ABPhenomics · Transforming animal breeding through phenomic approaches that integrate digital and molecular phenotyping

Livestock breeding faces growing societal and scientific pressure to balance productivity with animal welfare and sustainability. In pigs, social behaviour significantly affects performance and welfare, yet it is rarely included in selection programs due to measurement challenges. At the same time, molecular phenotyping approaches can capture the physiological basis of complex traits but remain underused. No existing framework integrates digital behavioural data with molecular profiles, leaving a key gap in precision breeding. ABPhenomics aims to fill this gap by developing an integrated phenotype-based approach linking behavioural and molecular phenotypes based on metabolomics, to improve selection strategies in pigs. The project’s objectives are: (O1) to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-driven pipelines for extracting behavioural phenotypes from video/sensor data; (O2) to identify metabolomic profiles associated with behaviour; (O3) to incorporate these phenotypes into genomic selection for welfare-oriented breeding. The project will produce the first integrated datasets of this kind, identifies biomarkers, and advance precision breeding tools. The outgoing phase at Iowa State University will focus on digital phenotyping and behavioural modelling, which will be complemented by my expertise in metabolomics. A secondment at PIC, a leading global pig breeding company, will provide first-hand experience with the application of these tools in commercial settings. The return phase at the University of Bologna will consolidate findings and establish an independent research line. This work responds to growing demands for more ethical and sustainable meat production by providing tools that support welfare-oriented breeding without compromising productivity. The fellowship will enrich my interdisciplinary profile, combining behaviour, AI, phenomics with genomics and metabolomics, preparing me to lead innovation at the interface of animal breeding and welfare.