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On the stand, the unit GABI presented its work on the microbiota in association with new selection objectives in farming along with how information is acquired from the farm to the laboratory.

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The sustainability of farming systems is a priority which requires the improvement of animal robustness and their capacity to adapt to changing environments. Animal selection objectives have changed to adapt to this context. In addition to maintaining the performances acquired, they are aimed at improving animal welfare, food efficiency and immune defenses while reducing the use of antibiotics and methane emissions. It is therefore necessary to study more traits of farm animals and to identify levers. The different fucntions of the gut microbiota suggest there is an important impact on the main traits of the host that must be studied to progress towards these new objectives.

Scientists at GABI have been contributing to research on the gut microbiota in pigs, chickens, cattle and horses in order (1) to identify the potential relations between the composition of the intestinal microbiota and traits to be improved in animals and (2) to estimate the genetic component of the host in the composition of its microbiota.