Study, Protection and Application

Ostsee

Rostock

Greifswald

A 20 Dummerstorf A 20

A 19 Laage

Lübeck/Wismar Berlin

Dummerstorf Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2 18196 Dummerstorf

Contact

Leibniz-Institut für Nutztierbiologie (FBN) FBN Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2 18196 Dummerstorf STUDY, PROTECTION Germany AND APPLICATION Tel.: +49 38208 68-5 Fax: +49 38208 68-602 E-Mail: [email protected]

www.fbn-dummerstorf.de Director Board of Curators Prof. Dr. K. Wimmers FBN Science Committee Chair Prof. Dr. K. Schellander ORGANIGRAMM Deputy Director state 2018 Prof. Dr. Ch. Kühn Scientic Advisory Board Chair Prof. Dr. H. Daniel Head of Administration LRD D. Wirges

Institute of Genetics Institute of Institute of Institute of Behavioural Institute of Muscle Biology Institute of Nutritional Science Management Administration and Biometry Genome Biology Reproductive Biology Physiology and Growth Physiology and Services

Head: Prof. Dr. N. Reinsch Head: Prof. Dr. Ch. Kühn Head: PD Dr. J. Vanselow Head: Prof. Dr. B. Puppe Head: Prof. Dr. S. Maak Head: Prof. Dr. C. C. Metges Scientic Organisation, Transfer Division I: General Administration, and Public Relations Organisation, Personnel B. Mennenga Dr. N. Borowy Program Area 1: Biodiversity & Adaptation Scientic Documentation Division II: Finance Cluster 1.1: Development and Programming / Cluster 1.2: Physiological and Genetical Biodiversity / and Procurement Dr. G. Viereck Cluster 1.3: Estimation, Modelling and Annotation of Genomic Variation D. Wenzel Quality Management Dr. J. Lorenz Division III: Construction and Properties F. Mogwitz Program Area 2: Welfare & Animal Health Cluster 2.1: Etho-Physiological Adaptation and Welfare / Cluster 2.2: Disease and Immune Response / Division IV: Information Cluster 2.3: Metabolic Health Technology D.-M. Brosig

Veterinary Care and Program Area 3: Resource Utilisation & Enviromental Interactions Animal Welfare Staﬀ Council Dr. O. Bellmann Cluster 3.1: Nutrients Conversion and Energy Metabolism / Cluster 3.2: Cellular and Tissue-Crosstalk and Nutrient Signals / Dr. M Langhammer Cluster 3.3: Animal-Environment Interactions Animal Experimental Facilities Equil Opportunities and Diversity E. Wytrwat Dr. B. Stabenow Representative Body for Metabolomics Core Facility Disabled Employees Dr. B. Fuchs K. Schlettwein Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) The Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) researches the functional biodiversity of farm animals in the context of the specific environments in which they are kept and derives sustainable solutions for farm animal husbandry. “Understanding animals” Discovering evolutionary approaches for sustainable animal production

Milk, meat and eggs are important staple foods. There- The value-chain: soil – crop – livestock farming – food fore, livestock farming makes a significant contribution production has great potential for further increasing the to human nutrition. The basis for the domestication of efficiency and conservation of resources by reducing los- today‘s livestock species, has been laid more than 10,000 ses and optimizing material cycles. Animal welfare, ani- years ago. Adapting animals to the requirements of hu- mal health and food safety, efficiency and conservation mans has led to a great diversity within livestock species of resources, the ecological footprint and biodiversity at with variable manifestations of different features. Now, local and global levels – these all are issues of societal the existence of livestock species is conceivable only un- concern. Knowledge-based answers must be found for der the continous care of man. Livestock farming provi- these questions to improve both acceptance and sustai- des more than 50 % of the added value of agriculture and nability of livestock husbandry. thus is a central component of several agricultural value- creation chains. Also it plays a key role in the circular and At FBN, we examine the diverse biological solutions de- the bioeconomy. Husbandry of farm animals also forms veloped within livestock in the course of domestication an important part of maintaining rural, cultural and eco- and breeding, which result in the varying occurrence of nomic settings. important breeding traits. With this knowledge, we wish to make future livestock husbandry sustainable and to achieve individual and situational care for the animals. Scientists from FBN’s six institutes are working on more than 40 innovative projects in three interdisciplinary pro- PROGRAMME AREA gramme areas at the modern campus in Dummerstorf, which is equipped with a unique infrastructure. The ex- Institute of Genetics and Biometry cellence of the research is supervised by an international Institute of Genome Biology Scientific Advisory Board.

