Honours in Animal Science

As an animal science honours student you become a member of the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and part of a research group.

The school has a range of industry, research and teaching partners. These partnerships will assist you in gaining industry experience and in developing contacts within your areas of chosen specialisation. The school is also involved in various cooperative research centres and research that spans across the University of Adelaide.

Facilities and training opportunities

The school is based at Roseworthy campus, although not all honours projects are based there.

The labs have advanced scientific instrumentation for analytical research, while the Roseworthy Farm gives access to animal research facilities. The Veterinary Health Centre houses veterinary clinics and hospitals for companion, equine and production animals, the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, teaching laboratories and skills suites.

Honours projects

Supervisors with available animal science projects have been added to the 'honours project finder'. If you are interested in their research you should talk with the respective supervisors to discuss potential projects.

If you are interested in a particular area of research that's not included, talk with the honours coordinators Alex Whittaker and Mandi Carr - to discuss other opportunities to develop an honours project.

Browse all Animal Science projects

Subthemes

Animal and veterinary bioscience
Animal behaviour
Companion animal
Equine
Production animal
Pathobiology, infectious disease & public health
Related projects

Animal & veterinary bioscience projects

How does scent work impact dog management and behaviour?

Honours project: Build on the successful COVID detector dog program to explore how 'scent work' impacts dog management and behaviour.

Sheep Pain Mitigation Trial

Honours project: Join a team of researchers who are investigating the experience of pain in sheep.

Street cat by by Jennifer Esneault from Pixabay

Management of cats in local councils of Australia

Honours project: Help develop better policies for the management of cats in Australia.

Cow udder by Thanks for your Like • donations welcome from Pixabay

Can the novel IVOS biosensor diagnose mastitis in dairy cows?

Honours project: Validate a novel biosensor as a potential diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows.

Muscular anatomy of rabbits and hares

Honours project: Hopping versus running - study the comparative muscular architecture and biomechanics of rabbits and hares.

Koala health and disease in South Australia

Honours project: Join the Koala Health Research Group and contribute to key research to improve the health of current and future animal populations.

Evaluating vaccine response in sheep

Honours project: Evaluate the efficacy of a Mycoplasma vaccine to produce an immune response in sheep.

Numnuts lamb marking Avington Merino Stud

Use of local anaesthesia for lamb marking

Honours project: Evaluate the efficacy and adoption of Numnuts, a local anaesthetic used on sheep.

Water restriction practices in broiler breeder hens: effect on egg albumen composition

Honours project: Determine the effects of maternal water restriction on egg development by investigating key proteins in the albumen of fertile chicken eggs which are vital for the survival and growth of the chicken embryo.

Novel markers of animal emotion

Honours project: Can differential expression of microRNA’s distinguish valence of emotional state?

Genetic mutations associated with skin & wool growth in sheep

Honours project: Identify genetic mutations in sheep DSC1 & DSG4 genes essential for skin and wool follicle architecture.

Stockpersons' knowledge of Codes of Practice in the pig industry

Honours project: Undertake qualitative research methods to determine farmer awareness and knowledge of a range of secondary legislative documents pertaining to the pig industry.

Working with animals: Knowledge of delegated legislation in biomedical research

Honours project: Undertake qualitative research methods to determine personnel awareness and knowledge of a range of secondary legislative documents pertaining to the use of animals in research.

This animal science honours projects aims to determine if gut microbes promote migratory fattening in shorebirds, using commercial broiler chickens as a model.

Do gut microbes promote migratory fattening in shorebirds?

Honours project: Determine if gut microbes promote migratory fattening in shorebirds, using commercial broiler chickens as a model.

Iodothyronine deiodinase Betsy Smartt [CC0]

Imprinting status of type III iodothyronine deiodinase in cattle as QTL candidate for birthweight

Honours project: Explore the bovine genetics and analyse the affect of specific genes on birthweight in a Droughtmaster resource population.

Mitochondrial DNA haplotype & response to placental restriction in sheep

Honours project: Determine effects of mitochondrial DNA haplotype on extent and response to placental restriction in sheep.

Animal comparative physiology

Honours project: Study animal and bird physiology, how animals function and how function evolves.

Do sheep hang out with other sheep who have similar personalities?

Honours project: Determine whether sheep prefer to associate with other individuals that are similar in their behavioural type, and whether this results in an assortative social network structure.

