Find out more about self-funded PhD projects in areas where we already have supervisors active and engaged in the research topic in our Writtle School of Agriculture, Animal and Environmental Sciences.
AgriTech, Animal, and Environment Management
The welfare of farm animals, particularly during routine management practices, has become a focal point of research and public concern in recent years. One of the most common practices in sheep husbandry, particularly in the UK, involves tail docking, castration using rubber rings, and ear tagging, all of which are typically performed on lambs during the first few days of life. These procedures are considered essential for management efficiency, promoting herd health, and meeting industry standards. However, they are often carried out concurrently without the use of pain relief, which has led to questions regarding the cumulative impact on the welfare of lambs. While these practices are widespread, there is limited scientific evidence on the combined effects of these procedures when performed together, particularly concerning pain and distress. Furthermore, the potential benefits of introducing pain relief into these procedures have not been fully explored.
This research aims to fill this gap by investigating the welfare implications of concurrently performing tail docking, castration, and ear tagging without pain relief, as well as examining the potential benefits of introducing appropriate pain relief measures. By providing a comprehensive evaluation of these practices, the study will contribute valuable insights to improve animal welfare outcomes in lamb husbandry, and provide evidence-based recommendations that could influence both industry standards and policy.
Keywords: animal welfare, sheep, castration, ear-tagging, tail docking, pain
The PhD will be part of the vibrant Anglia Ruskin University multi-disciplinary / inter-disciplinary research community, more specifically within the AgriTech, Animal, and Environment Management Research Group. For more information, please contact: Dr Nnenna Ugwu at [email protected].
This project is self-funded.
Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Writtle School of Agriculture, Animal and Environmental Sciences PhD. In the section of the application form entitled 'Outline research proposal', please quote the above title and include a research proposal.
AgriTech, Animal, and Environment Management
This PhD project will investigate equine bedding as a socio-environmental challenge at the intersection of animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and human decision-making. Bedding choices such as straw, shavings, and manufactured alternatives influence not only equine health and behaviour but also carbon footprints, waste management, and resource use. Yet, these choices are rarely made on scientific grounds alone: they are shaped by cultural traditions, veterinary advice, perceptions of risk, and sustainability values.
The project aims to explore how stakeholders including owners, vets, trainers, and suppliers perceive sustainability in bedding, how these perceptions influence practice, and how they align or conflict with animal welfare evidence and environmental realities. Drawing on sustainable consumption theory and sustainability transitions theory, the research will analyse both micro-level practices and macro-level industry change. A mixed-methods design will be used, with the majority of the work in social sciences. Interviews, focus groups, surveys, and discourse analysis will investigate how sustainability discourses and risk perceptions shape bedding decisions, while a life-cycle assessment will compare the environmental impacts of bedding types. A small welfare observation study will link perceptions to horse behaviour.
The project is expected to generate a nuanced understanding of sustainability in equine care, identifying tensions between welfare science and human decision-making and producing comparative environmental profiles of common beddings. The findings will inform veterinary communication, industry innovation, and policy development, providing applied recommendations for balancing equine welfare with environmental sustainability while contributing to the social sciences of sustainable consumption and transitions.
Keywords: animal welfare, equine, bedding, sustainability
The PhD will be part of the vibrant Anglia Ruskin University multi-disciplinary / inter-disciplinary research community, more specifically within the AgriTech, Animal, and Environment Management Research Group. For more information, please contact: Prof Roberta Blake at [email protected].
This project is self-funded.
Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Writtle School of Agriculture, Animal and Environmental Sciences PhD. In the section of the application form entitled 'Outline research proposal', please quote the above title and include a research proposal.
Dr David Marlin
Equine
The girth is a critical yet understudied component of the saddle system. Poor girth design or inappropriate tension may contribute to uneven saddle pressure distribution, discomfort, impaired performance, and adverse physiological responses in horses. While research has focused extensively on saddle fit and rider biomechanics, the specific influence of girths on overall saddle dynamics and equine well-being remains insufficiently explored.
Objectives:
The methods will involve both qualitative and quantitative research design, data collection and analysis. It may also involve creation of a device to be recommended to check girth tension (taper gauge).
Expected Outcomes:
Significance:
This research aims to bridge a critical knowledge gap in equine biomechanics and welfare. The results could lead to innovations in girth fitting standards, thereby enhancing the performance and longevity of sport horses while promoting humane treatment.
This project is self-funded.
Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Writtle School of Agriculture, Animal and Environmental Sciences PhD. In the section of the application form entitled 'Outline research proposal', please quote the above title and include a research proposal.