The Chair of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology is Estonia’s only competence centre in its field. It offers learning opportunities at all levels of higher education. Basic and applied research involves breeding of production animals, preservation of animal genetic resources, animal genetics, genomics, transgenic technology, reproduction and reproductive disorders, and reproduction biotechnology.
The researchers of the Chair are involved in scientific research projects. Professor Ülle Jaakma is the coordinator of the SEARMET (Scientific Excellence in Animal Reproductive Medicine and Embryo Technology) project that is part of the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. In recent years, the Chair has collaborated (joint research and publishing, exchange of researchers, lecturers and students) with the University of Sheffield, the University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Inland/Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, and the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE).
Research undertaken by the Chair is supported by the laboratories of genomics, animal genetics, embryo technology, and hormone research, established at the Chair.
The laboratory of animal genetics offers services to animal breeding organisations, animal owners, and public authorities.
Staff members of the Chair cooperate with two technology competence centres – BioCC OÜ and the Competence Centre on Health Technologies. They also participate in the activities of the non-profit organisation Piimaklaster MTÜ, and provide expert advice to various institutions/ organisations.
The staff members of the Chair have registered a total of seven patents, including two European patents (EE200600019 and EP2029026B1) and one international patent (PA200700147), two international patents in cooperation with BioCC OÜ (PCT/EE2007/000014 and P200600029), one international patent in cooperation with the Competence Centre on Health Technologies (14193488.5), and one international patent in cooperation with the University of Tartu (P200600039).
