There are currently a number of exciting funded PhD opportunities at 西瓜视频 and we have EIGHT within the Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research group. The full list of these opportunities can be found here: /research/598/possible-funded-mibtp-projects. I have provided some brief project information for PhDs being supervised by members of the Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Group. Closing date for applications is January 2025 and project start dates are October 2025. More information about the partnership (including submission deadlines) can be found here:
The projects!
Further details on our eight exciting research projects are detailed below. The lead supervisors are the first ones listed – if you would like any information about these projects then please contact the lead supervisor, including the PhD title in your enquiry. The blog will be updated with live links to the MIBTP page as and when projects are added to there so keep checking back for those!
Individuality in animals: applying personality profiles to evidence-based management of small mammals in education
Supervisors: Dr Ellen Williams, Dr Holly Vickery
Live animals, particularly small mammals, are routinely used to teach practical skills in educational institutions, which puts thousands of animals at risk of reduced welfare if the impact of these experiences is not understood. Some small mammals in education show behavioural changes between weekdays and weekends, and individual differentiation in behaviour and ability to learn tasks. Personalities influence how individuals perceive, react to, and interact with their environment, conspecifics and threats. The importance of incorporating animal personality into evidence-based management of zoo animals has been highlighted. Determining whether certain personality types are predisposed to positive or negative responses to unfamiliar people has ramifications for animals and should be considered in management. Within the educational setting, there is no reliable or validated way of measuring individuality in small mammals. There is an urgent need to incorporate individual differences into evidence-based management of small mammals in education and to validate methods for collecting such data.
Project objectives
- Create a validated method for capturing personality for small mammals in education
- Monitor stability of small mammal personality over time in relation to the academic calendar (e.g. term time, out of term time)
- Quantify the impacts of personality on health and experiences for small animals in education
- Design evidence-based protocols for assessing and using personality in small animal management in education
More information is available
Investigating the long-term impacts of environmental enrichment for dairy heifers, and its relation to a successful transition into the milking herds
Supervisors: Dr Holly Vickery, Dr Gemma Charlton
Most UK dairy cattle are kept indoors for some, or all, of the year and it is accepted that this restricts behavioural expression, despite this, environmental enrichment (EE) use is limited. Effective EE decreases abnormal behaviour, and increases appropriate species-specific behaviours (e.g. exploration, foraging, play, social interaction). Brushes are routinely used in the milking herd as effective EE, and there is research regarding the provision of EE for calves pre-weaning, however whilst heifers likely experience the same benefits, the most feasible and efficacious EE for this age group is under explored. Increasing the complexity of the rearing environment promotes behavioural and social flexibility, which can help individuals better cope with stressors. This seems highly relevant for heifers as they must cope with transitioning into the milking herd and the suite of stressors related to this (changes in their physiology, social and physical environment). However, the stage between weaning and when a heifer joins the milking herd is a neglected research area, and it seems likely they are typically not provided with EE. Evidence demonstrates that there is individual variation in an animal’s ability to adapt to environmental changes, and farm animal personality is an important research area, as personality and coping style are likely related. Understanding personality and how it relates to the efficacy and use of EE, and coping ability around times of transition is highly relevant to improving future heifer rearing.
This project will focus on EE provisions during the heifer rearing stage, and the student will have access to 西瓜视频’s ‘Future Farm’ herd of dairy cattle, and to laboratories to undertake analysis of physiological indicators. The overall aim is to understand the long-term individual heifer impacts of enrichment provision in relation to their personality, and improving their health, welfare and productivity when experiencing the transition to the milking herd.
Project objectives
- Understand preference and use of a range of EE
- Investigate the interaction between heifer personality and the efficacy of enrichment, by utilising personality testing techniques.
- Quantify the long-term impacts of enrichment, by investigating if enriched heifers transition more successfully into the milking herd, and investigate if there is a relationship between personality and coping ability.
More information is available
The importance and welfare implications of pasture access for lactating dairy cattle
Supervisors: Dr Gemma Charlton and Dr Emma Bleach
Discussions around mega dairies and zero-grazed dairy cattle are topical and highly debated. In the UK, the majority of dairy cattle are housed indoors for at least part of the year, with many farmers moving to year-round housing. Research from 西瓜视频 (HAU) was some of the first, internationally to investigate the preference of dairy cows for indoor cubicle housing or pasture. The results of these studies show that dairy cows prefer to spend their time outside during the night, however, overall preference of dairy cattle for pasture is complex and there is little research on which aspects of pasture are most valued by dairy cattle, and how much time dairy cattle require at pasture, to meet their needs and improve their health and welfare, compared to zero grazed systems, without compromising production. Such research could enhance our comprehension of the importance of pasture access. Moreover, it could help us to further understand the needs of dairy cattle and inform future dairy cow housing.