Institute of Reproductive Biology

Institute of Behavioural Physiology Adaptation Biodiversity & Biodiversity Institute of Muscle Biology and Growth Animal Health Animal Welfare & Welfare Animal

Institute of Nutritional Physiology & Utilisation Resource Environmental Interactions Environmental

2 3 4 5 Biodiversity and Adaptation

Animals differ in their trait characteristics, such as, for factors. For instance, we were able to demonstrate that example, in physical size or in the number of offspring offspring of mice grow slower, if their mothers are fed on and in their ability to successfully adapt to changing an excessively high-protein diet during lactation. How- environmental conditions (ambient temperature, feed ever, if the same high-protein diet is fed to female mice quality and quantity). Such differences can be found during pregnancy, then their offspring grows normally. between species and breeds but also between indi- Such changes in traits can be determined in permanently viduals. The scientists shed light on basic biological altered tissue structures or physical functions or even as mechanisms of the expression and regulation of body diseases occuring during adulthood and old age. functions as well as on adjustments at the level of individuals (adaptation) and populations (biodiversity). This We investigate the biological foundations for phenome- approach elucidates causes for these differences and na of imprinting and programming and their consequen- helps to ensure a sustainable management and use of ces in different livestock species. Our goal is to elucidate the diversity of our farm animals. the structure of such epigenetic changes in the genetic material, taking into account that in some cases it is re- Ontogenesis and imprinting levant, whether a trait is inherited from the mother or father. In this context we furthermore investigate the Events and influences in early life (before birth/hatching influence of certain nutrients and their potential positive and up to a few weeks or months afterwards) can have impact on health and well-being. long-term effects on development and health, a phenomenon named imprinting or programming. It is known from studies in mice, that this phenomenon manifests itself in a chemical modification of the genetic material. This is called ‘epigenetics’, as these modifications are not associated with a change in the sequence of DNA base pairs. Examples of factors that can cause such epigenetic changes, are feed shortages and stress situations such as social isolation or extreme heat.

It is assumed that there are specific time periods during ontogenesis, from the development of the germ cell to the adult individual, in which specific organs and functions respond in particularly sensitive ways to external

6 7 phenomena, the Dummerstorf long-term-selected mouse lines are investigated as model organisms in addition to selected livestock species. Different traits of animals are expressed on different levels of the biological system and are displayed, through differences in hormone levels, gene expression or metabolite profiles, for example. Our investigations at all these levels lead to a better understanding Physiological and genetic biodiversity of the link between genetic and physiological mechanisms of adaptation in livestock. We characterize the physiological and genetic diversity in farm animals. This includes differences between animal breeds and breeding lines as well as the often very large genetic and physiological differences within the same breed. On the one hand differences between animal breeds and breeding lines can be the consequence of targeted zootechnical selection of animals with particular characteristics (phenotype); on the other hand they can represent a genetic adaptation to different environments. For example, the variation within breeds can be seen, through animal-specific adaptive reactions in successive phases of development, such as the transition from the unborn to the newborn animal or from the pregnant to the lactating dam. This also applies to reactions to different stress factors such as ambient heat or social isolation. In order to fundamentally understand these biological

8 9 We pay special attention to economically important traits, which are also important for the animals well-being. This includes first and foremost the energy metabolism of dairy cows, litter sizes in pigs and sheep, as well as growth and adaptability of fish in aquaculture. In addition, our dif- Teleost sh Mouse Farm animals ferent mouse breeding lines are used as models, because they are characterized by specific livestock-relevant traits. GATM GATM CKM GATM GATM CKM GATM GATM CKM These include fertility and litter size, weight and body Kidney ++ +++

composition as well as energy metabolism and lifespan. Liver +++ +++ +++

Muscle +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ Estimation, modeling and annotation of genomic variation The following aspects are of equal scientific and economic In addition, mathematical methods are developed and importance: applied, which quantitatively represent the extent of ge- • elucidation of the functions of the genome, netic variation in animal populations. Thus, effects can • influence of selection on the genetic variants be predicted from the functioning of individual cells up of a population (e.g. breed), and to the organismal level and to behavioural characteris- • knowledge on mechanisms through which different tics, for example, studying how the internal clock con- genetic variants affect the trait characteristics trols physiological processes. Mathematical methods of animals. furthermore help in planning mating to improve the chances of producing offspring with a superior predispo- As a member of global consortia, we explore which sec- sition for desirable traits, for example longevity. Using tions in the genome contain information for genome re- this basic knowledge, livestock populations can be sus- gulation or for protein expression and how these sections tainably developed and maintained without restricting interact. On this basis, previously unknown genes and va- their genetic diversity. riants influencing a particular trait can be identified and physiological mechanisms responsible for the phenotypic variation under study can be derived. For example, our scientists identified the function of a formerly unknown gene, which is strongly related to a vaccination response.

10 11 12 13 Animal welfare and animal health

The sustainable protection of animal health and welfare Etho-physiological adaptation and welfare in human care is an important task addressing actual ex- Our research focuses on qualitative and quantitative as- pectations of the society. Domestication, breeding and sessments of the biology of welfare of farm animals such typical forms of husbandry have led to major physiologi- as pigs, cattle and dwarf-goats, with the objective of im- cal and behavioural changes in farm animals in contrast proving animal welfare. We perform research for under- to wild animals. If the influence of man overstrains the standing fundamental processes through studying farm adaptation potential developed in the course of evolu- animal behaviour, perception and evaluation of their en- tion, this can be associated with problematic effects for vironment, individual and social coping strategies as well the animals. Our research in livestock therefore focu- as social behaviour in groups. Highly innovative methods ses on elucidating biological functions and processes, are used, such as learning devices, tracking systems and which play a key role in the physical and psychological social network analyses to obtain behavioural data. In management of challenges in the context of health and particular, determining psychosocial stress in restricted well-being. These include key elements of the nervous, housing environments is of interest, which could affect hormonal, immune, reproductive and metabolic systems health and welfare of animals. and their complex interactions.

Therefore we investigate neuroendocrine, immunologi- The interdisciplinary research approaches range from cal and behavioural interactions in order to avoid nega- the molecular to the behavioural level; starting from tive influences and to improve coping with and adapta- the cell and its compartments to the organism up to tion to environmental challenges. We develop innovative social groupings of farm animals. Our aim is to identify bioindicators for non-invasive monitoring of stress and innovative bioindicators for health and well-being and physiological conditions and validate them under on- to develop strategies for preventing diseases as well as farm conditions. Our research aims at improving bree- improving animal welfare within husbandry, nutrition ding and husbandry, the genetic and epigenetic basis of and management. behaviour and adaptation responses, using system genetic approaches, such as genome-wide association studies and network analyses.

14 15 Disease and immune response Metabolic health

Highly efficient strategies for the prevention and con- In the center of our scientific interest are interactions of trol of disease are essential for ensuring the health and various metabolites and (patho)physiological compo- well-being of livestock populations as well as in aqua- nents with the health status of farm animals. We investi- cultured fish. A prerequisite for this aim is to understand gate to which extent different feeding strategies can in- reactions of the immune system to biotic and abiotic fluence this status, as well as the well-being and immune stressors and pathogens as well as to host-pathogen response of calves and cows. The reproductive fitness of interactions. We investigate key factors of the immu- adult dairy cows is of particular relevance in our studies. ne response such as endogenous competence, genetic Furthermore, we investigate molecular mechanisms in- predisposition and exogenous immune-modulators, in fluenced by different metabolic states as well as respon- order to identify new bioindicators and to develop inno- ses to oxidative stress and oxidatively modified metabo- vative immunomodulatory concepts such as bioactive lites in the female reproductive tract. With the help of a nutrients for improved animal health. Other research 3D-cell culture model of the reproductive tract of sows areas include investigations of natural protective bar- and dairy cows, we analyze and elucidate the morpho- riers as well as innate and adaptive immune responses. logy and functional interactions of its epithelium with Our focus is on their interactions with functioning of hormones, metabolites and gametes. cells and organs and with energy metabolism as well as on adverse genetic variants.

16 17 18 19 Resource utilization and environmental interaction

A respectful treatment of the environment is a central requirement for future livestock farming, where the consequences of climate change represent special challenges. This is based, on efficient use of natural resources such as land and water and on the least possible damage to the environment. Both aspects require a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of metabolic processes in livestock under different farming conditions. Therefore we investigate the control of metabolism and animal behaviour at different levels of the biological system. The adaptation capacity of different livestock breeds and individuals is to be re- cognized as well as made useable and in consequence the husbandry environment for farm animals can be adapted to their needs. Our aim is to contribute to improving health, well-being and performance of ani- Nutrient conversion and energy metabolism mals and to reducing environmental pollution, both We characterize molecular mechanisms of absorption, based on a broader knowledge of animals’ interactions transformation and distribution of nutrients from feed with their environment. with reference to different metabolic types. Through these and additional investigations on the interaction between the livestock host with microorganisms in its intes- tines and rumen, individuals with improved efficiency for energy, nitrogen and phosphate utilization or with lower greenhouse gas emissions can be identified. Comprehen- sive analyses are carried out at various levels from gene to phenotype, in order to better understand the diversity of mechanisms responsible for nutrient conversion. With this combined approach, the genetic and physiological performance potential of different metabolic types are detected and can be modulated.

20 21 The control of feed intake contributes significantly to the We investigate the importance of organelles, which have variability of metabolic types. We are looking for diet-re- been poorly characterized in farm animals so far, for the lated and animal-specific differences, to be able to adapt control of cellular signaling pathways, such as mitochon- intake of feed and absorption of energy to their genetic dria and lipid droplets. While doing so, focus is drawn to performance potential. In addition, our findings contribu- the genetic differences between animals as well as to te to reduce methane emissions and to efficiently use limi- the influence of nutrients and epigenetic signals on the ted micronutrients such as phosphorus. The knowledge of functioning of these organelles. Both, an optimization of such interdependences can be used in a targeted manner the physical composition as well as improvement of the for improving the balance of performance, environmental health status of livestock are possible, if these processes efficiency and well-being of farm animals. are understood better.

Cellular and Tissue-Crosstalk and Nutrient Signals Interactions between tissues, cells and cell organelles, which are transmitted through different signaling pathways, some of which still require clarifica- tion, determine the metabolic status and the immune response as reactions to altered environmental conditions. All these processes are ultimately subject to biological rhythms. Their understanding as well as the identification of signal molecules from tissues Muscle and fat cells release a variety of biologically ac- are a focus in this area of research. tive molecules into their environment. These are called myokines, adipokines or adipomyokines depending on their origin. They influence both, composition as well as metabolism of skeletal muscle tissue.

Computerized and mathematical methods are developed for the characterization of biological, in particular, daily rhythms of metabolic activities, which are helpful in analyzing and modeling rhythmic processes for livestock and model animals.

22 23 Animal-environment-interaction One goal of our work is to characterize physiological and metabolic adaptation processes to increased ambient temperatures as well as specific feed compo- nents. This will allow the development of new feeding strategies that improve the adaptability of animals under these conditions and help in preventing health problems such as reproductive disorders. Furthermo- re, indicators that can measure specific metabolic situations of the animal easily and cost-effectively will be developed for practical applications.

Our new understanding of animal-specific environmental requirements must be reflected in innovative farming systems. The technical environment of animal husbandry should accomodate species-specific behavioural repertoire of farm animals. Based on the results of basic behavioural research and the use of modern technologies (Precision Livestock Farming), practical solutions are developed for animal-friendly husbandry.

