Research

At the Livestock Hologenomics Lab, where we are redefining the future of animal breeding for a changing world. While traditional breeding has long focused on productivity, today’s climate and environmental challenges require a more holistic approach.

What we do

For decades, animal breeding has achieved remarkable progress on productivity and efficiency. Nowadays, climate change and environmental pressures are creating new challenges for livestock systems. Our research addresses these issues by combining advanced genetic tools with new types of data (including precision farming, novel phenotypes, microbiome information or epigenetic data). We identify key genetic factors linked to traits such as efficiency, resilience, methane emissions, and animal welfare.

By doing so, we help enable more accurate selection of breeding animals and guide genetic progress toward systems that are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

Our main areas of work

  • Genomic selection: Use next generation sequencing technologies to improve breeding decisions.
  • Sustainable Livestock Systems: Reduce carbon footprint (e.g. methane) and improve efficiency.
  • Hologenomics and Microbiome Science: Studying the combined genetic landscape of animals and their microbiomes, with special interest in the rumen microbiome.
  • Epigenetics: Investigating how environmental factors shape the methylome and its interactions with the DNA; and using this knowledge to improve animal welfare and make livestock production more efficient.
  • Long-read sequencing: Implementing novel strategies using nanopore sequencing to enable innovative breeding practices in real-world breeding programs.

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