The Ovine Research Center (CRO)

The Center provides an environment conducive to field research thanks to its facilities, equipment, and the close collaboration between its multidisciplinary team and researchers. The Center welcomes not only researchers affiliated with the University of Namur but also external researchers and firms from diverse fields such as veterinary and human medicine, agronomy, and biology. In addition, students regularly join the Center to work on a project as part of their thesis.

Internships are also organized for students enrolled in programs offered by other institutions, such as veterinary science, agronomy, agricultural studies, and bioengineering. Each year, the Center hosts high school students in agricultural training programs to help them prepare for the Ovinpiades, organized by members of the Sheep and Goat Network.

The Center also operates a sheep farm, producing lamb meat and breeding stock of the Île-de-France breed. This activity not only provides a practical setting for research and teaching but also allows for the implementation and testing of innovative methods directly in the field. The flock and pastures are managed with a particular focus on animal welfare and biodiversity.

Finally, the Center contributes to the dissemination of knowledge among farmers and industry professionals. As a member of the Sheep and Goat Network, it offers services to farmers. These include specific veterinary services such as analyzing the quality of breeding ram semen and performing vasectomies on rams to synchronize ewe estrus cycles, as well as making the site available as a wool collection point.

The Center aims to become a hub for researchers, students, and farmers, where knowledge is shared and developed collaboratively.