Our project BIOMPOR: New methodologies for the analysis of animal welfare biomarkers in pig production, will receive funding from the Government of Aragon. Funds will come from the program of aids for business projects, aimed to industrial transformation and development in Aragon (TDI-FEDER Line, call 2023 ).
The objective of the project is to develop analytical methods for the determination of biomarkers of animal well-being in non-invasive samples such as saliva, and to carry out field studies on the application of these biomarkers in the evaluation of the on-farm health and welfare.
The presence of diseases and stressors on the farm compromise animal welfare and reduces profitability since productivity decrease, and increase the expenditure on medicines. Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions necessary for animal growth also augment affecting the sustainability of livestock production. Improving animal welfare on farms is essential for their sustainability, profitability, meeting society’s demands on how food animals are raised, and reducing the environmental impact of livestock activity.