Research Institutes overseen by the Federal Ministry of ... - BMELV

Research Institute for the Biology
of Farm Animals (FBN), Dummerstorf
FBN conference centre in Dummerstrof
Based in Dummerstorf near Rostock, the Institute for
the Biology of Farm Animals (FBN) operates as a publiclaw
foundation. It is a member of the Leibniz Science
Association and conducts basic and applied research into
the biology of farm animals. FBN studies the functional
biodiversity of livestock as a basis for domestication and
as a key component of sustainable agriculture and food
supply. The strategic importance of its research mandate
arises primarily from the irreversible process of domestication
and the need for people to play an active role in
shaping it in order to cope with altered conditions.
Farm animals harbour great potential when it comes to
meeting the growing global demand for quality foods of
animal origin. It is thus vital that the biodiversity of farm
animals be studied under changing husbandry and production
conditions. This enables this biological resource to
be managed, produced and used in a sustainable manner.
The differing adaptation strategies farm animals have developed
in order to cope with similar conditions in the course
of their evolution are investigated in an effort to understand
the genetic and physiological aspects of functional biodiversity
and to implement the findings in sustainable breeding
and husbandry strategies.
Research Focus
Research on the functional biodiversity of farm animals is
made possible by studying their vital processes using an
holistic approach which is based on the traits they show
in specific environments. Interdisciplinary, coordinated
research is the key.
The introduction of programme budgets produced a
co-herent, cross-sectoral research programme which
advances FBN’s systematic research approach and concentrates
on the following research themes:
Use and Management of the Biological
Diversity of Farm Animals
Biodiversity is a ‘raw material’ used in breeding and a vital
resource in animals’ ability to adapt to altered environmental
conditions. Knowledge of biodiversity is a key prerequisite
for resource-sparing, environmentally sound production
of quality animal-derived foods.
Knowledge and Structuring of Livestock-
Environment-Human Interaction
Farm animals have to adapt to ever-changing livestock
husbandry and production practices. Knowledge of the
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