Past projects
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EFFAB is involved in several projects in the animal breeding and reproduction sector, slide through the dia's to get an idea of these projects.
EFFAB plays a part in the following projects: -FECUND -Fishboost -GenTORE -IMAGE -METHAGENE -Prohealth -RuminOmics -SAPHIR |

IMAGE
From 2016-03-01 to 2020-02-29, ongoing project
IMAGE is an H2020 project which stands for Innovative Management of Animal Genetic resources. It aims at enhancing the use of genetic collections and upgrading animal gene bank management. The ultimate goal of the project is to demonstrate the benefits brought by gene banks to the development of more sustainable livestock farming systems.
From 2016-03-01 to 2020-02-29, ongoing project
IMAGE is an H2020 project which stands for Innovative Management of Animal Genetic resources. It aims at enhancing the use of genetic collections and upgrading animal gene bank management. The ultimate goal of the project is to demonstrate the benefits brought by gene banks to the development of more sustainable livestock farming systems.

FECUND
From 2013-02-01 to 2017-01-31, ongoing project
Good fertility and reproduction are essential for a viable dairy industry. Improving the fertility of dairy cattle will significantly increase the efficiency of dairy production. This is necessary to ensure food security with reduced impact on the environment.
In line with the increase of milk production in the past decades, fertility of dairy cattle has decreased. This has become a major concern for farmers and the dairy industry. Many factors may be involved in this decline in reproductive success. The FundamEntal Cattle ReprodUctioN StuDy (FECUND) project will address the problems of reproductive success in the cow using a systems biology approach to develop molecular indicators of the ability of the cow to support early stages of reproduction, when most embryonic loss occurs, to underpin genomic selection for better fertility and to improve advanced reproductive biotechnologies.
Together with PROLIFIC, FECUND will contribute to a better understanding of factors influencing the reproductive performances of dairy cattle.
The aim of this project is to improve breeding programmes and subsequently ensure a more sustainable and competitive European cattle industry.
Expected results:
For more information visit the website of FECUND, the joint website of FECUND and PROLIFIC orhttp://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/104599_en.html and sign up for the FECUND newsletter at Cattle Fertility.
From 2013-02-01 to 2017-01-31, ongoing project
Good fertility and reproduction are essential for a viable dairy industry. Improving the fertility of dairy cattle will significantly increase the efficiency of dairy production. This is necessary to ensure food security with reduced impact on the environment.
In line with the increase of milk production in the past decades, fertility of dairy cattle has decreased. This has become a major concern for farmers and the dairy industry. Many factors may be involved in this decline in reproductive success. The FundamEntal Cattle ReprodUctioN StuDy (FECUND) project will address the problems of reproductive success in the cow using a systems biology approach to develop molecular indicators of the ability of the cow to support early stages of reproduction, when most embryonic loss occurs, to underpin genomic selection for better fertility and to improve advanced reproductive biotechnologies.
Together with PROLIFIC, FECUND will contribute to a better understanding of factors influencing the reproductive performances of dairy cattle.
The aim of this project is to improve breeding programmes and subsequently ensure a more sustainable and competitive European cattle industry.
Expected results:
- Better understanding of the physiology of early reproduction, the definition of novel fertility phenotypes and the identification of biomarkers for improved reproduction.
- Protocols for improved advanced productive biotechnologies
- Novel indicative traits and markers for use in genetic improvement programmes.
- Knowledge transfer, dissemination and sustainability
For more information visit the website of FECUND, the joint website of FECUND and PROLIFIC orhttp://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/104599_en.html and sign up for the FECUND newsletter at Cattle Fertility.
FECUND WEBINAR WEBCAST
View the Project Stakeholder Webinar below which took place on Tuesday January 17: Improving dairy cattle fertility: "Results from the Fecund Project".
View the Project Stakeholder Webinar below which took place on Tuesday January 17: Improving dairy cattle fertility: "Results from the Fecund Project".

Fishboost
From 2014-02-01 to 2019-01-31, ongoing project
Globally there is an increasing demand for aquaculture products. There is a high potential
for improving efficiency, profitability and sustainability of the European aquaculture sector.
The development of better and more breeding programmes make a major contribution to these
improvements. The European FP7 research project FISHBOOST will advance aquaculture to
the next levels for the six main finfish species (Atlantic salmon, common carp, European seabass, gilthead seabream, rainbow trout and turbot). Among others, genetic variation for traits that impact production efficiency will be quantified and the genetic architecture of resistance to diseases will be unravelled. Information gathered during the project will be used to design a framework for sustainable selective breeding.
Stay in touch with FISHBOOST, visit the website and subscribe to the newsletter at www.fishboost.eu.
Or visit http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/111583_en.html for more details about the FISHBOOST project
Impact: The biggest impact of FISHBOOST will arise when commercial fish breeders integrate new breeding technologies and adopt accurate measurements of new traits to attain genetic gain, thereby overcoming current barriers that reduce potential profit to breeders and limit the European aquaculture sector as a whole.
FISHBOOST will develop schemes that are practical, more productive, and maximise genetic improvement of an economically-derived breeding goal with a sustainable inbreeding rate.
Aim: To improve the efficiency and profitability of European aquaculture by advancing selective breeding to the next level for each of the six main finfish species through collaborative research with industry
From 2014-02-01 to 2019-01-31, ongoing project
Globally there is an increasing demand for aquaculture products. There is a high potential
for improving efficiency, profitability and sustainability of the European aquaculture sector.
The development of better and more breeding programmes make a major contribution to these
improvements. The European FP7 research project FISHBOOST will advance aquaculture to
the next levels for the six main finfish species (Atlantic salmon, common carp, European seabass, gilthead seabream, rainbow trout and turbot). Among others, genetic variation for traits that impact production efficiency will be quantified and the genetic architecture of resistance to diseases will be unravelled. Information gathered during the project will be used to design a framework for sustainable selective breeding.
Stay in touch with FISHBOOST, visit the website and subscribe to the newsletter at www.fishboost.eu.
Or visit http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/111583_en.html for more details about the FISHBOOST project
Impact: The biggest impact of FISHBOOST will arise when commercial fish breeders integrate new breeding technologies and adopt accurate measurements of new traits to attain genetic gain, thereby overcoming current barriers that reduce potential profit to breeders and limit the European aquaculture sector as a whole.
FISHBOOST will develop schemes that are practical, more productive, and maximise genetic improvement of an economically-derived breeding goal with a sustainable inbreeding rate.
Aim: To improve the efficiency and profitability of European aquaculture by advancing selective breeding to the next level for each of the six main finfish species through collaborative research with industry

GenTORE
From 2017-06-01 to 2022-05-31, ongoing project
GenTORE – “GENomic management Tools to Optimize Resilience and Efficiency” - is a H2020 project that aims to develop innovative genome-enabled selection and management tools to optimize cattle resilience and efficiency (R&E) in widely varying and changing environments.
GenTORE will improve the ability of the European beef and dairy cattle livestock sector to become more resilient and efficient by translating innovative breeding opportunities into practical solutions at farm level.
GenTORE therefore delivers impacts from the farm level up, enhancing innovation capacity through applied breeding technologies and management support tools, and thus creating new market opportunities.
These will strengthen competitiveness and growth, reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming, while engaging with wider societal benefits through comprehensive dissemination of messages of improved welfare and health supporting positive consumer perceptions.
From 2017-06-01 to 2022-05-31, ongoing project
GenTORE – “GENomic management Tools to Optimize Resilience and Efficiency” - is a H2020 project that aims to develop innovative genome-enabled selection and management tools to optimize cattle resilience and efficiency (R&E) in widely varying and changing environments.
GenTORE will improve the ability of the European beef and dairy cattle livestock sector to become more resilient and efficient by translating innovative breeding opportunities into practical solutions at farm level.
GenTORE therefore delivers impacts from the farm level up, enhancing innovation capacity through applied breeding technologies and management support tools, and thus creating new market opportunities.
These will strengthen competitiveness and growth, reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming, while engaging with wider societal benefits through comprehensive dissemination of messages of improved welfare and health supporting positive consumer perceptions.

IMAGE
IMAGE is an H2020 project which stands for Innovative Management of Animal Genetic resources. It aims at enhancing the use of genetic collections and upgrading animal gene bank management. The ultimate goal of the project is to demonstrate the benefits brought by gene banks to the development of more sustainable livestock farming systems.
IMAGE is an H2020 project which stands for Innovative Management of Animal Genetic resources. It aims at enhancing the use of genetic collections and upgrading animal gene bank management. The ultimate goal of the project is to demonstrate the benefits brought by gene banks to the development of more sustainable livestock farming systems.

METHAGENE
From 2013-12-10 to 2017-12-09, running COST action
Methane is a greenhouse gas (GHG) that contributes to climate change. The livestock sector, particularly ruminants,
is estimated to contribute up to 18% of total global anthropogenic GHG emissions. Preliminary data suggest that
genetic selection to reduce methane emissions is possible.However, successful breeding programs require large
datasets of individual animal measurements which cannot be generated by any EU country working alone. Smaller
datasets of methane measurements are being generated by individual countries across the EU, which could be combined if agreement could be reached on how best to harmonise the data.
Discussing harmonisation and protocols for future collection of such data is the focus of this METHAGENE network.
METHAGENE aims to discuss and agree on
METHAGENE will co-ordinate and strengthen EU scientific and technical research through improved cooperation and interactions, which is essential for breeding ruminants with lower environmental footprints resulting in less contribution to global warming.
From 2013-12-10 to 2017-12-09, running COST action
Methane is a greenhouse gas (GHG) that contributes to climate change. The livestock sector, particularly ruminants,
is estimated to contribute up to 18% of total global anthropogenic GHG emissions. Preliminary data suggest that
genetic selection to reduce methane emissions is possible.However, successful breeding programs require large
datasets of individual animal measurements which cannot be generated by any EU country working alone. Smaller
datasets of methane measurements are being generated by individual countries across the EU, which could be combined if agreement could be reached on how best to harmonise the data.
Discussing harmonisation and protocols for future collection of such data is the focus of this METHAGENE network.
METHAGENE aims to discuss and agree on
- protocols to harmonise large-scale methane measurements using different techniques;
- easy to record and inexpensive proxies for methane emissions to be used for genetic evaluations;
- approaches for incorporating methane emissions into national breeding strategies.
METHAGENE will co-ordinate and strengthen EU scientific and technical research through improved cooperation and interactions, which is essential for breeding ruminants with lower environmental footprints resulting in less contribution to global warming.

Prohealth
From 2013-12-01 to 2018-11-30, ongoing project
As a result of the intensification of livestock farming there is an increased risk and susceptibility for
production diseases and resulting financial losses. The European FP7 project PROHEALTH aims to contribute
to our understanding of the multifactorial dimension of animal pathologies linked to the intensification of
production and to help provide effective control strategies to reduce the impact on animal welfare including health.The project will address the production diseases of pigs, broilers and egg laying chickens and turkeys in a wide range of intensive systems across Europe.
The project objectives are:
Want to stay informed about the progress of the PROHEALTH project, sign up for the newsletter at the project website at www.fp7-prohealth.eu, or visit http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/110835_en.html.
From 2013-12-01 to 2018-11-30, ongoing project
As a result of the intensification of livestock farming there is an increased risk and susceptibility for
production diseases and resulting financial losses. The European FP7 project PROHEALTH aims to contribute
to our understanding of the multifactorial dimension of animal pathologies linked to the intensification of
production and to help provide effective control strategies to reduce the impact on animal welfare including health.The project will address the production diseases of pigs, broilers and egg laying chickens and turkeys in a wide range of intensive systems across Europe.
The project objectives are:
- Identify the risk factors for production diseases and establish associations between disease .
- Explore the role of genetic and environmental factors on neonatal survival and in exerting longer-term developmental influences on health.
- Evaluate the effects of genetic selection for productive traits on susceptibility and identify strategies to prevent these.
- Determine the role of farm environment variation on the expression of production diseases over time
- Characterize microbiological and immunological changes and identify pathological changes at the molecular level which take place during production diseases in order to develop diagnostic tools.
- Implement reduction strategies for production diseases on a farm and assess the efficacy reducing disease prevalence or severity.
- Identify economically viable and socially acceptable control strategies ways to control pathologies, with emphasis on animal welfare implications.
Want to stay informed about the progress of the PROHEALTH project, sign up for the newsletter at the project website at www.fp7-prohealth.eu, or visit http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/110835_en.html.

