Feed Diversity as an enrichment for improving herbivores’ health and welfare

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Feed Diversity as an enrichment for improving herbivores’ health and welfare

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Job description

Offer DescriptionMain supervisorsCécile GINANE (UMR1213 Herbivores INRAE, VetAgro Sup)Email address:Angélique FAVREAU-PEIGNÉ (UMR1198 BREED INRAE, Univ. Paris-Saclay)Email address:Co-supervisorPablo GREGORINI (Lincoln University, New-Zealand)Email address:Scientific question/ Background/ Objectives and methodology/ Literature citedRuminant livestock systems are facing increasing climatic challenges that directly affect the availability of feed resources for farm animals. The use of varied feed resources, including local and/or by-product resources, plays a crucial role to compensate for the lack of forage resources and thus, to enhance the resilience of these systems. At the animal level, this involves adapting to a diversity and variety of feeds, varying in quality and availability, both behaviourally and physiologically. Feed diversity may also participate in improving animal welfare, which is a current concern of society and is essential for the overall quality of livestock production systems. Environmental enrichment is an increasingly investigated way of improving welfare . Feeding enrichment, i.e. the diversification of the food on offer and its delivery methods, is a type of enrichment that has received little attention in livestock, particularly ruminants, despite its potential relevance. Domestic ruminants are generalists and choose diversified diets whenever they have the opportunity . Eating a diversified diet appears to be a ‘natural’ behaviour for them. Thus, it raises the question of the value of feed diversity in satisfying their nutritional and behavioural needs and expectations , .The aim of the PhD proposal is to determine whether feed diversity can represent an enrichment for ruminants, using sheep as main model, and addressing the sensory, nutritional and occupational dimensions of feeding enrichment. The questions are 1- to assess whether gestating ewes are able to benefit from dietary diversity to improve their welfare and/or health, via the selection of the appropriate diet relative to their individual needs; 2- to investigate how the different dimensions of enrichment are involved; 3- to test the concept of feeding pleasure (hedonism) related to the diversity of feeds’ sensory characteristics.To this aim, a multidisciplinary approach will be used, with ethology as the principal discipline, complemented with nutrition, nutrigenomics, immunity, metabolism, digestive microbiology, neurobiology, and milk and feed quality. Sheep will be the model of interest (gestating ewes and their lambs), even if the rodent model (mice) will likely be preferred for neurological measurements. The PhD project will be based on experiments proposing different feed or sensory diversities. The PhD student will benefit from the multidisciplinary partnership of the supporting projects. Complementarily, the PhD student will have the opportunity to participate in some works with the international partner at his laboratory.;Duncan AJ, Ginane C, Gordon IJ, Ørskov ER. 2003. Why do herbivores select mixed diets? In VIth Int. Symp. Nutr. Herb. p.195-209.Beck MR, Gregorini P. 2020. How dietary diversity enhances hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in grazing ruminants. Front Vet Sci 7:1-14.Leiber F, Walkenhorst M, Holinger M. 2020. The relevance of feed diversity and choice in nutrition of ruminant livestock. Landbauforschung J Sustain and Org Agric Syst 70:35-38RequirementsResearch Field Agricultural sciences Education Level Master Degree or equivalentSkills/QualificationsApplicants should have obtained a Master degree (or equivalent) in Agricultural or Biological Sciences.They should have a background in ethology. Experience or knowledge in neurobiology would be appreciated.They should show curiosity and interest in interdisciplinary approaches, as well as good communication and synthesis skills in the context of a multi-partner project.They should have good knowledge in statistical analysis.Specific RequirementsExperience in animal behaviour observations and tests.As the PhD will be conducted between France and New-Zealand, applicants should have an excellent English level.Languages ENGLISH Level ExcellentResearch Field Agricultural sciences Years of Research Experience 1 – 4Additional InformationEligibility criteriaMaster or Engineer Degree in Biological Sciences or Agricultural Sciences3 to 6 months training in a research laboratory.This PhD research will be conducted in close collaboration with Pr. P. Gregorini. The candidate must be willing to travel to New-Zealand in order to work with him at the University of Lincoln in the Pastoral Livestock Production Laboratory.Selection processClermont Auvergne University, Clermont-Ferrand, France and its Clermont Auvergne Project Graduate School (CAP GS) programme offer a PhD opportunity that will be conducted in partnership between Clermont Auvergne University and a foreign research Institution. The associated Changing Environments Graduate Track presents three PhD proposals published on EURAXESS, of which one only will be funded. The selection process will take all applications into consideration. The best fitting candidate will be invited to an audition between end of June and mid-July. The laureate will do her/his research on the selected topic at the PhD supervisor’s research laboratory at Clermont Auvergne University in Clermont-Ferrand.Applicants who have earned their higher educational qualifications outside Europe or in Greece must attach to their application a certificate of equivalence of the diploma (Master degree). The certificate can be obtained following the procedure indicated here:Application deadline: Friday 10 May, 5 pm Paris time, 2024. Applications arriving after the application deadline will not be taken into consideration.Additional commentsApplications should include a cover letter indicating your motivation and relevant research experience, a detailed curriculum vitae, academic transcripts and contact information for at least two referees. Please send the application via Email to: Cécile GINANE ( ) and Angélique FAVREAU-PEIGNE ( )PhD studies will start in November 2024. A salary will be paid for 3 years (36 months).Additional funding of 15,000 euros for travel expenses between Clermont-Ferrand and the foreign co-supervisor’s research laboratory is available.Work Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute UMR Herbivores INRAE, VetAgro Sup, University Clermont Auvergne Country France State/Province Puy-de-Dôme City Saint-Genès-Champanelle Postal Code 63122 GeofieldWhere to apply E-mailcecile.ginane@inrae.frContact CityClermont-Ferrand WebsiteStreet49 bd François Mitterrand Postal Code63001 E-Mailjohannes.steiger@uca.frSTATUS: EXPIRED

Expected salary

Location

Saint-Genès-Champanelle, Puy-de-Dôme

Job date

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:42:09 GMT

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