The CRA-W can be a partner for projects targeting dairy production (lactating cows, heifers, dairy calves; 50 cows herd with grazing system during summer) or pig production (from gestation – 115 productive sows - to fattening - 320 places by pens of 8; on straw litter). The research facilities are equipped with several sensors as the Greenfeed system (C-lock), pedometers, an autonomous reproductive and health monitoring system in real time for cows (SCR Heatime® Pro+
system) and individual feed computer-controlled automats for the piggery (Gestal FM, Nedap ESF and Selfifeeder GFI).Proxies based on MIR and NIR spectrometry and related to environment, health, welfare etc. are also developed and available onsite. The unit has a strong experience for samples collection (milk, blood, feces, hair, piglet’s intestinal content, …). The competences are focusing i.a. on cow stress indicators, alternatives to castration of piglets, intestinal pig health by feed additives or by-products, wellbeing of pigs in low-input systems, etc. CRA-W can support research from partners focusing on health/well-being alert and monitoring systems through data base collection, on behavioral observation or in the field of parasitism, etc. and would like to improve knowledges in particular about microbiota gut-brain axis indicators for swine wellbeing through this EUPAHW co-funded call.

The CRA-W brings together scientific research, service and support functions dedicated to Walloon farmers, stockbreeders, horticulturists, forestry producers and operators in the agri-food sector.
More particularly, the Animal production Unit of CRA-W conducts researches that aim to develop reasoned and sustainable livestock farming methods in order to meet animal nutritional and health requirements while monitoring the impact on the environment and product quality. These strategies must improve the competitive position of the livestock sectors, help to control the quality of processes and products and establish objective criteria for animal welfare and climate impact. CRA-W is a favored centre for consortia wishing to add the services of a partner present from production to the analysis of results, including the analytical aspect on the samples collected on site.