BullNet-Sperm biology and associated reproductive biotechnologies to assist the dairy and beef industries meet growing demands

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BullNet, consisting of 8 beneficiaries and 13 associated partner organisations, will build a multi-disciplinary and inter-sectorialresearch programme designed to unravel the complex underlying biology of compromised fertility of individual bulls. Cutting-edgebasic, applied and machine-learning approaches will be used to deliver a robust, flexible semen product from young, appropriatelyreared and managed, first-season elite sires that can be used successfully for artificial insemination (AI) with predictable andconsistent fertility, so as to provide the industry with key tools to meet current emissions and animal welfare demands. BullNet willalso lead to the advancement of knowledge in how bull management strategies and semen processing affect the functional andmolecular characteristics of sperm, thus opening scientific horizons for new applications in the area of assisted reproduction. Theoverall aim of this programme is to train a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative doctoral candidates (DCs) in thearea of bull fertility. BullNet will expose DCs to different sectors and they will acquire a comprehensive set of transferable skillsworking in the specific research area relating to their individual research projects, with an emphasis on the need for technologytransfer from academic institutions to commercial users. Moreover, given the wide range of academic and industry organisationsinvolved, the DCs will be able to face current and future challenges in order to convert knowledge and ideas into products andservices for economic, technological and societal benefit.