History of Wageningen Bioveterinary Research

CDI, Centraal Diergeneeskundig Instituut (Central Veterinary Institute) was created in 1959 from the merger of the RSI (Rijks Serum Inrechting - National Serum Establishment) of Rotterdam (1904) and the SVOI (Staat Veeartsenijkundig Onderzoekinstituut - Veterinary Medicine Research Institute) of Amsterdam. The institute undertook fundamental and application-based veterinary research, and developed vaccines with their accompanying diagnostic tests, which made it possible to combat and eliminate animal diseases. The development of marker vaccines was an important breakthrough here, enabling animals infected in the field to be distinguished from vaccinated animals. The institute was also the reference institute for the provincial animal health services.

RSI was set up to carry out research into animal husbandry, diagnostics in particular, and also the production of means to control animal diseases. SVOI was set up specifically for research into foot-and-mouth disease. The research was established on the premises of the naval base in the heart of Amsterdam, as far away from FMD-sensitive animals as possible. The high containment building where the institute came to be housed was specially designed for research into the highly infectious FMD virus. In 1982 the RSI also moved to spacious accommodation in Lelystad where it has an extensive complex for housing the laboratory animals.

IVO (Instituut voor Veeteeltkundig Onderzoek - Institute for Animal Husbandry Research) or “Schoonoord” started off as zoological laboratory of the University of Utrecht. It was the university endocrinology study group, started in 1939, which undertook research into hormonal effects with bitterlings as laboratory species. Later, in 1945, the study group on artificial insemination was set up. In 1951 both study groups were merged into IVO as part of the TNO agricultural organisation and housed at the agricultural organisation of TNO. In 1963 the Schoonoord estate was acquired in Zeist, and the institute building as well as the experimental facility “De Bunsing” were built. In 1961 the “Bantham” was bought as a pig experimental farm and in 1971 “'t Gen” in Lelystad was added as a facility for large-scale and long-term experiments in breeding and meat production for cattle and sheep.

From 1921 the COVP (Centrum voor Onderzoek en Voorlichting voor de Pluimveehouderij - Centre for Poultry Research and Extension) was established on the Spelderholt estate. Its predecessor was the Association for the Promotion of Poultry Farming in the Netherlands, an experimental breeding station set up in Amersfoort during the First World War. It was closed shortly after that war and the government set up a National Experimental Station in Beekbergen.In 1921, "Het Spelderholt" was set up as a research station for poultry farming; later there was “Het Spelderholt”, the Institute for Poultry Farming, and later it was renamed the Institute for Poultry Research. Originally the focus was very much on an approach geared to the practical situation, but eventually there was also fundamental and scientific research.

The history of the IVVO (Instituut voor Veevoedingsonderzoek - Institute for Livestock Feeding and Nutrition Research) goes back to 1890. In that year three government research stations were opened, one of which was in Hoorn. These formed the basis for the future Institute for Livestock Feeding and Nutrition Research, which originally had a double function: testing and carrying out scientific research (analyses of manure and feedstuffs). In 1916, due to a complete reorganisation of the government research stations, all testing activities were relocated, and research in Hoorn could concentrate completely on the field of dairy and animal feedstuffs. In 1977 the IVVO moved to Lelystad.