RuminOmics
From 2012-01-01 to 2015-12-31, ongoing project
Methane emission from ruminant livestock is an important source of greenhouse gas. In
the RUMINOMICS project, 11 partners across Europe work together to try to decrease
the environmental footprint of ruminant production by exploiting state-of-the-art –omics technologies.
A connection will be made between the animal genome, gastrointestinal microbiome and nutrition to improve digestion efficiency and decrease environmental damage from methane and nitrogen emissions.
The aim of the project is to integrate expertise and technologies to increase rumen efficiency and decrease the environmental footprint of ruminant production, significantly advancing current knowledge in this sector.
RUMINOMICS will:
More information about the RUMINOMICS project can be found at www.ruminomics.eu or http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/101163_en.html.
From 2012-01-01 to 2015-12-31, ongoing project
Methane emission from ruminant livestock is an important source of greenhouse gas. In
the RUMINOMICS project, 11 partners across Europe work together to try to decrease
the environmental footprint of ruminant production by exploiting state-of-the-art –omics technologies.
A connection will be made between the animal genome, gastrointestinal microbiome and nutrition to improve digestion efficiency and decrease environmental damage from methane and nitrogen emissions.
The aim of the project is to integrate expertise and technologies to increase rumen efficiency and decrease the environmental footprint of ruminant production, significantly advancing current knowledge in this sector.
RUMINOMICS will:
- Relate animal genome to microbiome, feed efficiency, and methane emissions
- Determine host-microbe interactions in genetically identical and genetically diverse animals
- Relate changes in the nutrient supply of the cow with the composition and function of the ruminal microbiome, as assessed by methane and N emissions
- Provide tools and bioinformatics for rapid analysis of phenotypes, microbiomes
- Create a public metagenomics database
- Effectively disseminate project technologies and results
More information about the RUMINOMICS project can be found at www.ruminomics.eu or http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/101163_en.html.

SAPHIR
From 2015-03-01 to 2019-03-01, ongoing project
The European Horizon 2020 research project SAPHIR aims to develop innovative, safe, affordable and effective vaccine strategies effective against endemic pathogens responsible for high economic losses in livestock. By generating vaccine strategies for these pathogens in pigs, poultry and ruminants, SAPHIR will aid in strengthening the profitability of food animal systems, improve animal welfare and reduce xenobiotic usage in farming with a ‘One Health’ perspective.
Impact:
By generation of innovative vaccine strategies SAPHIR will minimize public health risks by preventing and controlling animal diseases and reducing the use of antibiotics in the ‘one health’ perspective. A decrease in animal diseases and anti-microbial use will result in an improved animal welfare and therefore will increase productivity, efficiency and profitability of animal agriculture.
By identification of markers that can be used for selective breeding, robust animals that are better adapted to environmental changes and exhibit an optimal response to vaccination can be selected. The SAPHIR project will formulate new efficiency traits for these breeding programmes.
Concerns about food safety and the use of GMO vaccines are high. Therefore, the SAPHIR project will contribute to improve the livestock producers’ acceptance and use of vaccines.
Knowledge and technology that arise from the SAPHIR project will be exploited in the following markets:
- Veterinary vaccine market
- Animal diagnostic company market
- Livestock breeding and selection market
- Animal protein sector
Results of the SAPHIR project will be disseminated to reach these stakeholders and to promote vaccine developments by companies.
Follow the progress of the SAPHIR project at the SAPHIR website or visit http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/193183_en.html.
From 2015-03-01 to 2019-03-01, ongoing project
The European Horizon 2020 research project SAPHIR aims to develop innovative, safe, affordable and effective vaccine strategies effective against endemic pathogens responsible for high economic losses in livestock. By generating vaccine strategies for these pathogens in pigs, poultry and ruminants, SAPHIR will aid in strengthening the profitability of food animal systems, improve animal welfare and reduce xenobiotic usage in farming with a ‘One Health’ perspective.
Impact:
By generation of innovative vaccine strategies SAPHIR will minimize public health risks by preventing and controlling animal diseases and reducing the use of antibiotics in the ‘one health’ perspective. A decrease in animal diseases and anti-microbial use will result in an improved animal welfare and therefore will increase productivity, efficiency and profitability of animal agriculture.
By identification of markers that can be used for selective breeding, robust animals that are better adapted to environmental changes and exhibit an optimal response to vaccination can be selected. The SAPHIR project will formulate new efficiency traits for these breeding programmes.
Concerns about food safety and the use of GMO vaccines are high. Therefore, the SAPHIR project will contribute to improve the livestock producers’ acceptance and use of vaccines.
Knowledge and technology that arise from the SAPHIR project will be exploited in the following markets:
- Veterinary vaccine market
- Animal diagnostic company market
- Livestock breeding and selection market
- Animal protein sector
Results of the SAPHIR project will be disseminated to reach these stakeholders and to promote vaccine developments by companies.
Follow the progress of the SAPHIR project at the SAPHIR website or visit http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/193183_en.html.