Deadline: 27 September 2024 I. Background As part of the management of simplified systems, monocultures of perennial ryegrass (PRG) have predominated in grazing swards. Recent evidence suggests that the overall utility (DM yield, quality and intake capacity) of swards incorporating additional plant species such as legumes and forbs are comparable with PRG only swards, require fewer chemical fertilizer applications and support enhanced animal performances at grazing. Grass-legume m
Deadline: 30 August 2024 Background Carefully transitioning pre-weaned dairy calves from a milk-based diet to a pasture-based diet is critical for their future growth, health and welfare. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently recommended calves be fed milk at a rate of 20% of bodyweight for the first weeks of life (7-8 L/calf/day). However, higher milk-feeding rates should not be undertaken to the detriment of rumen development, health and welfare of calves. Pre-weanin
Deadline: 05 August 2024 I. Background Perennial ryegrass is the principle forage species sown in Ireland. Whilst not recognised as a majorrisk, perennial ryegrass can be infected by a number of pathogens negatively affecting herbage yield and quality. Currently in perennial ryegrass evaluation trials differences in disease resistance of varieties are observed but are not expressed in variety selection tools. As climate change occurs in Ireland, it is expected that the Irish weather will f
Deadline: 15 August 2024 This four-year project has recently been funded by the Teagasc Walsh Scholarship Programme. Two partner organizations will participate in this project: the School of Engineering/Ryan Institute, University of Galway; and the Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc Grange (the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority). This project will provide financial support to a student who will be registered in University of Galway. This project wil
Deadline: 02 August 2024. Applications are sought for a 4-year PhD scholarship position on the research topic of ‘Investigating Nitrate Leaching in Irish Agricultural Lands: A Site-Scale Model Based Approach to Assessing Cover Crop Management Practices’. The scholarship is funded by Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, under the Walsh Scholarships Programme . Background: Nitrate leaching from agricultural lands is a pervasive environmental concern w
Deadline: 07 June 2024 I. Background The pasture-based Irish milk production system is based on an extended grazing season from February to November. Until 2021, farms in derogation could apply up to 250 kg of chemical nitrogen N/ha; however, this amount has been reduced by 10% in 2022; 212 kg N/ha in 2024 and will likely be further reduced in the coming years. In grass-based systems, to reduce cost inputs and environmental impacts of chemical nitrogen use and to increase farm gat
Deadline: 20 May 2024 Full title: “Entrepreneurial Value Streams: Strengthening producer capacity for short food supply chains (SFSC’s) to enhance sustainability and scaling of the Irish agri-food sector”. Project Outline This PhD offers a very exciting opportunity to carry out innovative research to support the sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector. The candidate will carry out research and work as part of a team within an applied setting in the Iris
Deadline: 07 June 2024 Background Genomic selection was introduced to the Irish national sheep breeding programme in 2020, however, the full potential of genomic data to increase genetic gain, profitability and efficiency of sheep industry remains unexploited. The now routine genotyping of large cohorts of sheep enables additional in-depth analyses of genomic information including the identification of genes that influence traits of efficiency and economic importance, detection of pre
Deadline: 20 May 2024 I. Full title: “Entrepreneurial Value Streams: Strengthening producer capacity for short food supply chains (SFSC’s) to enhance sustainability and scaling of the Irish agri-food sector”. II. Project Outline This PhD offers a very exciting opportunity to carry out innovative research to support the sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector. The candidate will carry out research and work as part of a team within an applied setting in the Irish Ag
Deadline: 15 June 2024 The Atlantic Technical University (UTA) is pleased to call for applications for its Master’s Research Programme on Climate Change & Marine Sciences (MRP-CCMS) under the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL). The Master’s Research Programme on Climate Change & Marine Sciences of the Atlantic Technical University is implemented in close partnership with the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel