Àlex Bach

Àlex Bach

Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries

Life & Medical Sciences

Àlex holds a Master and a PhD in Dairy Science from the University of Minnesota. After a few years working as a research manager of a multinational company, Dr. Bach returned to academia as ICREA Research Professor and Head of the Department of Ruminant Production of IRTA. He has received several awards in recognition to his research activities (the last one this year from the 'Royal Academy of Veterinary Sciences of Spain), has spoken at more than 140 international congresses, is author or co-author of more than 145 peer-reviewed publications, more than 95 extension articles, and more than 20 books (or book chapters). He has served as a scientific expert in several committees of the European Food Safety Authority. He is section editor and sits in the editorial boards of several scientific journals, and is member of various scientific committees.


Research interests

Àlex Bach conducts research in ruminant production systems. His research focuses on optimizing the growth curve of dairy replacement heifers, as well as their management and housing systems (group size, behavior, stocking densities…). He also uses mathematical models to simulate work flows of ruminant production systems with the aim of helping the decision-making process in dairy enterprises. In addition, Àlex conducts basic research to understand the physiology and metabolism of ruminants with especial emphasis on the impact of nutrition and management during early development on future metabolic function.

Selected publications

– Chahine M, de Haro MM, Matuk C, Arís A, Campbell J, PoloJ & Bach A. 2019, ‘Effects of spray-dried plasma protein in diets of early lactation dairy cows on health, and milking and reproductive performance’. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 256:114266.

– Ahangarani MA, Bach A, Bassols A, Vidal M, Valent D, Ruiz-Herrera S & Terré M 2019. ‘Short communication: Performance, intestinal permeability, and metabolic profile of calves fed a milk replacer supplemented with glutamic acid’. J. Dairy Sci.103:433-438

Bach A 2019, ‘Effects of nutrition and genetics on fertility in dairy cows’, Reproduction Fertility And Development, 31, 1, 40 – 54.

– Delgado B, Beatriz; Bach A, Guasch I, Gonzalez C, Elcoso G, Pryce JE & Gonzalez-Recio O 2019, ‘Whole rumen metagenome sequencing allows classifying and predicting feed efficiency and intake levels in cattle’, Scientific Reports, 9, 11.

Bach A, Lopez-Garcia A, Gonzalez-Recio O, Elcoso G, Fabregas F, Chaucheyras-Durand F & Castex M 2019, ‘Changes in the rumen and colon microbiota and effects of live yeast dietary supplementation during the transition from the dry period to lactation of dairy cows’, Journal Of Dairy Science, 102, 7, 6180 – 6198.