24 25 Animal welfare

We conduct research on and with our livestock to increa- se knowledge of a variety of biological functions and the physiological and ethological needs and abilities of the animals and then derive solutions for sustainable and animal-friendly livestock farming. For this purpose, we carry out experiments with our cattle, pigs, chicken, goats, mice and fish, using modern housing facilities. Our experiments on animals are designed to deliver meaningful results and take the welfare of the animals into account, which is a key concern of our research work. In addition, our experiments also help to improve the animal‘s well-being, as we develop insights that will harmonize the match between housing conditions and the animals’ needs.

Understanding the needs of the animals in terms of nutrition, health, their behaviour, their perception and evaluation of the environment enables their individual, situational care. The areas animal health, animal behaviour and emotions are combined in the concept of animal welfare: When animals are healthy, able to behave normally and negative emotions can be avoided, then it can be assumed that the animals are reared in an animal-friendly manner, with good animal welfare status.

26 27 Experimental Animal Cattle ‘The Experimental Animal Facility Cattle’ has stable capaci- Facilities ties for 86 dairy cows and includes free-ranging, calving and milking stalls as well as a behavioural arena for bioacoustic Our livestock facilities can accomodate up to 450 live- and behavioural physiological examinations. Roughage stock units including cattle, pigs, dwarf goats, fish and and water intake are automatically registered via weighing poultry, which meet the current research needs in terms troughs and water meters. Also activities and body weights of genetics and breeding orientation. The existing sta- are recorded automatically and continuously. Parameters, ble complexes are flexibly oriented towards the specific especially with regard to milk quality, are recorded in the requirements of an experimental animal husbandry for auto-tandem milking parlor and used for process controls fundamental research needs. The management of the and the optimization of herd management. Analytical facilities is QS-certified and is monitored by FBN’s vete- devices are integrated for recording methane emissions rinarian and its animal welfare officer. The FBN provides (GreenFeed system), for the early detection of lameness vocational training of animal farmers. Furthermore, the (Impact sound plate) and the individual movement (Track- FBN has unique mouse lines as model animals. In com- Lab System) for specific research projects. bination with other central facilities, such as the ’Tier- technikum’ with special facilities and the experimental Pigs abattoir, FBN’s Experimental Animal Facilities offer very ‘The Experimental Animal Facility Pig’ with approx. 750 good conditions for comprehensive interdisciplinary ex- animal spaces in a closed system is subdivided into one perimental approaches. area for piglet production and another one to test animal husbandry. A special feature is the visitors’ corridor in the attic, from which almost all stable compartments can be observed. In this way, the experimental animal husbandry facility can be presented to a broad public, without risk of contagion.

Around 80 sows of the German Landrace with pedig- ree and inhouse reproduction form our uniform genetic test base. The population is characterized by a very good health status and a high level of performance. As a breeding nucleus of the mother breeds, the purebred sows are recorded in the herd book of the breeding association (Hy- bridschweine Zuchtverband Nord/Ost e.V.).

28 29 Poultry ‘The Experimental Animal Facility Pig’ has a veterinary In the ‘Experimental Animal Facility Poultry’ animals are examination and treatment room, two chemical la- kept in seven floor-pen sections of the same size with a boratories and a technical laboratory for bioacoustics maximum capacity for 1,750 animals. Both, broilers and and open field tests. Special mention should be made laying hens can be studied in variable group- or individu- of our continuous standard management and the al housing situations. The animals are purchased from a comprehensive data capture of each individual animal. commercial hatchery or breeder, when needed.

Starting from 2019, pigs will be kept under ecological An IT-assisted system controls the climate in the sections. production conditions in a building extension of the Water is also supplied by section using an adaptable nipp- experimental facility. Here we intend to compare the le-watering system. Incubators and directly connected la- traits of traditional regional breeds such as the Angeln boratories are included within the research facility. Saddleback (Angler Sattelschwein) or the Swabian-Hall swine (Schwäbisch-Hällisches Schwein) with those of Fish / Aquaculture today’s widespread pig breeds and use the existing di- FBN operates an aquarium for keeping small and medium versity for further development of breeding. sized fish. The aquarium is constructed as a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) and consists of three separately Dwarf Goats manageable systems with a tank volume of 1000 l each. The FBN has a breeding stock of dwarf goats used in Thus, it is possible to produce different environmental our behavioural research as a model for socially living conditions for different species of fish or different expe- ruminants. Research areas include learning, cognition rimental designs. Additionally, the facility contains a small and social behaviour of animals and animal-environ- laboratory room for immediate measurements and water ment interaction. The number of offspring per year analytics. The facility is used for project-related housing from planned matings depends on experimental re- of different fish species for physiological, behavioural and search needs. molecular biological studies.