Aims: The aims of the study are to understand the importance of pasture access for lactating dairy cows and to develop practical strategies to allow dairy cows access to pasture in conditions which improve their welfare compared to zero grazed cattle, whilst also maintaining milk production.
Objectives:
- To establish whether dairy cattle prefer an indoor open lying area or pasture
- To investigate whether dairy cows are motivated to access pasture when they have access to an open indoor lying area, through varying walking distance between indoor housing and pasture.
- To explore a range of grazing strategies which are practical for farmers and improve welfare, compared to zero grazed cows, whilst maintaining production.
More information is available
Optimising management strategies within dairy cow-calf contact systems in the United Kingdom
Supervisors: Dr Annabelle Beaver & Dr Emma Bleach
This project aims to investigate and optimise cow-calf contact (CCC) systems in dairy farming, addressing a growing interest from both consumers and farmers in the UK and globally. While separating dairy calves from dams within 24 hours is standard practice, CCC systems are gaining attention due to potential benefits for cow and calf health, welfare, and social sustainability. Dairy producers already implementing CCC cite reduced workload as a key advantage, while conventional dairy farmers tend to view CCC systems as infeasible. Thus, lack of knowledge and guidance on optimal management practices may represent a barrier to more widespread uptake of CCC. The proposed research for the PhD studentship will comprise two main components:
- Identification of optimal management practices for CCC systems in the UK, involving both cross-sectional and longitudinal data collection. Management decisions will be analysed for associations with welfare and performance indicators for cows and their calves.
- A prospective cohort study on postpartum disease and fertility outcomes for the dam to address key research gaps regarding the effects of CCC on dam health.
By combining on-farm data collection and epidemiological analysis, the project aims to provide evidence-based guidance for optimal CCC management practices, potentially facilitating wider adoption in the dairy industry.
More information is available
Beyond vertebrates: developing validated welfare standards and ethical guidelines for invertebrate management in captivity, farming and research
Supervisors: Dr Heather Campbell & Dr Ellen Williams
Animal welfare has traditionally focused on vertebrates, but recent studies and societal shifts have prompted increased interest in the welfare of invertebrates. Invertebrates, such as insects, arachnids, and molluscs, are increasingly used in a variety of contexts: as companion animals, in zoos, in outreach and educational settings, and in research. There has also been a boom in the prevalence of farmed insects for human consumption, alongside breeding them as live animal feed. There is a paucity of scientific data on the welfare needs of invertebrates and their capacity for suffering or sentience remains limited. The range of settings in which invertebrates are kept, the numbers of invertebrates kept and few regulations in their care leave invertebrates exposed to the potential for poor welfare experiences. Particularly with the growth of insect farming for food and feed, it is crucial to understand and improve their welfare. This project will establish baseline data on the current handling, management, and welfare conditions of invertebrates in a range of contexts and develop best practice guidelines informed by empirical evidence. The research will bridge the gap between current practices and the emerging understanding of invertebrate welfare, ultimately contributing to more ethical and scientifically grounded management of these animals.
Objectives
- Survey of Current Practices including current handling, management, housing and welfare conditions
- Behavioural Studies on Invertebrate Sentience
- Development of Best Practice Guidelines for the care and management of invertebrates across different contexts.
- Develop an ethical framework for invertebrate welfare, considering their use as food, in research, and as companion or display animals, and the implications of invertebrate sentience.
The project will use a combination of surveys, stakeholder interviews, and literature reviews to assess current invertebrate welfare practices and identify knowledge gaps. Laboratory-based behavioural experiments will be conducted to study indicators of stress, cognition and behavioural indicators of animal emotions, while ethical considerations will be evaluated using established frameworks, refined through collaboration with ethicists and welfare scientists.
