The document discusses the new role of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in collaborating with the CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish (L&F). Over several years, SLU and L&F engaged in discussions to identify areas of common interest for strategic partnership. They agreed to prioritize research on herd health for ruminants and pigs, including infections and reproductive health. Two additional areas were identified for further exploration: feed and forages, as well as animal genetics. The partnership aims to apply SLU's holistic approach to herd health within L&F programs and leverage SLU's expertise in feed utilization, forage breeding, and bioinformatics.

1. The new role of SLU in the Livestock and
Fish Program
Ulf Magnusson, SLU
Livestock and Fish Review and Planning Meeting
23-26 March 2015
Virtual

2. Iterative match-making process for common
interest between L&F and SLU over the years
• SLU has a strategy for Global research, training and
capacity building, mainly bilateral or regional.
• SLU want to build on Global partnership – the CG-
system is thus an attractive partner and L&F is the ideal
one for a strategic partnership!
• More focused match-making discussion in an workshop
in Sweden in June 2014 (10 L&Fers and 20 SLUers).
Generated a list of some 5-10 areas of common
interest.
• Further discussions between SLU and L&F during the fall
2014, agreement on one priority area and two
explorative areas – ToR to be written now.

3. Heard health - ruminants and pigs ,
incl. infections and reproductive health
• Heard/farm holistic approach complementary to
classical CGIAR activities.
• Preventive oriented, biosecurity and management.
• Research issues are to identify bottle necks for lost
productivity and the most cost-effect interventions.
• SLU work together with the Swedish farmer’s animal
health services, and will apply that holistic approach
within the L&F.

4. Feed and Forages and Animal genetics - two
areas of common interest to be further explored
• SLU expertise on Feed and Forages for L&F
– Feed utilization and feed efficiencies with an emphasize on locally
grown forages/feeds, including by-products from the food industry.
– Integration of interdisciplinary information resources with a
comprehensive germplasm collection to facilitate the development of
a new paradigm of knowledge-led forage breeding.
• SLU expertise on Animal Genetics for L&F
– Bioinformatics infrastructure and research on the use of marker
information in breeding programs.
– Conservation genetics approaches (population genetics).
Development of new species for aquaculture in closed systems.

5. CGIAR is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. The CGIAR
Research Program on Livestock and Fish aims to increase the productivity of small-scale livestock and fish systems
in sustainable ways, making meat, milk and fish more available and affordable across the developing world.
CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish
livestockfish.cgiar.org