PhD Studentship – Improving the survival of lambs from larger litters : Scotland’s Rural College, AgResearch and University of Edinburgh

Mortality of triplet lambs is significantly higher than singles and twins, which may be a biological limitation to increased productivity on sheep farms, and imposes a welfare cost on sheep production. This project will partner with AgResearch in New Zealand, where triplet production is common-place on high performance farms, to investigate whether triplet survival can be improved through nutritional and management means. The study will combine AgResearch expertise in nutritional and reproductive physiology with SRUC expertise in ewe and lamb behaviour to address the opportunities to manage ewes to produce viable triplet litters. The work will combine practical questions with more fundamental studies of development biology: the impact of maternal nutrition on placental function and the downstream consequences for lamb thermoregulatory ability, vigour and neonatal behaviour. The work will characterise triplet lamb development and survival to identify causative factors contributing to poor survival and to inform potential intervention opportunities. The goal of the project is to provide practical guidance to improve the survival of triplet lambs to improve welfare and profitability of sheep farming.

Research will be conducted in both Palmerston North (New Zealand) and Edinburgh (UK) so the successful candidate must be willing to live and work in both countries during the PhD project. The project will be a mixture of animal studies involving behavioural observation, conducting behavioural tests and animal measurements, and laboratory-based research to investigate underlying mechanisms. The successful student would also be expected to engage with farmers and consultants to explain their work and to develop practical recommendations from their research.

Applicants must have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in a biological subject (e.g. animal biology, veterinary science, etc.). An MSc degree in a related area is desirable. Candidates must have experience of research methods (e.g. through a student project) and a full driving licence is desirable. The student will be registered at the University of Edinburgh. This 3.5 year studentship has an expected start date of 1st September 2017 and provides a stipend of £14,553 pa. This studentship is funded to pay the tuition fees of UK/EU nationals only. Non UK/EU nationals must provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover the higher international student tuition fee level (approximately £14,900 per year would be required).

SRUC delivers comprehensive skills, education and business support for Scotland’s land-based industry founded on world class, sector leading research, education and consultancy. SRUC’s joint submission with the University of Edinburgh to the Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science subpanel of the Research Excellence Framework (REF2014) ranks top in the UK on research power. AgResearch is one of New Zealand’s leading research organisations and collaborates closely with industry partners to achieve the outcomes they need. AgResearch’s purpose is to enhance the value, productivity and profitability of New Zealand’s pastoral, agri-food and agri-technology sector value chains to contribute to economic growth and beneficial environmental and social outcomes.