Higher Degree by Research Application Portal

Project overview

Improving feed efficiency and reducing methane emissions are critical to the future profitability and sustainability of sheep enterprises. While new traits such as methane output and feed intake are now being measured, there are still important gaps in how these traits relate to real-world production, how they can be measured practically, and how they can be adopted by industry.

This PhD will be embedded within a national project funded through the Zero Net Emissions (ZNE) Agriculture CRC and based at the Katanning Research Facility in Western Australia. You will work closely with a highly applied team of animal scientists and industry partners to generate outcomes that are directly relevant to sheep producers and breeders.

The project draws on a unique research platform, including a ~250-head automated feed intake facility, genotyped animals, and methane measurements using Portable Accumulation Chambers (PACs) and emerging technologies. These data are being generated as part of a national effort to develop new breeding values for methane and feed intake.

This PhD will focus on making these measurements meaningful and usable for industry; linking animal performance, biology, and practical measurement approaches to support on-farm decision-making and genetic progress.

Research objectives (indicative)

1. Evaluate how methane emissions and feed intake relate to productivity traits.

2. Identify practical indicators of efficient, low-emission animals.

3. Understand the animal biology behind feed use, nutrient utilisation and performance.

4. Test and validate measurement technologies for industry use.

5. Investigate how factors such as water quality and source affect feed intake, efficiency, and animal performance; and identify practical management considerations that influence the expression of these traits on-farm.

(1) Candidates must fulfill all admission requirements at UWA PhD Program. These include, among others, sufficient background and experience in independent supervised research. This means that your Bachelor's or Master's degree must have included a research component, typically in the form of a thesis.

Prospective students must read the UWA HDR admission policy here before contacting the lead researcher.

(2) A completed (or near completion) Honours or Master degree in animal nutrition, livestock production, animal genetics or similar.

(3) Fluency in English and familiarity with Australian livestock farming systems is essential.

Candidates must be willing to be based full-time at the Katanning Research Facility, a leading sheep research site in Western Australia.

This opportunity is not available to international applicants.

Follow UWA's guidelines here. 

Prospective candidates may send an email to the lead WA DPIRD researcher, Beth Paganoni, to discuss this opportunity. Please include:

(1) Your CV highlighting academic and professional history in relation to the project requirements;

(2) Academic transcripts;

(3) Confirmation that you are a Domestic applicant and are willing to be based in or near Katanning for the duration of this project.