Bart Pardon

The UGent Calf Health Research Group operates within the UGent Clinic for Ruminants and its complementary herd health services. The team’s overarching goal is to improve the health and welfare of calves by developing enhanced diagnostic tests, (data-driven) decision-support tools, and evidence-based therapeutic and preventive strategies. The rationalisation of antimicrobial therapy forms the common threadthroughout the group’s past and ongoing projects. The research group is recognised internationally as a leader in the fields of bovine respiratory disease, sepsis in calves, Mycoplasma bovis infections, and rational antimicrobial use.
While the team primarily focuses on calves, it also has a research track record and provides services for a wide range of species, including adult cattle, small ruminants (sheep and goats), New- (llamas, alpacas) and Old-World camelids, and even companion pigs.

With nearly two decades of experience in observational studies, diagnostic test evaluations, and randomised clinical trials, the group applies advanced statistical methods and offers high level compliance with guideline recommendations for scientific reporting within the veterinary field. Its laboratory and clinical facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art instruments for animal-based assessments and healthcare, including advanced ultrasonography and endoscopy, sensor monitoring, and sampling techniques across multiple organ systems. The staff is trained in multiple scoring methods for cattle with high inter-rater agreement. A wide range of diagnostic assays are available, including ELISA, bacterial culture, PCR, MALDI-TOF, and genetic sequencing. We offer access to on-farm research within the dairy, beef, veal calf and beef-on-dairy calf industries as well to the referral caseload from the clinic ranging from classic farm animals to companion ruminants with the associated desired levels of care.

Operating from within the clinic and in close collaboration with veterinary practice, the group places strong emphasis on translational research and science communication to diverse audiences. Several practical tools and innovations have emerged from the group’s projects and clinical activities, including nBAL sampling and diagnostics, quick thoracic ultrasonography (qTUS), and advanced laboratory techniques such as rapid MALDI-TOF on BAL samples and validation of nanopore sequencing. Moreover, decision-support applications such as the DECIDE Cattle Barometer and the qTUS spin-off company demonstrate the group’s success in translating research into practical, field-ready solutions.