Swine team

Facilities

Our infrastructure is designed to meet the strictest technical and regulatory requirements (UFS standards – decree of 01/02/2013).

• Capacity: With an average occupancy rate of 70%, the facility has a global capacity of 500 places. This allows us to manage natural population variations while maintaining housing comfort for animals at all physiological stages. The herd consists of a core group of Large White sows and a complementary Meishan population.
• Operating Theater & Imaging: A specialized surgical suite and a dedicated embryo transfer room. Access to state-of-the-art equipment including MRI and CT scanners.
• On-site Laboratory: A laboratory equipped with a laminar flow hood located in the immediate vicinity of the housing areas.
• Research Abattoir: Our site features an on-site slaughterhouse specifically designed for research, enabling immediate and high-precision biological sampling. This infrastructure guarantees ethical end-of-life management and limits animal stress through rigorous welfare protocols. By eliminating external transport, we provide a familiar environment until the end, also preserving the integrity of scientific samples.
• Storage: Adapted sample storage capacities (4 °C, −20 °C, and −80 °C).

Specialized Equipment and Sanitary Status

The platform is distinguished by an exceptional sanitary environment, certified by accredited laboratories (LABOCEA, Inovalys, Bio Chêne Vert):

• Feeding: Use of "white feed" without systematic medicinal treatment.
• "Clean" Status: The herd is free from major pathologies (PRRS, Coronavirus, Swine Flu, Aujeszky's Disease, Hepatitis E, etc.).
• EEnrichment: Facilities allow for rooting, marking, and social interactions under thermo-neutral conditions.

Identification and Traceability

The reliability of our data is based on flawless traceability and total environmental control:

• IElectronic Identification: Every animal in the herd (approximately 350 individuals) is individually identified by an electronic system from birth.
• FARMWELL Software: Deployed since 2016, this system records environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, ventilation) automatically and in real-time.
• Self-Renewal: The herd is managed without introducing outside animals (40 Large White sows, Meishan sows, and breeding boars), ensuring the stability of genetic lines.

Experimental Expertise

Our qualified teams maintain up-to-date competency records to ensure comprehensive scientific monitoring:

• Reproduction: Pregnancy and puberty diagnosis via ultrasound, semen collection, and embryo transfer.
• Zootechnical Monitoring: Precise growth control and rigorous dietary tracking.
• Behavioral Studies: Observation and analysis under controlled conditions.
• Regulatory Support: Assistance in obtaining authorizations from ethics committees and the Ministry of Research (including GMO approval).

Research Themes

Through strong partnerships with public institutions and private laboratories, the platform operates on cutting-edge topics :

• Human Health: Collaboration with INSERM on xenotransplantation.
• Innovation: Support for private laboratories in developing veterinary and medical solutions..
• Ethology: Studies on the expression of natural behaviors and hierarchical organization.

Interested in a collaboration? We support the success of your scientific projects through our specific expertise in porcine species.