More information is available
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A non-invasive method to monitor status of Johne's disease in dairy cattle
Supervisors: Dr Tharangani Herath, Dr. Karim Farag and Dr. Gemma Charlton
In the UK, JD was ranked as the top cattle disease affecting national production efficiency in a survey conducted in 2021. There is no permanent cure or designated treatment for the disease. Currently, JD is managed by regularly screening and removing chronically infected animals. Timely and accurate detection of JD, especially in during the early sub-clinical infection is therefore crucial for disease management and prevention of the spread. Although various diagnostic methods such as ELISA, culture, PCR, and histopathology are available, the accuracy and sensitivity of those methods are limited, especially in the early stages of infection, due to the transient nature of the disease and pathogen shedding. Hence, this PhD proposal aims to explore an early detection method by integrating Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) analysis with behavioural indicators from affected cows. We utilise existing diagnostic techniques to validate this innovative approach, aiming to enhance diagnostic accuracy as a non-invasive method for identifying JD.
To develop and validate a novel VOC and biomarker-based tool for monitoring Johne's disease (JD) on farms, we will undertake several key objective;
- We will collect diagnostic samples, including faeces and blood, along with VOC samples from both JD-affected and healthy animals on a dairy farm known for endemic JD. Additionally, we will collect tissue samples (e.g., ileum and mesenteric lymph nodes) from animals culled due to JD for histopathological analysis.
- We will characterise the VOCs present in these samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) while performing routine diagnostic assays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and histopathology to assess the animals' infection status.
- We will integrate the diagnostic data, VOC profiles, and histopathological findings to design a monitoring tool specifically for JD detection, exploring appropriate statistics to observe the differences in the data to identify key predictive factors associated with the disease.
- Finally, we will conduct an assessment to evaluate the tool's feasibility for use on affected farms, ensuring that it meets practical needs for effective JD monitoring in real-world agricultural settings.
More information is available
Improving the welfare of farmed fish by personality and physiological profiling in aquaculture settings
Supervisors: Dr Tharangani Herath & Dr Ellen Williams
Millions of fish are reared in aquaculture settings as part of farming food for human consumption. While stocking fish at high densities can increase their commercial potential, it can also expose fish to environmental stressors that may negatively impact their health and welfare, in addition to exposing fish to poor water quality, pathogens or injury. These stressors can detrimentally affect fish, influencing their health, welfare and behaviour, decreasing their production performances and market value and causing negative welfare experiences. There is a significant gap in knowledge regarding farmed fish, because most research has been carried out in controlled laboratory conditions. The aim of this project is to develop a reliable toolset to measure and monitor welfare indicators in farmed fish at the production level. This project will utilise personality profiles, immune and stress biomarkers and the microbiome to identify non-invasive parameters that can be used in welfare assessment.
More information about this multi-disciplinary project can be found here:
Improving welfare of salmonids: Impact of stress on behaviour and host-pathogen dynamics during early life stages
Supervisors: Dr Tharangani Herath, Dr Robert Mukiibi, Dr Ellen Williams
Early life stages (ELs) of salmonids are critical to the success of commercial production, as they significantly influence the overall health and development of the fish. In salmonids, this period comprised of several key developmental phases, including fertilisation, embryonic development, and larval stages, each of which is essential for proper growth and survival. During these stages, farmed fish are often subjected to overcrowding, exhaustive handling, and social stressors. In addition, environmental factors, such as poor water quality and temperature fluctuations, exacerbate stress levels. The stress in young fish not only weakens their immunity but also increases their susceptibility to diseases, leading to significant mortality rates. Reports indicate that around 38% of fish mortalities occur during the hatchery phase, with approximately 70% attributed to infectious diseases (e.g. Yersinia ruckeri and Flavobacterium psychrophilum). Addressing early life stressors is essential for improving the health, welfare, and productivity of salmonids in aquaculture settings; however, current research on this topic is limited.
The aim of this study is to enhance the welfare of salmonids by investigating the effects of stress on behaviour and host-pathogen dynamics ELs. Personality assessments will be undertaken to understand how individual traits influence group behavioural differences, particularly during first feeding and fry stages. In conjunction with personality testing, we will develop a set of welfare metrics (WM), which will include physiological stress indicators such as cortisol levels, haematological and immune parameters.
More information about this project can be found here:
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Happy Christmas from the Animal Behaviour & Welfare Research Group
As the year draws to a close, we wanted to very briefly reflect on what an incredible 12 months we have had. We have received fun …
Posted 19 December
