The Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health of the University of Leon (https://institutos.unileon.es/indegsal/) brings together more than 50 professors and researchers from the faculties of Veterinary Medicine and Biological and Environmental Sciences. Animal health. Created in 2006 and directed by Grazia Merino, Professor of Animal Physiology, it has become a benchmark in knowledge and technology for the agricultural sector with modern facilities and state-of-the-art equipment.
In addition, INDEGSAL provides services to companies and livestock breeders, conducts educational and educational activities and carries out innovation, solutions to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the livestock sector.
The Institute brings together lines of research dedicated to genetic improvement of livestock species, sustainable food production, disease control and prevention, and animal physiology, reproduction and nutrition. The research is part of the OneHealth concept, the World Health Organization's (WHO) initiative to integrate the health of humans, animals and ecosystems and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Groups research diseases of veterinary interest and work on drug development. DIGESPOR researches digestive diseases in pigs and is at the forefront of developing vaccines and alternatives to antibiotics. BACRESPI is a group specializing in the characterization and development of vaccines against porcine respiratory tract bacteria. BIOACTINOTEC works on many infectious agents, mainly antibiotic resistant bacteria. IMAPOR investigates mastitis in dairy cattle and sheep.
Research is also carried out in animal nutrition. IMAPOR studies the metabolism of trace elements and heavy metals and energy metabolism in high production animals. In addition, it has a research line on animal welfare, especially livestock.
In addition, cellular and animal models are being developed. BIOL FAR examines the passage of drugs and other substances into milk and its prevention. Doctors Vanessa Robles and Paz Herrez have studied reproduction in fish and established models to study the effect of pollutants and the development of supplements and drugs.
Dr. Margarita Marqués (MODCELL) works on the design and development of cellular models of biomedical and biotechnological interest, and collaborates with the Instituto Biomar.
In the field of reproduction, IMAPOR investigates the cellular biology of spermatozoa, conservation techniques and sperm selection in pigs and cattle. ITRA-ULE specializes in reproductive technologies, including advanced sperm analysis, seminal cryopreservation, artificial insemination and embryo transfer, for wild species such as the brown bear.
In addition, two companies carry out their activity in the company: Bianor Biotech SL (https://bianorbiotech.es) in the field of reproductive biology and Micros Veterinaria (http://microsvet.es) as an anatomical diagnostic laboratory.
