Research Report 2008/2009

8.

 

Study bursaries

The PRF grants study bursaries to deserving candidates to obtain a Masters or Doctorate degree. In the case of a Masters degree, the prospective candidate's area of study must be relevant to the mission, vision and goals of the PRF. A bursary for a Doctorate would only be considered if the subject of study is a high priority to the PRF – in other words, if the subject of study were presented purely as a project for approval it would have to comply with all the criteria, as well as being of high priority.

In the second place, study bursaries are deemed to be an important aid in achieving the goals of the PRF since it should increase the capacity of students who complete their studies, which would enable them to make a contribution to high quality scientific research in the future. Specific emphasis is placed on research that advances the production of protein for animal consumption as well as its optimal use by animals.

The PRF also takes the necessary steps to ensure that the results of these theses and dissertations reach potential consumers of such infor­ma­tion. Students are also encouraged, in conjunction with their study leaders, to make the research results available to potential users by means of publications in scientific journals and/or articles in acknowledged magazines. Executive summaries of these theses and dissertations are published on the PRF website.

It is the policy of the PRF to award a maximum of eight bursaries per annum of which at least two should be new bursaries.

The Bursary committee of the PRF received eleven bursary applications for the 2007 academic year of which eight were approved. Of these eight, four were new applications. During the report year one student discontinued his studies.

Bursaries for Masters studies are granted for a period of two years and three years for Doctoral studies.

Bursaries granted in 2007 are as follows:

M.Sc studies

  1. Ms MR Modiba (second application): "Animal nutrition: Use of fermentation technologies to develop Jathropa curcas seed meal into animal stockfeed", University of Limpopo.
  2. Mr SF Magoda (second application): "Poultry nutrition (alternative protein sources for laying hens)", University of KwaZulu-Natal
  3. Mr H Nienaber (second application): "The effect of minimal pH on protein degradability", University of Pretoria.
  4. Mr D Mellet (second application): "Unravelling of the relationship between changes in the synthesis, transport, partitioning and catabolism of ureides in response to dark chilling and its relationship to premature nodule senescence" (Plant stress physiology), North-West University.
  5. Ms M Strydom (first application): "Feeding the monogastric animal", Stellenbosch University.
  6. Mr DB Strydom (first application): "The economic impact of renewable fuel production on the South African animal feed industry", University of the Free State.

PhD studies

  1. Ms BK Theeruth (first application): "Evaluating an optimisation routine for the profitable feeding of growing pigs", University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Completed thesis and dissertations received

  1. Dr JR Sara, "An investigation into the protein requirements of marine prawns", PhD, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
  2. Ms LR Breytenbach, "The influence of processing of lupins and canola on apparent matabolizable energy and broiler performance", M.Sc Agric, Stellenbosch University.
  3. Mr J Fourie, "The effects of a multiple enzyme combination in maize-soya diets for broiler chickens", M.Sc Agric, Stellenbosch University.