Aarhus University, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

What Aarhus University, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences does

Institut for Husdyr- og Veterinærvidenskab (Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, ANIVET) is a research and education department within Aarhus University's Faculty of Technical Sciences, headquartered at AU Viborg in Foulum, Tjele, Denmark, and led by Institutleder Charlotte Lauridsen. The department serves Danish livestock producers (cattle, pigs, poultry, horses), government regulatory bodies — notably the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration — agri-food and biotech companies, and undergraduate through PhD-level students in agrobiology, animal science and veterinary medicine. Its mandate spans basic research, applied science, official government authority services (myndighedsbetjening), and commercial collaboration, organised around five interdisciplinary theme groups (Climate/Environment/Animal-derived food; One Health; Green & blue biomass for feed; Digitalization, Data Science & Bioinformatics; One Welfare) and four species-based research sections (cattle, pigs, poultry, horses).

The department's core knowledge products and technical assets centre on the Normtalssystemet — a comprehensive, annually updated Danish normative system covering nutrient excretion from cattle, pigs, poultry, fur animals, horses, sheep and goats, and nutrient losses from stables and storage, with longitudinal coverage from 2004 to 2025 — and on unique experimental infrastructure at AU Viborg, including Denmark's Cattle Research Centre (DKC), pig, poultry and horse research units, laboratory facilities, and climate chambers. Active research platforms include the PIG-PARADIGM gut health programme, the SAFE-GUT sustainable feed ingredient evaluation platform, the METANFAKTOR methane calculation framework that underpins Danish CO2e tax calculations, and the Far-Vel Protein sow nutrition programme. Internal sections cover Ruminant Nutrition, Monogastric Animal Nutrition, Behaviour/Stress/Animal Welfare, Intestinal and Host Health, and Management and Modelling.

ANIVET operates as a non-commercial public research unit. Core funding flows through the Danish Parliament via Aarhus University's budget, supplemented by competitive grants from Innovation Fund Denmark, Horizon Europe, Interreg, and statutory funds such as the Danish Pig Research Fund and Horse Levy Fund. Commercial revenue comes from commissioned research and joint development projects with industry partners — SEGES Innovation, Bactolife ApS, Novozymes A/S, DTU Bioengineering, Velas, SimHerd and NMBU — coordinated by a dedicated fundraiser (Eva Søndergaard) via three structured engagement pathways: student project collaboration, service purchasing, and joint development. Research dissemination runs through the DCA weekly newsletter, peer-reviewed publications, trade journals, national congresses, PhD courses (e.g., Antimicrobial Resistance; Carbohydrates in non-ruminant nutrition), an open 'Find an expert' portal, and government authority service pages.

Name

Aarhus University, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Legal name

Institut for Husdyr- og Veterinærvidenskab, Aarhus Universitet

Website

https://anis.au.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Institut for Husdyr- og Veterinærvidenskab (ANIVET) is Aarhus University's research and education department for animal and veterinary sciences, serving Danish livestock producers, regulators, and agri-food firms through research, experimental facilities, and the authoritative Normtalssystemet livestock manure database.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal and Veterinary Science Research & Education

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Support Activities for Animal Production (11521)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Medicine Universities (EDAHAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pharmacy, Biologics & Veterinary Supply Dispensing (Farm Animal) (AFACADAM), Veterinary Public Health Laboratories (Reference & Confirmatory) (HLAMAJAH), Veterinary Public Health, Biosecurity & Disease Control Services (AFAEANAI), Diagnostics & Laboratory Coordination (Sample Collection, Lab Liaison, Interpretation) (AFACALAE)

Keywords

• Animal science research
• Veterinary research services
• Livestock nutrition research
• Government authority services
• Agricultural research collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

Tjele

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Danish Ministry and Parliament): Core institutional funding allocated by the Danish Parliament through Aarhus University's budget, supporting basic research, teaching and government service (myndighedsbetjening).
2. Research Grants and Project Funding: Competitive research funding from national bodies (Innovation Fund Denmark, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration), EU programmes (Horizon Europe, Interreg), and statutory funds (Danish Pig Research Fund / Svineafgiftsfonden, Horse Levy Fund / Hesteafgiftsfonden).
3. Commercial Collaboration and Contract Research: Paid collaboration with industry partners including joint development projects, service purchases, and commissioned research. Revenue through direct commercial contracts with companies in the agricultural sector.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The department conducts academic research, delivers higher education programmes, and provides official government authority services (myndighedsbetjening) in animal and veterinary sciences at AU Viborg in Foulum, Denmark. It maintains the annually published Normtal database of standardized nutrient excretion values for livestock manure used by Danish regulators, while delivering teaching (Bachelor, Master, PhD), commissioned research, and collaborative projects to industry partners in sustainable livestock production, animal health and welfare, gut health, antimicrobial resistance, and climate impact reduction.

