Introduction

Located at Saint-Gilles (15 km west of Rennes, Brittany, France), the INRA & Agrocampus Research Unit named "Systèmes d'Elevage, Nutrition Animale et Humaine (SENAH; Livestock Production Systems, Animal and Human Nutrition) is conducting research programs on both livestock production and human nutrition. The most frequently used animal model is the pig but some programs are conducted on veal calves, broilers or rabbits, mini pigs are also used for human nutrition studies. The Unit is under the auspices of two INRA departments: Animal Physiology and Livestock Production Systems (PHASE) and Human Nutrition (ALIMH).

With regard to livestock production , studies are conducted in the context of sustainability and aim:
- to protect the environment by reducing the excretion of nitrogen, phosphorus and trace elements and to limit the utilization of medical substances (especially antibiotics and growth promoters)
- to improve the welfare of animals
- to improve the nutritional, sanitary and sensory properties of pig meat;
- To improve the competitiveness of pig production by reducing production costs and adapting the production to consumer and citizen demand

For human nutrition , the main objectives are:
- a better understanding of mechanisms involved in the short-term control of food intake in order to reduce obesity
- prevention of digestive disorders by studying the long-term effects of early post-natal nutrition

The experimental approaches are quite variable and range from the farm level to the herd, the individual animal up to the cellular and molecular level. The main methodologies routinely used are:
- techniques for studying animal behaviour
- modelling and integrative approaches
- growth trials and nutrient balances
- physiological studies (e.g., reproduction, nutrition, growth, stress)
- cell culture
- biochemistry, histology, and molecular biology
Equipment such as mass spectrometers, amino acid analysers, image analysers are also available.

The Unit has several partners:
• the other INRA departments involved in animal genetics, environment and agronomy, economics, food quality and processing.
• the unit is member of the "Ouest Genopole" consortium and the "Plateforme rennaise d'imagerie et spectroscopie structurale et métabolique" (PRISM),
• the Unit is closely involved in scientific consortiums such as “Porcherie Verte" and "Recherche et expérimentation porcine en France".
• the Unit collaborates with numerous research institutes, universities, technical institutes and partners in the pork chain, pharmaceutical and feed industries (in France and abroad).

InraPorc is a tool to analyze performance and to evaluate different nutritional strategies for growing pigs and sows. InraPorc has been developed at the INRA-Agrocampus "UMR SENAH" research unit in Saint-Gilles, France (near Rennes). The software is intended to be used by nutritionists or for teaching nutritional principles. http://www.rennes.inra.fr/inraporc/



Introduction Located at Saint-Gilles (15 km west of Rennes, Brittany, France), the INRA & Agrocampus Research Unit named "Systèmes d'Elevage, Nutrition Animale et Humaine (SENAH; Livestock Production Systems, Animal and Human Nutrition) is conducting research programs on both livestock production and human nutrition. The most frequently used animal model is the pig but some programs are conducted on veal calves, broilers or rabbits, mini pigs are also used for human nutrition studies. The Unit is under the auspices of two INRA departments: Animal Physiology and Livestock Production Systems (PHASE) and Human Nutrition (ALIMH). With regard to livestock production , studies are conducted in the context of sustainability and aim: - to protect the environment by reducing the excretion of nitrogen, phosphorus and trace elements and to limit the utilization of medical substances (especially antibiotics and growth promoters) - to improve the welfare of animals - to improve the nutritional, sanitary and sensory properties of pig meat; - To improve the competitiveness of pig production by reducing production costs and adapting the production to consumer and citizen demand For human nutrition , the main objectives are: - a better understanding of mechanisms involved in the short-term control of food intake in order to reduce obesity - prevention of digestive disorders by studying the long-term effects of early post-natal nutrition The experimental approaches are quite variable and range from the farm level to the herd, the individual animal up to the cellular and molecular level. The main methodologies routinely used are: - techniques for studying animal behaviour - modelling and integrative approaches - growth trials and nutrient balances - physiological studies (e.g., reproduction, nutrition, growth, stress) - cell culture - biochemistry, histology, and molecular biology Equipment such as mass spectrometers, amino acid analysers, image analysers are also available. The Unit has several partners: • the other INRA departments involved in animal genetics, environment and agronomy, economics, food quality and processing. • the unit is member of the "Ouest Genopole" consortium and the "Plateforme rennaise d'imagerie et spectroscopie structurale et métabolique" (PRISM), • the Unit is closely involved in scientific consortiums such as “Porcherie Verte" and "Recherche et expérimentation porcine en France". • the Unit collaborates with numerous research institutes, universities, technical institutes and partners in the pork chain, pharmaceutical and feed industries (in France and abroad). InraPorc is a tool to analyze performance and to evaluate different nutritional strategies for growing pigs and sows. InraPorc has been developed at the INRA-Agrocampus "UMR SENAH" research unit in Saint-Gilles, France (near Rennes). The software is intended to be used by nutritionists or for teaching nutritional principles. http://www.rennes.inra.fr/inraporc/