For our research we use a fully automated learning de- vice, developed at the FBN, in combination with video technology and computer-aided behavior-recording as well recording of cardiovascular parameters.

30 31 Mice ‘The Laboratory for Innovative Farm Animal Models’ combines the accommodation of laboratory mice with modern laboratories. The keeping of up to 6,000 mice takes place in a Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) housing system with a defined high status of hygiene and thus meets international standards. According to the genea- logical ancestry the six Dummerstorf long-term selection lines DUK, DUC, DU6, DU6P, DUhLB and the control line FZTDU have been established successfully and are continuously further developed in breeding.

These lines have now been bred for up to 200 gene- rations for livestock-related features such as fertility, growth and endurance capacity. Due to the continuity of selection, the level of trait differentiation achieved, the population sizes used and the comprehensive, well- documented line characterization, the long-term selec- Tiertechnikum (Animal Technical Center) tion lines are appraised and used by national and inter- The ‘Tiertechnikum’ is a laboratory and animal-husban- national groups of researchers. dry building for intensive testing and care. In addition to the operating theatre for large and small animals, the The direct involvement of mouse models offers great following functional units are available in the module benefits for questions of livestock biology due to for experimental animal husbandry: six experimentati- their short generation interval. Long-term selection on rooms for large animals such as climate-controlled lines and transgenic animal models are used to elu- respiration chambers, climate-controlled room (0-35°C) cidate the physiological and genetic foundations re- for metabolism studies, metabolism room with nutri- gulating animal performances. In terms of content, ent balance cages, running box section and electro- our focal study areas are physiological mechanisms physiology. There are two experimentation rooms for of growth and differentiation, deposition of fat and metabolism and respiration research on laboratory ani- muscles, fitness and longevity. mals. Nutritional physiology studies of the conversion and utilisation of nutrients as well as the control of sub- stance and energy turn over can be carried out.

32 33 Experimental abattoir and meat-quality Voices from the FBN – laboratories Our campus life The FBN has its own experimental abattoir with quali- fied staff, organizationally associated to the Institute of Muscle Biology and Growth and is a member of the Ger- “Family-friendly policies are of great importance for man animal welfare organization “Initiative Tierwohl”. the FBN. Therefore, after the birth of my daughter, The experimental abattoir is approved by the EU- and re-entering working life was easy for me. Apart the German quality management system QS. All com- from that, a mother-child office is available at the mon farm-animal species are slaughtered and dissec- Institute for the employees if there are any prob- ted professionally based on applicable animal-welfare lems in taking care.” standards. This allows detailed investigations of complex physiological processes in the farm animal carcass Marieke Verleih , especially in muscle tissues.

Carcasses are dissected by professional staff precisely in time when required, according to the requirements of “Even though I have lived and worked in many respective experiments and in a reproducible way. Me- different countries, I still often feel like a foreigner tabolically active tissues are prepared for further ana- culturally. When I started at the Leibniz Institute in lysis in connected laboratories. Consequently, the ex- Dummerstorf, I felt a special atmosphere immedia- perimental abattoir provides a wide spectrum of meat tely. All my colleagues were very friendly, attentive quality parameters, phenotypic data and customized tissue samples and is a central element of the interdis- and unbiased. Thus to date, I experience the wor- ciplinary research on farm animals at the FBN. king atmosphere as extremely informal. But at the same time, it is an environment, in which you can learn scientifically and grow and which personally gives me an opportunity to become mature.” Marzia Tindara Venuto (Italy)

