Auclair and E. Apper
There is an increasing interest in the application of plant bioactive compounds in livestock nutrition. Animal health benefits, safety issues and effectiveness of these substances will be addressed in this session.
Health and Welfare
TD Feasible solutions to reducing tail biting in commercial settings + rearing entire pigs. Chair: A Velarde.
Tail-biting is a welfare problem because of the pain and suffering experienced by the bitten animal (not only due to the biting but also to secondary infections), the stress caused to the group (restlessness), and the likely frustration of the biting animal. Tail docking is carried out to prevent tail biting. However, the pain associated with tail docking procedures normally lasts a few days, but in some cases chronic pain may also result. Tail docking should not be carried out routinely, only where there is evidence that injuries to other pigs’ tails have occurred, and after other measures have been taken to prevent tail-biting. As tail biting is a multi-factorial problem involving both internal and environmental risk factors (genetic background, sex, age, health status, diet, feeding management and different characteristics of the pen) the ability to control these risk factors is essential when aiming to avoid tail-docking.
TD Feasible solutions to reducing feather pecking in commercial settings. Chair: G. Das.
Feather pecking is a serious welfare problem as it can lead to cannibalism and mortality. Currently in the EU, beak trimming is allowed for laying hen birds < 10 days old. However, many countries are preparing for a ban, which may affect the commercial settings severely. As occurrence and severity feather pecking are influenced by many factors, this session aims to build a discussion platform where feasible solutions are sought.
TD Possible technical solutions to ethical dilemmas associated with animal production (e.g. male laying hen chicks). Chair: N.Kemper
In recent years, awareness has increased of ethical issues concerning the way farm animals are being treated. While the identification of conflict fields is the first step, measures to solve the existing problems are the second. Breeding or other modern technologies, at the laboratory and at farm level, offer possibilities to avoid or facilitate these potential dilemmas. Subjects which are in the scope of this session include the killing of male laying hen chicks, the need for cattle dehorning, mutilations to avoid behavioural problems (such as tail docking), individual confinement to mitigate aggression.. and others!
TD Impact of livestock production on wildlife. Chair: M. Pearce.
This session explores the direct and indirect impact of livestock production on wildlife. It examines the local impact of infrastructure, ecological change and displacement, land management and waste, and the interactions of infectious agents between wildlife and livestock. It also explores the global impact of feed production and transportation to support intensive livestock production systems.
C Breeding for better welfare (including health). Chair: L. Boyle.
Selective breeding of farm animals has sometimes given rise to welfare problems typically associated with production diseases (e.g. ketosis in dairy cows). This was the result of breeding programmes with narrow breeding goals concentrating on just a few production traits. Today, most breeding programmes have wider goals which include traits related to health and longevity. There is growing recognition of the opportunities to improve animal welfare through breeding especially where management or housing solutions are too difficult or costly to implement. For example selection on behavioural traits which are inherent to several welfare issues is achievable. These opportunities are threatened by the current re-focusing of selection objectives to meet food security and environmental concerns which may cause adverse effects in traits related to animal welfare.
D Effects of neonate and early life conditions on robustness and resilience in later life. Chair: H. Spoolder.
The way in which animals cope with challenges during later life is partly determined by experiences or conditions they are exposed to during pre-, peri- and early post-natal life. Climate conditions in the hatchery may affect coping with stress or metabolic load later in life. Environmental stimuli for young piglets affect weaning success and adverse behaviours as finishing pigs. Adequate nutrition during the first days of life will shape immune competence throughout its whole life. There is much more to discover about the importance of a good start in life…!
C Success factors for careers in the livestock industry. (Industry / Young Scientists Club). Chair: Young Scientists Club.
