Application of novel technologies diagnostics and genomics to improve disease resistance of cattle in grazing systems

Project summary

Grazing systems have a favourable effect on dairy cow health and welfare. However, endoparasite infections represent a major challenge for grazing cattle worldwide, especially due to increasing anthelmintic resistance. Consequently, it is imperative to reduce the parasite pressure on grassland and respective cattle infections using various technical tools at different levels including the system, the herd and the-individual.

Therefore, TechGen4Health will develop an innovative technical-based whole farm approach to improve disease resistance in cattle, combining novel genomic information with milk-based analyses, sensor-based indicators for behaviour and health, climate data, manure management, calf health, as well as drone and satellite pictures for pasture characterisation. TechGen4Health incorporates experts in there-search field of endoparasite infections and the evaluation of grazing systems from 7 European countries. In the work packages, the project partners establish their respective core technologies in their home countries before these are then extended and adapted to the partner countries and their circum-stances.

WP 1 addresses the detection of endoparasite burden using milk infrared spectra, WP 2 focusses on digitalisation and sensor technologies to predict infections, and WP 3 will establish novel diagnostics based on bulk tank milk. WP 4 develops equations for genomic predictions of endoparasite resistance. WP 5 infers effects of production system characteristics on infections using technical data. In WP 6, effects of milk composition on calf health will be studied. WP 7 addresses techniques of a smart manure management to milden infection pressure. WP 8 develops the methodological framework for comprehensive tool validations and overall economic evaluations using a cost-benefit analysis.