Life Cycle Analysis of Pasture based Sheep Production Systems
University of Bristol - School of Veterinary Science
| Location: | Bristol |
| Funding for: | EU Students |
| Funding amount: | £12,500 |
| Hours: | Full Time |
| Placed on: | 20th May 2015 |
| Closes: | 1st July 2015 |
BBSRC
The project: Pasture based ruminant production has been perceived as extensive, inefficient and polluting. Comparisons with intensive indoor production or ruminants and monogastric livestock have been made suggesting a significant improvement in efficiency and subsequently reduction in greenhouse gases per kg of product produced. However these comparisons are not balanced as they do not take into account the total life cycle analysis (LCA) of production e.g. carbon cost of imported feed or the ecosystem services of pastoral systems. Intensive pastoral systems can provide a high level of production of higher value product (vitamins, fatty acid composition and retail shelf life). The industry needs clear data on the impact and value of pastoral systems to cement the place of pasture based ruminant production (e.g. lamb) into the road map of global food security. This PhD project will address this by evaluating three different intensive pastoral systems for environmental, production and quality of product parameters.
The work will be carried out using the North Wyke Farm Platform (where the student will be based), which provides three hydrologically-isolated farming systems, based on improved sward management by either: a) fertilisation; b) introduction of clover; c) novel grass varieties. Soil measurements for C-sequestration and meteorological data on each farm will be available as part of existing research at North Wyke. Each farm will carry its own flock of ewes and their lambs. Animal performance will be measured in addition to methane assessment and final product quality (meat quality and shelf life). This approach will give a detailed assessment of the flux of nutrients and level of production for each pastoral system at a level never achieved before and will then be used to develop detailed LCA of sheep production from the three systems.
Candidate requirements: The student should have an Animal, Veterinary Science or Agriculture Related degree at first or upper second class (2:1). Experience of the sheep industry in the UK and an interest in all aspects of sustainable livestock production are desirable. Understanding the issues relating to livestock production and environmental pollution are also desirable.
Funding: The PhD is funded through a BBSRC grant. The award is a three year PhD with an annual stipend of £12,500 (some flexibility to attract the right student) in addition to covering all University registration and bench fees for EU students. Applications from international students outside of the EU would be considered however they would be expected to fund the difference between the EU & overseas fees and evidence of the ability to pay these fees must be shown on the application.
How to apply: Please make an online application for this project at http://www.bris.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply. Please select ‘Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences’ and then ‘Veterinary Science (PhD)’ on the Programme Choice page and enter details of the studentship when prompted in the Funding and Research Details sections of the form.
Contacts: For further information contact Professor Michael Lee e-mail michaelrf.lee@bristol.ac.uk. Tel.
0117 3319308.
Interviews planned for mid July with a start date of August/September 2015
The project: Pasture based ruminant production has been perceived as extensive, inefficient and polluting. Comparisons with intensive indoor production or ruminants and monogastric livestock have been made suggesting a significant improvement in efficiency and subsequently reduction in greenhouse gases per kg of product produced. However these comparisons are not balanced as they do not take into account the total life cycle analysis (LCA) of production e.g. carbon cost of imported feed or the ecosystem services of pastoral systems. Intensive pastoral systems can provide a high level of production of higher value product (vitamins, fatty acid composition and retail shelf life). The industry needs clear data on the impact and value of pastoral systems to cement the place of pasture based ruminant production (e.g. lamb) into the road map of global food security. This PhD project will address this by evaluating three different intensive pastoral systems for environmental, production and quality of product parameters.
The work will be carried out using the North Wyke Farm Platform (where the student will be based), which provides three hydrologically-isolated farming systems, based on improved sward management by either: a) fertilisation; b) introduction of clover; c) novel grass varieties. Soil measurements for C-sequestration and meteorological data on each farm will be available as part of existing research at North Wyke. Each farm will carry its own flock of ewes and their lambs. Animal performance will be measured in addition to methane assessment and final product quality (meat quality and shelf life). This approach will give a detailed assessment of the flux of nutrients and level of production for each pastoral system at a level never achieved before and will then be used to develop detailed LCA of sheep production from the three systems.
Candidate requirements: The student should have an Animal, Veterinary Science or Agriculture Related degree at first or upper second class (2:1). Experience of the sheep industry in the UK and an interest in all aspects of sustainable livestock production are desirable. Understanding the issues relating to livestock production and environmental pollution are also desirable.
Funding: The PhD is funded through a BBSRC grant. The award is a three year PhD with an annual stipend of £12,500 (some flexibility to attract the right student) in addition to covering all University registration and bench fees for EU students. Applications from international students outside of the EU would be considered however they would be expected to fund the difference between the EU & overseas fees and evidence of the ability to pay these fees must be shown on the application.
How to apply: Please make an online application for this project at http://www.bris.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply. Please select ‘Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences’ and then ‘Veterinary Science (PhD)’ on the Programme Choice page and enter details of the studentship when prompted in the Funding and Research Details sections of the form.
Contacts: For further information contact Professor Michael Lee e-mail michaelrf.lee@bristol.ac.uk. Tel.
0117 3319308.Interviews planned for mid July with a start date of August/September 2015