34 35 „I joined the Institute about two years ago as a PhD student “I am currently enjoying my second experience at in Statistical Genomics. I was amazed at the warm reception FBN. Earlier, during my PhD, I visited and worked at and flawless organization. I was further amazed by the wor- FBN for two months. Since then, I was looking for king conditions which promote working independently and in another opportunity to associate with FBN again. collaboration with colleagues to solve problems. I have gained Thanks to AvH stiftung for providing me fellowship knowledge on genomic selection, use several statistical soft- and making me to join FBN for second time. ware, writing own programs and developing models that could improve genomic predictions, to mention but a few. I feel confi- I feel pleased to reassociate with my current lab dent to say that coming here has been certainly rewarding.” group. FBN is a place where everyone will have an Abdul Raheem (Nigeria) equal opportunities to work and answer scientific problems. I must say, coming to FBN has improved my research skills and made me an independent researcher. I definitely suggest all my foreign colleagues to come and enjoy this rewarding experience at FBN.” Vijay Simha Baddela (India)

“As the head of a junior researcher group, I have the responsibility “After successfully completing the for a small but growing number of employees (3 PhD students, 1 Master thesis at the FBN, I was given post-doc). The duration of the research group was adjusted to my a direct and uncomplicated entry for parental leave. In order to learn leadership tasks, I took advan- my doctoral studies and research.” tage of Leibniz-Association’s Leibniz-Mentoring and its Alumnae Wietje Nolte Network.” Dörte Wittenburg

36 37 FBN – a few facts in conclusion

Dummerstorf is a traditional location for livestock research “Continuous further development on the whole as since 1939. The Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology was well as individually, in an open atmosphere – this is founded on 29 January 1993 under the name ‘Forschungsin- how I perceive the FBN since 2013, when I started stitut für die Biologie landwirtschaftlicher Nutztiere (FBN)’ to work here. A lot of talk is going on elsewhere but (Research Institute for the Biology of Farm Animals) as a non- at FBN what‘s being said is actually being lived – profit foundation under public law of the State of Mecklen- I can combine work and family here, for example!” burg-Vorpommern. It is a member of the Leibniz Association Judith Lorenz and its research receives basic funding from the German Federal Government and the Federal States and additional funding from numerous third-party donors.

The FBN cooperates with more than 200 research institutes in more than 40 countries. The research is conducted in the six Institutes of Genetics and Biometry, Genome Biolo- gy, Reproductive Biology, Behavioural Physiology, Muscle Biology and Growth, as well as Nutritional Physiology. Ex- “Even during a research stay as a perts from the disciplines of agricultural sciences, biology, postdoctoral fellow at the FBN in the veterinary medicine, chemistry, bio-chemistry, physics and 90‘s, I was struck by the enthusiasm of mathematics work together to solve current problems of the scientists and scholars for their re- livestock biology and develop new concepts for the future. search. This is exactly what I experience and appreciate today at the FBN.” Training young researchers is of particular importance to FBN and around half of the scientists are involved in trai- Klaus Wimmers ning through visiting professorships and teaching assign- ments at nine universities.

Impressive figures of the FBN • approximately 260 employees, of which 60 are working as scientists • approximately 70 PhD students are supervised • approximately 20 million Euro budget, half of whic from theGerman Federal Government and the Federal States respectively • approximately 150 publications a year, with more than 85 % in refereed journals 38 39 ...and beyond

All beginnings are difficult That is why we provide new employees with comprehensive support to make their successful start at FBN as simple as possible. This includes assistance with fin- ding a place to live and childcare as well as completing administrative tasks.

Career and family The Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology assists employees with balancing life, family and their career. This is accomplished through an institute culture that takes various interests depending on family and the respective phase of life into account, and encompas- ses concrete measures to improve balance.

Health management The health of all employees at the Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) Dummerstorf is important to us. We define health as the overall state of physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Equal treatment and Diversity The Equal Opportunity Commissioner supports the institute in realising the equal treatment of women and men as well as the balance between family, care and career for women and men. In addition, the FBN is committed to respecting the diversity of its employees and strives to create conditions that exclude cultural, religious and sexu- al discrimination.