In the field of animal nutrition and production, innovation can respond to the numerous challenges faced by livestock farmers: improvements to the economic performance of their farms, contributing to the greater safety and quality of human foods, reducing the medication of animals and favoring animal welfare, etc. For these reasons, Avril is developing cutting-edge research at its Innovation and Research Farm in Sourches. Its mission? To imagine the products and technologies that presage the farms of tomorrow.
Research areas
Zootechnical performance and good animal health are the two main areas addressed by MiXscience research. They can be broken down into several research topics:
- Demedicalization of livestock units
There are very strong demands to reduce the use of medications in farmed livestock, and animal nutrition is a lever of choice if we are to achieve this objective. This is a research area that is being targeted in particular by MiXscience through nutritional solutions that could, for example, enhance the immune capacities and well-being of animals.
- Prevention and natural solutions
Dietary supplements, minerals, trace elements and essential oils offer an array of solutions to act preventively and naturally to keep animals in good health. Avril’s RID* takes advantage of its dual expertise in plants and animals to develop products that are both biosourced and effective.
- Livestock performance
Nutrition is also a foundation for livestock performance. In this area, MiXscience benefits from know-how in the formulation of feeds that enables it to define rations that are both efficient and economical. Another research path is the diversification of raw materials, notably using vegetable proteins to optimize the nutritional value of feeds and through them, the performance of livestock.
- Mastering the challenges of biosecurity in livestock units
Biosecurity covers all preventive hygiene methods that can limit the introduction and dissemination of diseases in livestock units. Together with animal nutrition, it offers levers for demedicalization. Avril’s RID* works on the development of innovative methods and products for disinfection and hygiene.
