With cattle and pig, the most important livestock species are addressed in the proposed Graduate School, providing animal models for different population structures and breeding schemes. For cattle, the SEGFAM experiment e.g. is a long-term research project at the FBN initiated in 1997 to set up a unique resource population for the comprehensive analysis of the genetic and physiological background of resource efficiency regarding meat and milk production. Furthermore, the population is a resource for investigations of behavioral variables. Due to the multidisciplinary set up, the SEGFAM research projects will serve as an ideal resource for the proposed Graduated School, because a broad spectrum of individual samples and phenotypes as required for the intended interdisciplinary education can be provided. The cattle resource population is complemented by a breeding herd of German Landrace pigs (100 sows), which is available for sampling and data recording in associated projects.