Haliotis laegivata - Green lipped abalone, Peter Southwood [CC BY-SA 3.0]

Digestive tract health of greenlip abalone

Honours project: Explore the dietary inclusions of solvent extracted soybean meal and dehulled lupin meal in abalone diets.

Grape marc meal effect on digestive tract health of greenlip abalone

Honours project: Interpret the effect of dietary inclusions of grape marc meal on the digestive tract health of greenlip abalone.

Yellowtail Kingfish - Brian Gratwicke (CC BY 2.0)

Digestive tract health in Yellowtail Kingfish

Honours project: Better understand the effects of an emulsifier and different energy levels and on the digestive tract health of Yellowtail Kingfish.

Lipid metabolism in Yellowtail Kingfish

Honours project: Investigate lipid metabolism in Yellowtail Kingfish fed different energy diets, with and without an emulsifier at winter water temperatures.

How do environmental factors influence sheep movement, space use and social behaviour?

Honours project: Identify how environmental factors influence movement, space use and social behaviour in Merino sheep.

Animal behaviour

Management of cats in local councils of Australia

Honours project: Help develop better policies for the management of cats in Australia.

Investigating the role of perineuronal nets as a non-cellular mechanism of emotion and mood

Honours project: Investigate perineuronal nets as a non-cellular mechanism of emotion and mood.

How does scent work impact dog management and behaviour?

Honours project: Build on the successful COVID detector dog program to explore how 'scent work' impacts dog management and behaviour.

Nutrition & collective movement in the Australian plague locust

Honours project: Investigate the movement of plague locusts using laboratory and field experiments.

Acoustic communication in alpacas

Honours project: Investigate how alpacas communicate in the context of its group’s social behaviour.

Novel markers of animal emotion

Honours project: Can differential expression of microRNA’s distinguish valence of emotional state?

Do sheep hang out with other sheep who have similar personalities?

Honours project: Determine whether sheep prefer to associate with other individuals that are similar in their behavioural type, and whether this results in an assortative social network structure.

Assessment of animal therapies

Honours project: Conduct research into animal assisted interventions and activities in dogs and horses.

How do environmental factors influence sheep movement, space use and social behaviour?

Honours project: Identify how environmental factors influence movement, space use and social behaviour in Merino sheep.

Australian zeolite for ammonia control in aquarium fish tanks

Honours project: Study the effects of 'in water and 'in feed' application of zeolite powder for the control of ammonia in aquarium fish display tanks.

Physical enrichment of zebrafish held for research

Honours project: Validate methods for assessing stress in Zebrafish before comparing tanks of fish with and without environmental enrichment.

Companion animal health projects

How does scent work impact dog management and behaviour?

Honours project: Build on the successful COVID detector dog program to explore how 'scent work' impacts dog management and behaviour.

Management of cats in local councils of Australia

Honours project: Help develop better policies for the management of cats in Australia.

Muscular anatomy of rabbits and hares

Honours project: Hopping versus running - study the comparative muscular architecture and biomechanics of rabbits and hares.

In vitro maturation of canine oocytes

Honours project: Determine the effects of different in vitro maturation (IVM) conditions on the developmental competence of canine oocytes.

Cat sensitivity to the insecticide permethrin

Honours project: Why are cats so sensitive to the insecticide permethrin?

Genetic survey: Why does my Pomeranian dog have a blue tongue?

Honours project: Investigate the prevalence of a defective gene in the Australian population of Pomeranian dogs.

Prevalence of lungworm in cats in South Australia

Honours project: Undertake a survey to examine the prevalence of lungworm in cats in South Australia.

Assessment of animal therapies

Honours project: Conduct research into animal assisted interventions and activities in dogs and horses.

Equine health projects

Dust exposure and airway inflammation in horses fed round bale hay

Honours project: Investigate dust exposure and pulmonary inflammation in horses fed round bale hay using a metal, round bale feeder.

Antioxidant status and equine gastric ulceration syndrome

Honours project: Study the effect of a new supplement on oxidant / antioxidant balance in horses with and without gastric ulcers.

Equine athletic performance

Honours project: Study the causes of poor performance in equine athletes.

Equine lameness & biomechanics

Honours project: Define the potential detrimental effect of the surgical transection of the palmar annular volar ligament on the inter-sesamoid ligament of athletic horses.

Assessment of animal therapies

Honours project: Conduct research into animal assisted interventions and activities in dogs and horses.

