In the Netherlands, pig production is economically significant but also contributes to unwanted gaseous emissions like ammonia, odour, and methane . These emissions have an effect on climate change and biodiversity, but they also have a local effect on the air quality in and around the barn, affecting animal and human health. Feeding strategies and dietary interventions may help to reduce both enteric formation and emission from the manure and improve air quality, but a better understanding of the relationship between diet composition, fermentation processes and production of noxious gaseous compounds is required. The efficacy of novel interventions and their overall impact on health and environment need to be determined, to contribute to a more sustainable pig production.
As a PhD candidate in this line of research you will contribute to the reduction of gaseous emissions in the pig sector by improving our knowledge regarding the origin of emissions, their impact on animal heath, and potential innovations to reduce these emissions. You will have the opportunity to specify your research objectives within this broad research area, depending on your background and research interests.
Your duties and responsibilities include: - Study scientific literature to further develop research goals and hypotheses;
- collaborate with technical experts to develop monitoring systems for air quality;
- design and manage experiments to study effects of nutritional interventions;
- collect and analyse research data;
- present work in project meetings and (scientific) conferences;
- write scientific publications and a PhD thesis.
You will work here The research is embedded within
Wageningen Livestock Research, the departments of Animal Nutrition and Emissions and Manure Valorisation. Because of the multidisciplinary approach, we cooperate with other Wageningen Research institutes with relevant expertise. Depending on your interest and background the involved chairgroup will be chosen.