Teagasc Walsh Fellowship, MSc Position
Whole farm modelling of management factors affecting nitrous oxide emissions from livestock systems The efficiency of converting herbage protein into milk and meat protein is the starting point for much of the €24 billion Irish agri-food industry. Ireland needs to reduce the carbon intensity of beef and milk production systems relative to competing countries. This requires new understanding of the effects of grassland management on herbage composition and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which can be incorporated into farm practice, as well as into models of GHG emissions used for Ireland’s GHG inventory. The challenge for Ireland is to increase production in pasture-based systems where we have a major competitive advantage. The major problem with this will be increased herbage N content: improvements in grazing management, increased N fertiliser use, and the use of legumes that will increase productivity all lead to increased herbage N content. There have been few studies in which grassland management, herbage composition and urine N have been measured simultaneously, though a number of studies looked at components of the overall relationship, including (i) management effects on herbage composition, (ii) effects of feed composition on feed intake, and (iii) effects on nitrogen partitioning for silage-based diets. This project is part of a larger, multi-disciplinary project which involves an analysis of databases from earlier studies of these three components conducted in Ireland and the UK. New models of urinary and faecal N output will be developed and incorporated into existing whole-farm models of GHG emissions for Irish livestock systems (BEEFGEM). Application of this model with inform the provision of management guidelines to maximise productivity relative to emissions. A minimum upper second class honours degree or equivalent in an agriculture-related subject is required. The student will be expected to have good written, verbal and mathematical skills, as well as a good understanding of Irish livestock production systems. This 2 year Teagasc Walsh Fellowship position is funded by a DAFM Stimulus Fund (11S105) and offers a stipend of €22,000 per year, from which UCD fees must also be paid. The anticipated start date is 7th June 2016. The student will be based at Teagasc, Grange (County Meath, Ireland). To discuss this position or to make an application, contact Dr. Tom Curran, UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Tel +353 1 716 7362 and email: [email protected] or Dr. Paul Crosson, Teagasc, Tel +353 46 9061126 and email [email protected] The closing date for the return of applications by email is 5pm on Friday 22th April 2016.
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April 2021
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