Animal Science

- Developing and implementing programmes for the control and eradication of animal infectious diseases. 

- Epidemiological investigations of animal infectious diseases.

- Assessment of animal health and welfare risks associated with keeping/housing conditions. 

- Diagnostics and molecular epidemiological studies of tuberculosis, paratuberculosis and mycobacteriosis in animals.

- Macroscopic (autopsies) and microscopic investigations (cytology, haematology, histopathology) of animal pathologies.

- Ultrastructural investigations of cells, tissues, and organs.

- Immunohistochemical and electronmicroscopic investigations of tissues.

Keywords: cattle industry.

In vivo developed embryos are collected from valuable donor females to increase the number of offspring and accelerate genetic potential of the population; to change one breed for another and to conserve rare breeds.

- Collection, transfer and/or freezing of embryos from selected females within a herd.

- Transfer of imported frozen embryos.

Keywords: cattle industry.

The bovine oocytes are collected from live animals or alternatively, from the slaughterhouse. The oocytes are fertilized and cultured up to blastocyst stage, and then transferred or frozen. The method is used for the production of embryos from the desired parents.

Keywords: cattle industry.

Computer assisted sperm motility analysis and flow cytometry are used to assess different sperm motion characteristics, mitochondrial activity and chromatin stability.

Keywords: cattle industry.

Eighty hours course includes theory and practice of AI, detection of estrus, proper timing of AI, handling of semen, specific features of sexed semen, ultrasound examination of reproductive tract, overview of reproductive disorders, regulation of estrous cycle and many other important practical aspects.

The course is organized by the Open University of EMÜ.

Keywords: education.

2 h hands-on training consists of theoretical introduction to artificial insemination, and practical training and demonstrations in order to give knowledge about oocytes, sperm cells and embryos.

Keywords: cattle breeding.

Counselling and training of cattle breeding managers, breeding advisers, officials and specialists of breeding organisations with the aim of increasing the productivity of animals and improving the health of cattle in order to increase the profitability of the enterprise and to preserve the genetic resources of farm animals.

Fields of counselling:

- breeding of farm animals;

- preservation of the genetic resources of farm animals.

Keywords: animal breeding.

Genotyping of animals for their genetic identification in order to verify correctness of parentage and pedigree. Parentage verification is necessary for the purchase and sale of purebred animals, sperm and embryos, for the verification of the identity of twins and for the precision of the genetic evaluation given to male animals on the basis of their offspring. Identification of breeding animals’ genetic defects through DNA analyses enables the breeders to avoid, by choosing pairs, the obtaining of recessive homozygote individuals. The elimination of sheep with high risk of scrapie from breeding will increase the flock’s scrapie resistance. Choice based on the hereditary types of milk proteins enables to improve the technological properties of milk.

For the DNA analyses blood, sperm, hair and tissue samples are used.

Keywords: milk progesterone, enzyme immunoassay (EIA), cattle, fertility, reproductive performance, reproductive management.

Focus groups:

- Universities, research institutes and companies.

Focus areas:

- Research on reproductive function of cattle.

- Reproductive management of cattle (early detection of non-pregnant cows, detection of commencement of luteal activity, detection of abnormal oestrous cycles, measuring efficiency and accuracy of detection of estrus, identification of inseminations performed at wrong time).

Counselling 

We give advice on interpretation of results and how to best use milk progesterone analysis for the fertility management of cattle.

Method

Milk progesterone is analyzed by using a monoclonal antibody based quantitative enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The advantage of the EIA is that the changing of milk fat concentrations does not affect assay results, thus allowing precise analysis of progesterone from milk samples with different milk-fat concentrations. The EIA is internationally recognized as a gold standard and a research tool in studying reproductive function in dairy, beef and Tanzanian zebu cattle.

Keywords: animal husbandry, feed production.

Analysis of the chemical composition of feed (including fermentation parameters, mycotoxins and amino acids), feed nutritive value and quality evaluation.

Keywords: animal husbandry.

Biochemical analysis of blood composition.

Keywords: dairy cow management, dairy product production.

Raw milk chemical composition and coagulation properties.

Keywords: animal husbandry, dairy herd management.

- Farm animal nutrition advice, including ruminant feeding and metabolism and relationships with milk composition and yields.

- Ration formulation for the dairy herd.

- Design and execution of feeding experiments including those involving feed additives and novel feeds. 

Keywords: fish and crayfish farming.

The aim of the consultations and in-service courses is to give an overview of the principal knowledge about fish and crayfish farming in Estonia, comprising the current status of the aquaculture sector together with trends and features of its development.

Target groups here include the fish and crayfish farmers and the representatives of various administrations in the field or related to aquaculture area.

Counselling and in-service courses

- Water as a living environment for fish.

- Fish biology.

- Aquaculture technology.

- Fish farming in Estonia.

- Ornamental fish farming.

- Biosecurity in aquaculture.

- Crayfish farming and management.

Keywords: fish farming, fisheries and hydrobiology, fish stocks and environmental monitoring.

Counselling and training of veterinarians, fish farmers and environmental specialists with a view to reduce the  health risks of the wild caught and farmed fish as well as to increase the production efficiency and competitiveness in aquaculture.

- Ichthyopathological investigations and fish health examinations.

- Wild or farmed fish parasitological examinations.

- Counselling and training of veterinarians and fish farmers.

- Expert analysis to identify possible causes of the death of fish.

Diagnostics and treatment

The animal clinic offers priced veterinary service for the diagnostics and treatment of farm animals, horses, small and exotic animals.

The animal clinic has modern facilities for the diagnostics and treatment of animal diseases both on individual and herd level.

For further information please see: 

Equine Clinic

Mon–Fri 8.00–16.00 Phone +372 731 3713

Outside working hours, call our 24-hour stand-by emergency service +372 52 22 062

Productive Animal Clinic

Mon–Fri 8.00–16.00 Phone +372 731 3713, +372 52 57 973

Small Animal Clinic

Mon–Sun 9.00–20.00

Outside working hours on Mon–Sun 20.00–9.00 Phone +372 731 3224, +372 50 33 878

Training

The University of Life Sciences offer regular training on animal health and treatment both for veterinarians and farmers.

For the schedule of trainings please see the webpage of the Open University: