Animal husbandry is an essential part of agriculture. It contributes substantially to farmers income with its main products, and with manure to soil fertility. Animal husbandry has to meet several demands, as there are: animal welfare, environmental conservation, consumer and economic requirements. These aspects are very different, partly contrary. Furthermore the biological processes are very complex. Therefore an assessment of animal husbandry is necessary to make right decisions.
Investigations are done for different systems of animal husbandry, e.g. dairy cows and pig fattening, together with the Department of Engineering for Livestock Management. Substance flows are analyzed, and husbandry systems are assessed concerning their environmental effects and economic consequences. Whole production chains are taken into consideration, beginning with animal feeding, including housing systems, manure storage and application on land.