A6001C17 Advances in Animal Production Science Assignment Brief 2026 | Harper Adams University

A6001C17 Assignment Brief

Module name and code: Advances in Animal Production Science A6001C17

Title of assignment: Research Grant Proposal

Project Title

Include a descriptive title of the project. This can be identical to that stated in the assignment brief or can be more specific, but must not be a new topic.

Background/Existing Knowledge And Rationale

Evaluate the scientific/technical challenge and relate this to existing knowledge in this subject area. Consider what is already known and where there are gaps in knowledge (if relevant). This section should lead nicely into the aims and objectives below. Use references to support your statements.

Aims And Objectives Of The Project

State clear aim and objectives. An aim should broadly state the overall purpose of the research. Objectives are specific statements that describe the tasks required to achieve the aim. For example whilst a research aim may be to “Determine the effect of full-time indoor housing on sheep parasitic disease”, the research objectives may be to 1) assess the prevalence of parasite burden in sheep housed indoor or outdoor through faecal egg counts 2) use laboratory techniques to identify the common parasitic infections in sheep housed indoor or outdoor 3) monitor the use of anthelmintics in sheep housed indoor or outdoor.

Research Plan And Methodology

Describe the experimental approach that you will use to tackle this problem. Include the size of the experimental groups as well as (where relevant) the treatments for each group and what will be measured/assessed. Where relevant also include the equipment used to collect data e.g. for behaviour monitoring, semen assessment or analysis of feeds.

There is no need to give full methodology of protocols. There is no need to include the statistical analysis methodology though it is important to ensure your experiment is designed in such a way that the data could be reliably analysed and interpreted.

You can assume for the purpose of this section that:

• You have full ethical and home office approval to use animals in your research model if the project requires the collection of biological samples (tissue, blood, semen, rumen fluid etc), surgical procedures, use of therapies (e.g. antimicrobials/vaccines/genetic engineering) or change in diet.
• The maximum funding available is uncapped.
• Technical ability and infrastructure are available to you as a researcher.
• Remember, as outlined in the brief this should be a 1-2 year project and as such this section should be achievable within this timeframe.

Where relevant use references to support your experimental design and methodologies.

Impact And Benefits

Assess the potential impact and benefits of the project. Identify the industry/market in which the innovation/research findings will be applied and how they will benefit e.g. economically, through improvements in animal health, productivity and welfare, through advanced knowledge that will aid the development of novel technologies/ new management strategies and so forth.

This should link back to the initial research challenge identified in your introduction – what impact will this research have to help overcome that challenge?

Use references to support your claims.

Reference List

There is no page limit or word limit for this section. Ensure your reference list follows the Cite Them Right Harvard guidelines for Harper Adams University.

Harper Adams University Agriculture With Animal Science (Top-Up) Assignments 2026 Module Specification