Dairy farms grow bigger, more cow- and herd data become available and dairy production is challenged to reduce greenhouse gas emission. This provide new challenges and possibilities to manage the culling decisions. There is a need for new analyses of the effect of culling strategies on each of economy, greenhouse gas emission and animal welfare.
The ongoing CFIT project is developing a flexible version of the SimHerd model allowing to analyse culling decisions using new and detailed information about the individual animal. The model will be able to rank cows on their expected future profitability. The thesis could be with focus on a combination of farm interview and herd simulations modelling (SimHerd).
The thesis could also be with focus on the interrelated area of culling strategy, herd health, reproduction and breeding management. As new technologies emerge, the area of breeding management and operation/technical herd management become more interrelated. The project can use herd simulation modelling (SimHerd) to analyse how to optimise these decision simultaneously
To be decided in agreement with the supervisor.
Department of Animal- and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg - Forskningscenter Foulum, DK-8830 Tjele.
The master thesis could be any of 30, 45 or 60 ECTS.
Prerequisites: an interest in data analysis is required. The MSc-study will become part of a research team in a collaborative with on-going project. The MSc student may be invited to co-author a scientific publication.
