Issues, missions and objectives

P3R conducts experimental protocols in genetics and physiology on small ruminants, aimed at identifying traits of interest for livestock farming such as robustness, adaptation, behavior, metabolic efficiency, meat quality, reproduction and livestock farming systems.

Experiments can be short or long term (up to several generations), and involve large or small numbers of animals.

P3R main objective is to understand and model the genetic variability of key traits for the agroecological transition of livestock farming, and to preserve animal health and well-being. A wide variety of phenotypes can be collected at P3R: production traits (reproduction, growth, finishing), feed efficiency traits (residual consumption for concentrated, forage or mixed rations), resilience traits (ability to quickly return to optimal condition after any stress), resistance to disease traits (mastitis, strongylosis), adaptation traits (greenhouse gas emissions; fleece shedding capacity), epigenetic as a mechanism of adaptation (DNA methylation in blood and tissues) and animal welfare (animal/human intra- and inter-specific behaviors, enrichment of the rearing environment, better management of stress and social reactivity). The unit also studies the trade-offs between these traits such as longevity/infectious diseases, feed efficiency/strongylosis, feed efficiency/greenhouse gas emissions. P3R created and maintains several sheep and caprine divergent lines for many traits (“Residual consumption”, “Longevity”, “Strongylosis resistance”, “Molt”, “DNA methylation rate”).

In addition, the unit studies sheep performance at breed level in a variety of production systems. For example, as part of the SOBRIETE project, the performance of the French sheep breeds Berrichonne de l'Indre and Romane was compared in a low-input, 100% free-range farming system.

Eventually, agroecology research is being carried out to identify the levers needed for profitable, sustainable, low-input farming. The levers studied at P3R are crop-livestock integration and biological control in cereal crops, through the use of grass strips and flower-filled fallows around plots.

Summary of Unit P3R objectives

•     Study livestock farming performance
•     Improve meat yields, meat quality and cheese yields
•    Select animals that are fit for reproduction, resistant to disease, efficient and adapted to global   warming.
•     Transfer original phenotypes to breeders
•     Identify biomarkers involved in health, efficiency and reproduction
•     Improve the well-being of small ruminants on farms