Research

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur, 97.745 EUR

Project Details:
The ongoing dispute over the future of livestock has enormous economic relevance in a state like Lower Saxony; in the livestock-rich regions, the issue is also becoming socially explosive. The issue is a major concern for society.
The aim of the project is to objectify the debate and contribute to a deeper understanding of the positions. The core of the project consists of analyzing the content and positions of animal husbandry and relating them to their own ability to engage in discourse.

Results:

The project locates and analyzes reasons for moments of failure and escalation in the farm animal discourse. At the same time, perspectives for its improvement are identified in order to point out possible turning points towards a more peaceful, respectful and constructive discussion about so-called farm animals.

The main results of the project are a discourse path as a suggested outline and a flyer with rules for discussion, which can be viewed on the website https://wiemenschenuebertierestreiten.jimdofree.com/.

Funding: Nds. Tierseuchenkasse, 16.508 EUR

Project Details:
In Germany Salmonella control in pigs is based on testing slaughtered pigs for antibodies. Despite intensive testing and control measures the percentage of farms in the so-called category III did not decrease significantly, so far. Therefore, voices were raised to rethink about the current surveillance strategies. Immunisation of pigs in all production levels and testing for viable pathogen instead of antibodies are ideas that are discussed. The Lower-Saxonian Animal Disease Fund is interested in supporting these ideas and piloting a modified surveillance system. However, there might be concerns, emotional retention forces and helpful ideas among representatives of the related stakeholder groups. They shall be collected and considered before implementing any potential changes. Therefore, the project intendeds to investigate these concerns, emotional reten-tion forces and helpful ideas by conducting a stakeholder analysis and working with the stakeholders in focus groups. Results will werebe put together, and interpreted in terms of relevance for potential changes in the current surveillance program and published.

Project Details:
Boar spermatozoa are sensitive to cooling and, therefore, commonly are preserved at 16°C for use in artificial insemination (AI). Recently, hypothermic semen preservation at 5°C was established to reduce the risk for bacterial growth and to stabilize transport conditions. The aim is to assess the eligibility of AI boars for hypothermic semen preservation using conventional spermatology.

Cooperation Partners:

Hochschule Osnabrück

GfS Ascheberg

Project Details:
Addition of antibiotics to semen extenders is required to control the growth of commensale bacteria in animal semen. Follwing the One Health concept and the DART strategy for reduction of antibiotics, alternative antimicrobial strategies in preserved boar semen are tested.

Funding: Industry (Veterinary pharmaceuticals/Vaccines), 550.000 EUR

Project Details:
confidential

Results:

https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-1274-9268

Funding: Drittmittelprojekt, gefördert durch die Fritz-Ahrberg-Stiftung., 65.000 EUR

Project Details:
Freezing is a frequently used method for preservation of food. This method is also regularly used in connection with the import of meat from third countries. For example, frozen pork is imported from Chile and frozen poultry meat from Brazil. Although the freezing of the meat has a positive effect on the microbiological properties, the sensory and physico-chemical properties of the meat after thawing can also be negatively affected, which also has an influence on the storage and further processing of the products. Various changes in meat caused by freezing have been presented in publications so far. However, studies that have investigated the use and processing of frozen and subsequently thawed meat for the production of meat products (e.g. raw fermented sausages) are rare. This also applies to meat, packed under a protective gas atmosphere, which was frozen before packing. Therefore, in the present study, pig and turkey meat will be stored for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, frozen at -18°C and -80°C, and processed into raw sausages after thawing. Comparatively, the meat will be also stored in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) after thawing. For an assessment of the meat quality, certain microbiological, physico-chemical (e.g. colour, TBARS) or sensory analyses are carried out before freezing, after thawing and during storage/ maturing of the modified atmosphere packaged meat or raw fermented sausages. Control samples, which are processed or packaged without prior freezing, are included in each test run. The aim of the study is to investigate the influence of a freezing treatment of pork and turkey meat on the processing and storage properties of the thawed meat.

Results:

Teuteberg V., I.-K. Kluth, M. Plötz, C. Krischek* (2021):

Effects of duration and temperature of frozen storage on the quality and food safety characteristics of pork after thawing and after storage under modified atmosphere.

Meat Science, 108419, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174020308512?via%3Dihub

 

Kluth, I.-K., V. Teuteberg, M. Plötz, C. Krischek* (2021):

Effects of freezing temperatures and storage times on the quality and safety of raw turkey meat and sausage products.

Poultry Science, 100, 101305, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579121003394?via%3Dihub

Funding: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 15.000 EUR

Project Details:
MammalNet ist ein Zusammenschluss verschiedener naturwissenschaftlicher und akademischer Institutionen in Europa, die zusammen in den Bereichen der Wildtierforschung, des Wildife-Managements und Naturschutzes arbeiten. MammalNet soll die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Wissenschaftlern und "Normalbürgern"" fördern, um mehr Informationen über die vorkommen von Säugetieren in Europa zu erhalten. Mit Hilfe der Bürger werden wilde Tiere in ganz Europa dokumentiert. Mittels zweier Web-Apps (MammalWeb und Agouti) sowie der mobilen App iMammalia können die Bürger ihre Beobachtungen ggf. inkl. Foto melden, welche dann von Experten verifiziert und anschließend in die internationale Datenbank GBIF weitergeleitet werden. Diese Daten ermöglichen Modellierungen auf europäischer Ebene, die als Grundlage für fundierte Entscheidungen hinsichtlich des Managements und des Schutzes von Säugetieren dienen."

Funding: AIF Projekt GmbH: Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand ZF4708711SK9 VetSimCut , 189.507 EUR

Project Details:
Entwicklung eines Modells zur Ermittlung des optimalen Sägebildes und der Festlegung der optimalen Position des Schnitts zur operativen Behebung von Fehlstellungen von Hunden und Katzen

Cooperation Partners:

Steinbeis Innovation GmbH, ,Willi Bleicher Str. 19 70174 Stuttgart

Tieraerztliche Klinik Germersheim, Konrad Adenauer Str. 33, 76726 Germersheim

Funding: Niedersächsiche Tierseuchenkasse, 98.420 EUR

Project Details:
Die Afrikanische Schweinepest (ASP) breitet sich, beginnend mit Ausbrüchen im Kaukasus 2014, inzwischen in weiten Teilen Osteuropas und Chinas aus. Ein Ausbruch von ASP in der Wildschweine-, insbesondere aber auch der Hauschweinepopulation hat für das betroffene Land wesentliche Einschränkungen im internationalen Handel mit Schweinen und Produkten aus Schweinefleisch und damit erhebliche und lang anhaltende wirtschaftliche Einbußen zur Konsequenz. Um den Eintrag von ASP nach und die Verbreitung innerhalb von Deutschland zu verhindern, werden in den letzten Jahren große Anstrengungen seitens der Behörden und der beteiligten Verbände unternommen. Die Maßnahmen zielen insbesondere auf die Vermeidung des Eintrags von ASP in Hausschweinebestände ab. Der Fokus liegt entsprechend auf der Aus- und Fortbildung von Schweinehaltern und Tierärzten. Mit dem Projekt wird das Ziel verfolgt, die Bandbreite von Wissen, Einstellungen und Entscheidungskonzepten zum Schutz des Eintrags von ASP in Schweine haltende Betriebe zu ermitteln und mit den tatsächlich implementierten Maßnahmen zu vergleichen. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung sollen genutzt werden, etwaige Defizite zu identifizieren und zum Gegenstand weiterer, möglicherweise methodisch und/oder didaktisch angepasster Aus- und Fortbildungen zu machen.

Cooperation Partners:

Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut auf Riems, Landvolk Niedersachsen

Funding: Fritz-Ahrberg-Stiftung, 57.000 EUR

Project Details:
The production of meat-based food using nitrite curing salt has become a target of public criticism. After the WHO classified the consumption of processed meat products as "carcinogenic to humans (Group I)"", food processors are searching for alternatives to nitrite usage. Besides uncured products, plant extracts as a natural source of nitrate can be used in the production process. It is stated that those products contain lower concentrations of harmful residual nitrite and might therefore be beneficial for human health. However, the question remains whether those ""naturally-cured"" products remain microbiologically stable and whether they are indeed healthier. Furthermore, those products have to be organoleptically comparable to products containing nitrite curing salt to meet consumers expectations. The present study is investigating the impact of different alternative curing methods of cooked sausages on product quality and food safety using two different vegetable extracts (mangold, beetroot). Aim is to gain knowledge about sensory, microbiologically and physicochemical parameters of alternatively cured meat products. The results can provide important information for food processors as well as for supervising authorities. "