Evaluate changes in the cognitive ability of sheep due to disease development

Study animal science honours and explore the development of cognitive and behavioural tests in sheep to evaluate disease phenotypes.

Sheep are widely used as animal models of disease and there is continuing attention into assessment of their cognitive, behaviour and welfare states.

However, in comparison to other species there has been relatively little development and validation of tests to ascertain emotional states, such as anxiety and generalised affective state.

In this project we will design and validate simple, ethologically relevant tests of emotion in sheep with a focus on measures of anxiety and social cognition in both disease and healthy cohorts.