Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences, Animal Production Systems Group
Wageningen, 6709 PG (Gelderland), 38 hours per week
Job description
At this moment, society and relevant stakeholders increasingly are aware of the fact that agricultural production in future should be economically viable, ecologically sound, and socially acceptable, or in other words, should contribute to sustainable development. A first step in sustainable development of agricultural production is quantification and a continuous monitoring of the economic, ecological and societal performance of agricultural production systems. Furthermore, analysis of differences in sustainability performance among agricultural farms results in feasible innovations for sustainable development.
The Animal Health Service (Gezondheidsdienst voor Dieren te Deventer) plays a central role in monitoring the health status of animals in the Netherlands. In their “continuous health monitoring tool” they use accessible farm data to monitor the health status of dairy farms. The Animal Health Service would like to extend this tool in order to be able to monitor animal welfare and product quality.
This PhD project aims at the development of such a monitoring tool for animal welfare and product quality on Dutch dairy farms. The development of this tool is based on relating accessible farm data (e.g., longevity, calving interval, incidence of diseases) to indicators for animal welfare and product quality for around 100 dairy farms. This PhD project starts with reviewing current knowledge on the monitoring of animal health and product quality and on assessing animal welfare and production quality at farm level. Second, the PhD student will visit dairy farms to actually assess animal welfare and product quality. Third, in a desk study, data of this assessment of animal welfare and product quality will be related to general, accessible farm data to develop a generic tool to monitor animal welfare and product quality.
Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
The candidate should
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Agriculture)
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Agriculture)
Organization
Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences,
Animal Production Systems Group
Date of entry: 08/07/2009
Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000
Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 1,5 2,5 years
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
To begin with, a PhD appointment for a period of 18 months. Continuation of the appointment with another 30 months will be based on performance evaluation. Gross salary per month € 2000 in the first year rising to € 2558 per month in the fourth year, based on a full time appointment.
Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
Dr ir. Imke de Boer
Telephone number: 0317 484589/483959
E-mail address: Imke.deboer@wur.nl
Or additional information can be obtained through the following link:Application
You can apply for this job before 14-09-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:
WUR, Departement Dierwetenschappen, Dierlijke Productie Systemen
Postbus 338
Dr.ir.I.J.M. Imke de Boer
Postbus 338
6700 AH Wageningen
E-mail: imke.deboer@wur.nl
When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AT DIE 2008-009.
Job description
At this moment, society and relevant stakeholders increasingly are aware of the fact that agricultural production in future should be economically viable, ecologically sound, and socially acceptable, or in other words, should contribute to sustainable development. A first step in sustainable development of agricultural production is quantification and a continuous monitoring of the economic, ecological and societal performance of agricultural production systems. Furthermore, analysis of differences in sustainability performance among agricultural farms results in feasible innovations for sustainable development.
The Animal Health Service (Gezondheidsdienst voor Dieren te Deventer) plays a central role in monitoring the health status of animals in the Netherlands. In their “continuous health monitoring tool” they use accessible farm data to monitor the health status of dairy farms. The Animal Health Service would like to extend this tool in order to be able to monitor animal welfare and product quality.
This PhD project aims at the development of such a monitoring tool for animal welfare and product quality on Dutch dairy farms. The development of this tool is based on relating accessible farm data (e.g., longevity, calving interval, incidence of diseases) to indicators for animal welfare and product quality for around 100 dairy farms. This PhD project starts with reviewing current knowledge on the monitoring of animal health and product quality and on assessing animal welfare and production quality at farm level. Second, the PhD student will visit dairy farms to actually assess animal welfare and product quality. Third, in a desk study, data of this assessment of animal welfare and product quality will be related to general, accessible farm data to develop a generic tool to monitor animal welfare and product quality.
Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
The candidate should
- have completed an academic study in biology, veterinary or animal sciences;
- have affinity with research in the area of behavior and animal health;
- have demonstrable knowledge of data processing and analysis;
- have good communication skills in English language (oral and writing);
- be able to communicate with farmers, veterinarians and scientists;
- be able to speak and read Dutch;
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Agriculture)
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Agriculture)
Organization
Wageningen University, Department of Animal Sciences,
Animal Production Systems Group
Date of entry: 08/07/2009
Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000
Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 1,5 2,5 years
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
To begin with, a PhD appointment for a period of 18 months. Continuation of the appointment with another 30 months will be based on performance evaluation. Gross salary per month € 2000 in the first year rising to € 2558 per month in the fourth year, based on a full time appointment.
Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
Dr ir. Imke de Boer
Telephone number: 0317 484589/483959
E-mail address: Imke.deboer@wur.nl
Or additional information can be obtained through the following link:Application
You can apply for this job before 14-09-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:
WUR, Departement Dierwetenschappen, Dierlijke Productie Systemen
Postbus 338
Dr.ir.I.J.M. Imke de Boer
Postbus 338
6700 AH Wageningen
E-mail: imke.deboer@wur.nl
When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AT DIE 2008-009.
