91Pro

Our expertise

The group has expertise and interest in understanding sustainable animal production systems, including all aspects of economic production, environmental considerations and the wider societal implications connected to farming pigs, poultry, invertebrates and aquatic animals. Our research is supported through the Harper Adams pig unit, National Institute of Poultry Husbandry (NIPH) and our dedicated Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS) for aquatic species. Operating at commercial scale (230 sows, 7500 finished pigs/year) and to Red Tractor Assurance standards, the HAU pig unit can accommodate small-scale studies up to full field trials. The NIPH includes modified laying hen cage facilities, large barn spaces for floor pens (ideal for broiler work) and eight versatile climate-controlled rooms that can be used for other species such as turkeys. The RAS unit usually operates 20 cold water tanks, each suitable for holding 120 rainbow trout from fingerling stage. Our academic and technical staff have a long track record of conducting scientific and contract research including nutrition trials and breed/genotype performance trials. The Princess Margaret laboratories located centrally on campus support the group with access to a range of commonly required resources such as PCR, ICP-MS, HPLC, GC-MS, nutrition suit, ProCyte Dx and histology suit.