Bas Rodenburg appointed Professor of Adaptation Physiology

Bas Rodenburg, currently Professor of Animal Welfare at Utrecht University, is one of the ambassadors for the concept of animal-friendly livestock farming. This concept places greater emphasis on enabling the behavioural needs of farmed animals to be met. Pigs that can root, chickens that can take a dust bath and cows that can graze feel better because they are able to exhibit this behaviour and thus adapt to the conditions in their environment. 

Rodenburg is keen to contribute to the further improvement of livestock farming systems and to develop methods to better monitor animal welfare. This also involves learning to better assess how animals are feeling, for example by interpreting their behaviour, vocalisations and body posture.

Rodenburg is currently leading a European project in which the health and welfare of animals in livestock farming and aquaculture can be continuously monitored using images and sound. In this EUPAHW Eyes & Ears project, animal scientists and vets are working together with people with a technical background to identify existing methods for automatic monitoring and to develop new ones. Artificial intelligence and sensor technology are offering ever more opportunities to detect subtle changes in, for example, animal behaviour or sounds. 

The research and education activities of the Adaptive Physiology group (ADP) focus on gaining a better understanding of animals’ adaptive capacity and the role played by housing systems and management in this regard. This knowledge can contribute to improving animal health and welfare in livestock farming.

Rodenburg looks forward to contributing within the group to the connection between the various disciplines, so that together they create answers that can help solve complex problems in livestock farming practice.

Bas Rodenburg (1975) obtained his degree at Wageningen University & Research and went on to earn his PhD in Wageningen in 2004. His PhD research focused on behavioural aspects of feather pecking in laying hens. Following his PhD, Rodenburg worked as a post-doc at (what is now known as) Wageningen Livestock Research and ILVO in Belgium. He maintained a link with WUR through several positions. Since 2018, Rodenburg has been Professor of Animal Welfare at Utrecht University.