Carus

Infrastructure and User Services

Carus hosts state-of-the-art facilities supporting multidisciplinary animal research: 

• The Companion Animal Facility enables studies on human-animal interactions, behaviour, and pet nutrition, drawing many BSc and MSc students.
• The Flexible Multi-Species Unit supports research on animal health, welfare, and sustainable systems. With 20 adaptable units, advanced behavioural tracking, and multi-species housing, it supports livestock and biomedical research. Poultry and swine are most frequently used.
• The Processing Hall functions as a pilot plant for feed science, with specialized machinery for processing and evaluating feed quality and sustainability across species.
• At the Cattle Facility, research focuses on sustainable dairy practices, including methane reduction and energy metabolism. Advanced monitoring allows for high-resolution data collection with fewer animals, aiding both fundamental and applied research.
• Climate Respiration Chambers allow for precise measurement of energy metabolism and greenhouse gas emissions across species, under varying climate conditions or immune challenges.
• The Aquatic Research Facility supports research in aquaculture, marine ecology, and climate change. With advanced RAS systems, BSL-2 labs, and multi-temperature aquaria, it enables research on fish physiology, coral reefs, and marine invertebrates.
• The Small Experimental Animals Facility supports controlled research on rodents, including nutrition studies featuring indirect calorimetry, cardiac (patho)physiology and host-pathogen interactions.

Looking ahead, two new facilities are planned for 2025–2029: a marine underwater research centre and an insect facility, further enhancing Carus's capacity for sustainable and future-ready animal research.

Examples/description of the type of research 

Carus is the animal-research facility of the Department of Animal Sciences (Dierwetenschappen, DDW), part of the Animal Sciences Group (ASG) at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), dedicated to advancing knowledge in animal science, animal welfare and sustainable farming practices. With its high-tech, small-scale research infrastructure, Carus supports a diverse range of animal education and research, particularly in the fields of animal behaviour, physiology, health and nutrition. Carus is a unique and vital resource for animal science research and education at WUR, offering high-tech facilities, specialized infrastructure, and a commitment to ethical and sustainable animal research. With its diverse and flexible capabilities Carus can quickly adapt to novel needs or demands presented by its users or regulatory bodies.

Being a hub for cutting-edge research Carus plays a crucial role in the education of future animal scientists. The facilities offer students hands-on experience with a variety of species and research methodologies, preparing them for careers in animal biology, including animal nutrition, animal fysiology, veterinary or agricultural research. Carus is a key educational resource for both Bachelor and Master students, offering essential animal-research infrastructure for specialized courses, thesis projects, and internships.

How to access the infrastructure? 

Our infrastructure is physically accessible. However, for remote clients, studies can also be conducted by internal staff (CRO), which would allow virtual or remote access to the study or results of animal studies if preferred. In addition, our collaborations in European programmes facilitate trans-national access to unique large-scale infrastructures.