Production animal health projects

Sheep Pain Mitigation Trial

Honours project: Join a team of researchers who are investigating the experience of pain in sheep.

How does Vitamin D improve piglet performance?

Honours project: Measure the impact of exposure to UV light on growth, serum levels of vitamin D, and immune function in nursing piglets.

Uterine priming and pig fertility

Honours project: This pig fertility project will explore the influence of pre-breeding seminal components on gilt fertility.

Is apple cider vinegar good for newborn piglets?

Honours project: This study will look at supplying an acid to newborn pigs to establish gut health and microbial populations.

Can the novel IVOS biosensor diagnose mastitis in dairy cows?

Honours project: Validate a novel biosensor as a potential diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows.

Investigating the cause and prevention of red gut in lambs grazing lucerne

Honours project: Identify factors contributing to the incidence of red gut in lambs grazing lucerne, and develop strategies to prevent red gut from occurring.

Impact of thermal environment and melatonin on animal body temperature and reproduction

Honours project: Research opportunities are available to investigate how body temperature variation in pigs and sheep impact reproduction.

Evaluating vaccine response in sheep

Honours project: Evaluate the efficacy of a Mycoplasma vaccine to produce an immune response in sheep.

Use of local anaesthesia for lamb marking

Honours project: Evaluate the efficacy and adoption of Numnuts, a local anaesthetic used on sheep.

Lactation oestrus and breeding in sows

Honours project: Efficacy of a modified gonadotrophin protocol for oestrus and ovulation in lactation
Lactation oestrus and breeding in sows.

Effect of pre-partum hCG on farrowing performance of older parity sows & their piglets viability

Honours project: Investigate blood oestrogen levels of older sows and subsequent piglet growth and survival.

Maternal supplementation to improve lamb survival

Honours project: Test the level of caffeine supplementation fed to outdoor, semi-intensive grazing ewes during late gestation.

Acoustic communication in alpacas

Honours project: Investigate how alpacas communicate in the context of its group’s social behaviour.

Improving sheep reproduction via pregnancy scanning

Honours project: Undertake research that aims to increase lambing percentages through better use of pregnancy scanning technology.

Water restriction practices in broiler breeder hens: effect on egg albumen composition

Chickens - Image by Bohdan Chreptak from Pixabay

Transmission of Salmonella from broiler breeder to progeny

Honours project: This animal science project aims to understand the prevalence of Salmonella in meat type breeder flocks and their progenies.

Stockpersons' knowledge of Codes of Practice in the pig industry

Honours project: Undertake qualitative research methods to determine farmer awareness and knowledge of a range of secondary legislative documents pertaining to the pig industry.

Mitochondrial DNA haplotype & response to placental restriction in sheep

Honours project: Determine effects of mitochondrial DNA haplotype on extent and response to placental restriction in sheep.

Do sheep hang out with other sheep who have similar personalities?

Honours project: Determine whether sheep prefer to associate with other individuals that are similar in their behavioural type, and whether this results in an assortative social network structure.

Thermal imaging of lamb temperature to help boost survival

Honours project: This project aims to assess lamb body temperature using thermography as an indirect selection criterion for genetically improving its survival.

Growth signalling pathways acting on the intestinal stem cell

Honours project: This project aims to access activity of positive and negative signalling pathways that act on intestinal stem cells in pigs.

Impact of birth trauma on piglet mortality

Honours project: Are lesions indicative of birth trauma present on still-born piglets? If so, are these lesions are also present on piglets dying from other causes.

Factors affecting fertility of female pigs

Honours project: Study the effect of maternal parity and suckled litter size on sexual development of female pigs.

Genomics of tropical composite beef cattle

Honours project: Work on a project to improve the accuracy of breeding value estimation in a commercial breeding program.

Genetics of lamb survival

Honours project: Examine the genetic relationship between birth weight and lamb survival in a research flock.

Assessing cellular response to bioactive compounds as a prelude to testing in vivo

Honours project: Establish tissue culture and tissue explant systems for the bovine mammary gland.

How do environmental factors influence sheep movement, space use and social behaviour?

Honours project: Identify how environmental factors influence movement, space use and social behaviour in Merino sheep.

School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences image - Will van Wettere

Improving survival of new born piglets & sow performance

Honours project: This research aims to increase the reproductive output of sows by increasing piglet survival using supplementary nutritional strategies in late gestation.