Nutrition physiology, health and welfare of farm animals

Our overall objective is to advance health, welfare and nutrition of farm and companion animals.

We use multidisciplinary approach, utilizing e.g. ethology, physiology, genomics, metabolomics and lipidomics, to advance our understanding in animal health, welfare and nutrition. Our research will provide novel basis for management of farm animals and for care of companion animals.

Links to Project Pages

GrazeWEL project

Selected Publications

Pirkkalainen, H., Riihimäki, A., Lienemann, T., Anttila, M., Kujala-Wirth, M., Rajala-Schultz, P., Simojoki, H., Soveri, T., & Orro, T. 2024. Local and Systemic Inflammation in Finnish Dairy Cows with Digital Dermatitis. Animals, 14(3), Article 461. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030461

Robbins, J., Proudfoot, K., Strand, E., Hemsworth, L., Coleman, G., Hemsworth, P., Skuse, J., Krawczel, P., & Van Os, J. 2024. Perceptions of dairy cow–handling situations: A comparison of public and industry samples. Journal of Dairy Science, 107(1), 527-541. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-23496

Kavlak, A. T., Pastell, M., & Uimari, P. 2023. Disease detection in pigs based on feeding behaviour traits using machine learning. Biosystems Engineering, 226, 143-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2023.01.004

Sandelin, A., Hälli, O., Härtel, H., Herva, T., Kaartinen, L., Tuunainen, E., Rautala, H., Soveri, T., & Simojoki, H. 2022. Effect of Farm Management Practices on Morbidity and Antibiotic Usage on Calf Rearing Farms. Antibiotics, 11(2), Article 270. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11020270

Huuki, H., Ahvenjaervi, S., Lidauer, P., Popova, M., Vilkki, J., Vanhatalo, A., & Tapio, I. 2022. Fresh Rumen Liquid Inoculant Enhances the Rumen Microbial Community Establishment in Pre-weaned Dairy Calves. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.758395

Hemida, M. B. M., Salin, S., Vuori, K. A., Moore, R., Anturaniemi, J., Rosendahl, S., Barrouin-Melo, S. M., & Hielm-Bjorkman, A. 2021. Puppyhood diet as a factor in the development of owner-reported allergy/atopy skin signs in adult dogs in Finland. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 35: 2374-2383. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16211

Aernouts, B., Adriaens, I., Diaz-Olivares, J., Saeys, W., Mantysaari, P., Kokkonen, T., Mehtiö, T., Kajava, S., Lidauer, P., Lidauer, M.H. and Pastell, M. 2020. Mid-infrared spectroscopic analysis of raw milk to predict the blood nonesterified fatty acid concentrations in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 103: 6422-6438. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17952

Mantysaari, P., Mantysaari, E. A., Kokkonen, T., Mehtio, T., Kajava, S., Grelet, C., Lidauer, P. & Lidauer, M. H. 2019. Body and milk traits as indicators of dairy cow energy status in early lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 102: 7904-7916. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15792

Kokkonen, T., Salin, S., Jaakkola, S., Taponen, J., Elo, K. and Vanhatalo, A. 2018. Effects of dietary energy allowance in grass silage-based diets during the dry period on production responses and utilization of body reserves in dairy cows. Agricultural and Food Science 27: 264–274. https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.74369

Salin, S., Vanhatalo, A., Jaakkola, S., Elo, K., Taponen, J., Boston, R. C. & Kokkonen, T. 2018. Effects of dry period energy intake on insulin resistance, metabolic adaptation, and production responses in transition dairy cows on grass silage-based diets. Journal of Dairy Science 101: 11364-11383. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-14728

Qin, N., Kokkonen, J., Salin, S., Seppänen-Laakso, T., Taponen, T. Vanhatalo, A. & Elo, K. 2018. Prepartal high-energy feeding with grass silage-based diets does not disturb the hepatic adaptation of dairy cows during the periparturient period. Journal of Dairy Science 101: 8929-8943. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-13153.

Qin, N., Bayat, A-R., Trevisi, E., Minuti, A., Kairenius, P., Viitala, S., Mutikainen, M., Leskinen, H., Elo, K., Kokkonen, J. & Vilkki, J. 2018. Dietary supplement of conjugated linoleic acids or polyunsaturated fatty acids suppressed the mobilization of body fat reserves in dairy cows at early lactation through different pathways. Journal of Dairy Science 101: 7954–7970. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-14298.

Qin, N., Kokkonen, T. Salin, S., Seppanen-Laakso, T., Taponen, T. Vanhatalo, A. & Elo, K. 2017. Prepartal overfeeding alters the lipidomic profiles in the liver and the adipose tissue of transition dairy cows. Metabolomics 13:21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11306-016-1160-0.

Salin, S., Vanhatalo, A., Elo, K., Taponen, J., Boston, R.C., & Kokkonen, T. 2017. Effects of dietary energy allowance and decline in dry matter intake during the dry period on responses to glucose and insulin in transition dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 100: 5266-5280. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11871.

Selim S., Elo K., Jaakkola S., Karikoski N., Boston R., Reilas T., Särkijärvi, S., Saastamoinen, M. & Kokkonen, T. 2015. Relationships among body condition, insulin resistance and subcutaneous adipose tissue gene expression during the grazing season in mares. PLoS ONE 10(5): e0125968. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125968.

Selim, S., Kokkonen, T., Taponen, J., Vanhatalo, A. & Elo, K. 2015. Effect of prepartal ad libitum feeding of grass silage on transcriptional adaptations of the liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue in dairy cows during the periparturient period. Journal of Dairy Science 98: 5515-5528. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-8986.

Selim, S., Salin, S., Taponen, J., Vanhatalo, A. Kokkonen, T. & Elo, K.T. 2014. Prepartal dietary energy alters transcriptional adaptations of the liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue of dairy cows during the transition period. Physiological Genomics 46: 328-337. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00115.2013.