New Open-Access Centre of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnologies at LSMU

On 13 November the open-access Centre of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnologies was opened in the LSMU Institute of Animal Science, Baisogala.

The activities of the new open-access centre will be directed to the expansion of research on animal nutrition and biotechnologies through the development of competitive animal husbandry that would be open to innovations and that could provide safe products of good quality to consumers. Five new scientific laboratories were established and 3 present scientific laboratories were renewed: the Laboratory of Researches on Digestivity of Nutrients in Animals’ Forage, Laboratory of Assessment of Forage Production and Feeding Technologies, Laboratory of Investigation of Animals’ Genetic Resources and their Long-Term Preservation ex situ, Department of Systemic Evaluation of Processes of Nutrigenomic and Animal Husbandry, Research Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Science, Centre of Digestive Physiology and Pathology, Laboratory of Researches and Selection of Pedigree Value of Animals, and Laboratory of Animals’ Productivity.

According to Prof. Antanas Sederevičius, the head of one of the projects of Nemunas Valley, the value of the labour, reconstruction and repair works performed in the LSMU facilities during the entire implementation period of the project is equal to 5 million 237 thousand euros. A total of 15 scientific laboratories received the up-to-date research equipment for 3 million 332 thousand euros; 13 teaching lecture halls and laboratories were renewed, the equipment necessary for studies was bought, and 60 work places were created.

One of the priorities of preservation of old breeds of the farm animals is the search for the methods how to use them. The managers of the laboratories told about the main national breeds of animals in Lithuania, which had been on the verge of extinction. However they were restored and are under protection now. The participants learnt the up-to-date information about the preservation of genetic resources of farm animals.

The representatives of the national breed of animals – Žemaitukai (Zhmud horses) and the Lithuanian Heavy Draft – made the excellent presentations to the event participants in the outdoor court.

Jolanta Jonikienė