AJW (Annemarie) Mens MSc

In my research, I focusses on using nutrition as a tool, or connector, to increase and improve welfare, behaviour, physiology, reproduction and health of poultry. For example, I study how stress and nutrition during the early life of rearing hens can influence the development of (ab)normal behaviour. Furthermore, we also study the underlying physiological mechanisms, the so-called gut-brain axis and the microbiome in the gastrointestinal tract.

Moreover, I participate in various projects within the poultry nutrition teams. A number of these projects focusses on making livestock farming more circular, especially looking at how and what role animal nutrition can play. Topics that play a role: the feed of the future, the reaction of the chicken to this future feed and whether these two still match. Chickens also play an important role in more circular, sustainable and efficient food system.

Within part of my employment, I am the chair of the Animal Welfare Body of Wageningen University. Within Wageningen we study animals, and thus animal testing is sometimes necessary. It is our objective to perform these animal studies with respect for the animal and its wellbeing. We facilitate researchers and the university within the ethical discussion, and provide with advice to replace, reduce and refine when possible. With these tasks, we are part of the Experiments on Animals Act.

It is my personal goal to understand the physiological mechanisms of animals, and to make a difference for the animals themselves. Animal husbandry is important for human nutrition by providing valuable food, however she feels an obligation to provide the animals with the best life possible. Her research focusses on the balance between a dignified life for the animals, fair business for the farmers and environmental impact.

After my graduation at Wageningen University (MSc Animal Sciences) in 2014, I’ve worked as a teacher and researcher pigs and poultry at a Dutch university of applied sciences. During that employment, I’ve worked within the lectureship “healthy poultry husbandry”. Amongst other projects, I focused on providing alternative protein sources to laying hens and the reduction of feather pecking behaviour. Since 2017, I was appointed as a researcher poultry nutrition at Wageningen Livestock Research. As part of her employment I have started my PhD about the ontogeny of feather pecking during rearing of laying hens and developing feeding strategies to prevent feather pecking.