Product overview

Aarhus University's Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Institut for Husdyr- og Veterinærvidenskab) is a research and education institution organized around five animal species groups (cattle, pigs, poultry, horses, and crop production) and five thematic research areas. Its primary research output products include the Normtal database of standardized livestock manure nutrient values, multiple collaborative research projects addressing sustainable animal production, gut health, antibiotic resistance, and climate impact. The department operates research facilities at AU Viborg in Foulum, Denmark, serving both government advisory functions and industry collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Normtal (Danish Normative Values for Livestock Manure) Annually published database of normative values for livestock manure providing standardized nutrient excretion data (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) for cattle, pigs, poultry, fur animals, horses, sheep, and goats, including nutrient losses from stables and storage. Used by Danish regulators, advisors, and livestock producers for regulatory compliance and farm management.
• Myndighedsbetjening (Government Authority Services) Official authority services provided to Danish regulatory bodies, including annual nutrient norms (Normtalssystemet), expert consultation, and policy-relevant research underpinning Danish agricultural policy, environmental regulation, and animal welfare legislation. Customers include the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
• PhD Programme in Animal Science Doctoral research training programme at Aarhus University for researchers working on animal science, including PhD courses (e.g., Antimicrobial Resistance; Carbohydrates in Non-Ruminant Nutrition; Animal Pain). Combines coursework with original research conducted at AU Viborg's experimental facilities.
• Industry Collaboration and Contract Research Collaborative R&D services offered to agri-food companies and technology firms, including joint development projects, commissioned contract research, service purchases, student project collaboration, ErhvervsPhD and ErhvervsPostdoc programmes. Connects companies with departmental researchers and AU Viborg's experimental facilities (cattle, pigs, poultry, horse units).

Quantifiable outcome

• SAFE-GUT project aims to reduce antibiotic use and lower the climate footprint of pig production through alternative feed ingredients.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• SEGES InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEGES Innovation is the primary agricultural knowledge and innovation partner for Danish livestock producers. The department collaborates with SEGES on multiple pig research projects including Far-Vel Protein, ORGFOS, WIFI (Winter Feeding of Organic Sows), and PIG-PARADIGM. SEGES contributes practical expertise and industry connectivity to joint research programmes on nutrition, sustainability and pig health.
• DTU Bioengineering (Technical University of Denmark)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTU Bioengineering participates in the Ablacto+ project alongside Bactolife ApS, Novozymes A/S and AU-ANIS. The collaboration focuses on biotechnological control of weaning diarrhoea in piglets, combining DTU's engineering expertise with the department's animal trial capabilities.
• Bactolife ApScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBactolife ApS is a Danish biotech company developing novel microbial-based products. Partner in the Ablacto+ project for biotechnological control of post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets, working with Novozymes A/S, DTU and AU-ANIS to define dose, formulation and safety for the commercial product.
• Novozymes A/ScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovozymes A/S, a global leader in biological solutions, co-develops the Ablacto+ product alongside Bactolife ApS, DTU and AU-ANIS. The collaboration applies enzyme and microbiome expertise to reduce antibiotic use in pig production.
• NMBU (Norwegian University of Life Sciences)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMBU in Norway collaborates on the 'Methane Production from Horses' project, contributing to the study of methane emissions from horses fed different forage rations. NMBU researchers (Rasmus Bovbjerg Jensen) work alongside AU researchers and SEGES on this cross-border research initiative.
• Velas and SimHerdsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVelas (agricultural advisory service) and SimHerd (herd management modelling company) collaborate with Aarhus University researchers on a project to develop a model predicting optimal culling strategies for organic dairy cows, improving herd durability and longevity.
• Copenhagen University (KU)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearchers from AU ANIVET and Copenhagen University (KU) collaborate on a study examining animal welfare consequences of emergency response after accidents involving animal transports, combining legal, veterinary and anthropological perspectives.
• European Reference Centre for Animal Welfare – Pigs (EURCAW-Pigs)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEURCAW-Pigs is the European Reference Centre for Animal Welfare in pigs. Department researchers are involved as coordinators and contributors, connecting Danish expertise with the European network for pig welfare standards and best practices.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU): Austrian university of natural resources and life sciences with comparable animal science, agricultural, and veterinary research across multiple livestock species in a DACH-region context.
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU): Nordic peer institution with animal science, veterinary, and agricultural research across multiple species. Comparable in scale and Nordic public-university research mission.
• Royal Veterinary College, University of London: UK veterinary and biological sciences institution with research in livestock health, production, and welfare. Comparable in academic veterinary research structure and external engagement model.
• Wageningen University & Research: Leading European agricultural and animal sciences university with experimental facilities, multi-species research groups, and industry collaboration at scale. Closest comparable in mission, scope, and operating model to Aarhus ANIVET.
• University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo): One of Europe's leading veterinary universities with strong research groups in animal health, livestock science, and infectious disease — closely comparable in academic veterinary research mission.
• Technical University of Denmark (DTU): Danish technical university with bioengineering and food science research. Active partner on the Ablacto+ project with Bactolife and Novozymes, with overlapping applied biotech and animal science interests.
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU): Norwegian university of life sciences with animal and aquaculture research. Already an active collaboration partner on the methane-from-horses project with SEGES.
• Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: Belgian veterinary faculty with research in animal production, health, and welfare. Comparable European veterinary university with active industry and regulatory engagement.
• University of Copenhagen, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences: Danish veterinary and animal science department at the country's other major university, directly comparable in scope and national regulatory role. Already a collaboration partner (animal transport welfare project).

Broad incumbents

• INRAE (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment): Large French public research institute covering animal sciences, agriculture, and food. Operates at materially larger scale with broader mandate and more extensive international industry partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aarhus-university-%E2%80%93-department-of-animal-science

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Aarhus University, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences