Since its foundation in 1955, the Institute in Jabłonna has been conducting research in the fields of animal nutrition and physiology. Basic research conducted on poultry, pigs and ruminants, as well as on laboratory animals, is our main area of interest. In recent years, studies have also been conducted on beavers. Symbiotic microorganisms that colonize the digestive tracts of herbivorous mammals are also studied.

More specifically, the research conducted at the Institute is aimed in three directions:

I. Nutrition and its effects on the development, health and wellbeing of animals, and on the environment.
II. The quality of animal products as a function of nutritional and endogenous factors.
III. Molecular and endocrine regulation of physiological processes.

The first two directions cover topics related to animal nutrition and encompass both physiological fundamentals and elements of feed science. Their objective is to determine the nutritional requirements of animals, which change as the result of genetic improvement and consumer expectations as to the health-promoting qualities of animal products, and to reduce the environmental impact of animal breeding. To reach these goals it is necessary to understand the metabolism of particular nutrients in the digestive tracts of animals, including the involvement of microorganisms colonizing its various sections, and the role of these nutrients in the metabolism of the animal itself. As the digestive tract is formed at an early age, the influence of various feed components on its development and functions are investigated, including the amount and quality of protein, fiber and biologically active supplements.

Studies aimed at identifying the effects of administering bioactive substances present in feeds play an important role in animal nutrition. These substances can have an inhibitory effect on growth and feed utilization and may modify metabolic processes. Their effects are also often used to improve the wellbeing of animals. Some properties of feed additives are being taken advantage of in the process of withdrawing antibiotics as growth-stimulating feed additives.

The third direction is related to the investigation of the physiological regulatory mechanisms of growth, maturation, and reproduction of animals and in the development of the structure and function of the digestive tract. The conducted studies deal with the activity of neural tracts at the central nervous system level and secretory activity of the pituitary gland and other endocrine tissues in various physiological states.

Much attention is being paid to environmental factors, especially those that disrupt the normal functioning of organisms (nutritional deficit, stress, inflammation). Biologically active substances that are ingested with feeds and interact with endogenous compounds are also an important research topic. Modern research techniques, especially from the field of molecular biology, make it possible to study cellular signaling pathways and the genes activated by them. Detailed knowledge about regulatory mechanisms may enable better control over important life functions and may also have a bearing on human physiology and be of value in the treatment of diseases stemming from the disordering of these mechanisms.

Studies are conducted at the Institute within the framework of projects financed by Poland’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education, by the National Research and Development Center, and by the National Science Center. Some of the resources used to finance the Institute’s research are from structural funds.

The results of the Institute’s research are disseminated mainly through publications, especially in domestic and international research journals, presentations at scientific congresses, and in journals specializing in animal husbandry.

The Institute publishes its own quarterly international scientific journal, The Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences, in which papers on animal nutrition, breeding and feed science submitted from Poland and abroad are published. Our journal is on the Master Journal List and has a significant impact factor (0.659 for 2010); it is indexed by many data bases associated with agricultural sciences. The Institute also publishes nutritional guidelines for farm animals and textbooks on animal nutrition.

The Institute is the organizer or co-organizer of numerous scientific conferences. The annual Young Scientist Conference held under the theme of “Physiology and Biochemistry in Animal Nutrition” is a very popular event.

The Institute’s staff members also conduct classes for students, both on the Institute’s premises and at other institutions of higher learning.

Doctoral programs in environmental sciences are conducted in cooperation with the Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Jastrzębiec.

The main forms of didactic activities include lectures held at the Institute and other research centers and universities, consultations with breeders, as well as training and fellowship programs.