S tradičními hodnotami pracujeme na základě nejnovějších vědeckých poznatků za pomoci inovací a moderních přístupů.
Welcome to Website of Institute of Animal Science!
Institute of Animal Science (IAS) Prague – Uhříněves is a public research institution founded by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.
Since its foundation in 1951, the Institute has been a centre of research into biological and bio-technological basis of animal science.
IAS carries out basic and applied research focusing on innovation and the practical use of knowledge in animal science. Eight research departments perform research in the fields of animal genetics and breeding, bio-technology and reproduction, nutrition, quality of products, animal ethology and welfare, breeding technology, herd management and production economy.
In addition to basic and applied research, IAS carries out other expert activities. One of the most significant is the implementation of the National Programme for Conservation and Utilization of Farm Animal Genetic Resources. In 2016, the IAS was appointed as the National Centre for Genetic Resources to coordinate and implement the National Programme, along with many stakeholders. The Institute has also provided for the activity of the Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition and was entrusted by the Ministry of Agriculture to represent the Czech Republic in the European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP). IAS provides professional training on classification of swine and cattle carcasses according to SEUROP, under a contract with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Scientific discussion in the Final Report on the Implementation of the Long-Term Concept for the Development of a Research Organisation for the period 2018 – 2022
On 13th February 2023, a public scientific debate was held at the Institute of Animal Science, opposing the periodic report on the use of institutional support to implement the Long-Term Conceptual Development of a Research Organisation (Czech acronym “DKRVO“) for the period 2018 – 2022.Číst dále→
The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters of a one‐day performance test together with the linear type traits of 3‐year‐old warmblood horses. The study of genetic parameters was based on 5958 tested horses in the period 1998–2021. A total of 22 traits of linear description, three quantitatively measured traits, and one summary mark from the performance test were tested. The model equation included the fixed effect of gender and combination effects of classifier–year of evaluation–place. A single‐trait animal model was used for the estimation of heritability and genetic variance, while the two‐trait animal model was applied for the estimation of variance and covariance between all traits. The heritability of the overall score of the performance test was 0.25. The range for heritability was between 0.04 and 0.33 for the linear type traits and between 0.46 and 0.57 for the quantitatively measured traits. Genetic correlations were between −0.47 and 0.92. The estimated genetic parameters suggest that the results from the performance test can be incorporated into genetic evaluation in the Czech Republic.
Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition
The Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition was established in 2002 as an advisory body of the food safety coordination group. Its main task is to prepare scientific studies, offer expert views, and prepare proposals for measures ensuring safety throughout the entire chain of food and feed production.
CURRENT PROJECTS
The project has three main objectives. The first is the development of nutrition strategies that will lead to a reduction of greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions in ruminants, i.e., animals that contribute to emissions most significantly. Part of the first objective is an insight into the mechanism of action of strategies through observing the effect on the composition of the rumen microbiome using molecular genetic methods. The second objective is to develop and implement technologies that will reduce greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from manure management. The third objective is to update the data input to the national inventory of emissions from cattle, mainly nutrient digestibility values that are currently outdated.
The aim of the project is to map the housing systems of farrowing and lactating sows in the Czech Republic, assess individual technologies from the point of view of productivity and welfare of sows and piglets, ensure the intake of sufficient feed for piglets from numerous litters, evaluate the economic parameters of individual technologies, determine the effects on NH3 and CO2 emissions and propose a solution for managing the slurry produced in different systems. The obtained results will provide information about the current situation in the Czech Republic and enable this area, which is key for pig breeding, to be adapted to the legislative changes that, under EU conditions, regulate the housing and nutrition of pigs of this category and limit the impact on the environment.
Describe a new trait - the general resilience of dairy cows. Provide a methodology for measuring this trait on the population level. Estimate genetic parameters of resilience and predict genomic breeding values. Analyse associations between resilience and other traits included in the selection index (production, fertility, longevity). Provide methodical foundations for including resilience in dairy cattle breeding.
PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES
SERVICES AND APPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICAL USE
EXPERT REPORTS
Preparation of analyses, studies and research on individual demand
CONTRACT RESEARCH
Contract research following the partners’ assignment
SEUROP
Training courses for cattle and pig carcass classifiers.
ECONOMIC ANALYSES
ECOWEIGHT, FarmProfit, Forecasting the Structure of Dairy Cattle Herd, Forecasting the structure of dairy cattle herd
CONSULTANCY
Active consultancy for the breeders of dairy cattle, beef cattle, goats and sheep, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses and cervids.
EXPERT SEMINARS
Invited lectures for breeders, students and agricultural business staff on specific topics