Overview
Background
Dr. Luis Prada e Silva is an Associate Professor at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), University of Queensland, specialising in ruminant nutrition. His research focuses on unravelling the mechanisms behind feed efficiency in tropical cattle and improving maternal nutrition, attracting strong support from industry, private funders, and the scientific community. With experience across three of the world's major beef-producing countries, Brazil, Australia, and the United States, Luis brings a global perspective to his work. He previously held a position at the University of São Paulo, completed a sabbatical at AgriBio, Melbourne, and earned his PhD at Michigan State University, where he studied the nutritional and physiological modulation of ruminant development. Among his achievements are leading multiple research projects aimed at improving cattle production efficiency, publishing 59 peer-reviewed scientific articles and several book chapters, and supervising 8 PhD students and 18 Master's students. His research integrates cattle nutrition, physiological mechanisms, and genomic tools, contributing significantly to advancements in the field.
Availability
- Associate Professor Luis Prada e Silva is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Michigan State University
Research interests
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Ruminant Nutrition
cattle production, forage management, feedlot nutrition, forage conservation, rumen microbiology, forage genomics, rumen efficiency
Works
Search Professor Luis Prada e Silva’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Conference Publication
Calf Alive: Attendance of study animals at walkoverweigh and autodrafting
Somerset, Gemma, McCosker, Kieren, Eyre, Karen, Campbell, Joanne and Prada e Silva, Luis (2023). Calf Alive: Attendance of study animals at walkoverweigh and autodrafting. Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 22-25 August 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
The impact of prepartum supplementation on the liveweight of cows
Prada e Silva, Luis, Schatz, Tim, McCosker, Kieren, Glasson, Georgia, Fordyce, Eleanor, Somerset, Gemma and Eyre, Karen (2023). The impact of prepartum supplementation on the liveweight of cows. Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 22-25 August 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Calf Alive: Quantifying the mortality-risk associated with age at first calf in commercial beef breeding herds
McCosker, K., Somerset, G., Eyre, K., Campbell, J. and Prada e Silva, L. (2023). Calf Alive: Quantifying the mortality-risk associated with age at first calf in commercial beef breeding herds. Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 22-25 August 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Calf Alive: Agreement between interpolated and measured weekly rainfall and temperature humidity index (THI)
Somerset, Gemma, McCosker, Kieren, Eyre, Karen, Campbell, Joanne and Prada e Silva, Luis (2023). Calf Alive: Agreement between interpolated and measured weekly rainfall and temperature humidity index (THI). Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 22-25 August 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Variability of minimum rainfall requirements for pasture response in northern Australia
Campbell, Joanne, Somerset, Gemma, Eyre, Karen, McCosker, Kieren and Prada e Silva, Luis (2023). Variability of minimum rainfall requirements for pasture response in northern Australia. Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 22-25 August 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
The impact of previous lactation and pregnancy status on tail hair isotopes
Eyre, Karen, Somerset, Gemma, Campbell, Joanne, McCosker, Kieren and Prada e Silva, Luis (2023). The impact of previous lactation and pregnancy status on tail hair isotopes. Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 22-25 August 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
The use of on-animal sensors to assess individual intake of supplements in beef cattle.
Freitas-Kirk, Tamara, Eyre, Karen, McCosker, Kieren and e Silva, Luis Prada (2023). The use of on-animal sensors to assess individual intake of supplements in beef cattle.. Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition in Australia (RAAN-A), Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 27 - 28 July 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Malnutrition of pregnant beef cows and the impact on passive immunity transfer to calves
Silva, L. F. P., Coimbra, L. G. S. and Eyre, K. (2023). Malnutrition of pregnant beef cows and the impact on passive immunity transfer to calves. Animal Production Science, 63 (18), 1970-1982. doi: 10.1071/an23076
2022
Journal Article
Response of pasture nitrogen fertilization on greenhouse gas emission and net protein contribution of Nellore young bulls
Lima, Lais, Ongaratto, Fernando, Fernandes, Marcia, Cardoso, Abmael, Lage, Josiane, Silva, Luis, Reis, Ricardo and Malheiros, Euclides (2022). Response of pasture nitrogen fertilization on greenhouse gas emission and net protein contribution of Nellore young bulls. Animals, 12 (22) 3173, 1-18. doi: 10.3390/ani12223173
2022
Journal Article
High frequency of delayed milk delivery to neonates in tropical beef herds
Muller, Jarud, Silva, Luis Prada e and Fordyce, Geoffry (2022). High frequency of delayed milk delivery to neonates in tropical beef herds. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 57 (10), 1176-1186. doi: 10.1111/rda.14188
2022
Journal Article
Using the natural abundance of nitrogen isotopes to identify cattle with greater efficiency in protein-limiting diets
Silva, L. F. P., Hegarty, R. S., Meale, S. J., Costa, D. A. F. and Fletcher, M. T. (2022). Using the natural abundance of nitrogen isotopes to identify cattle with greater efficiency in protein-limiting diets. Animal, 16 100551, 100551. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100551
2022
Journal Article
Immediate prepartum supplementation accelerates progesterone decline, boosting passive immunity transfer in tropically adapted beef cattle
Silva, L. F. P., Muller, J., Cavalieri, J. and Fordyce, G. (2022). Immediate prepartum supplementation accelerates progesterone decline, boosting passive immunity transfer in tropically adapted beef cattle. Animal Production Science, 62 (11), 983-992. doi: 10.1071/an21504
2022
Journal Article
Rumen bacteria and feed efficiency of beef cattle fed diets with different protein content
Parra, M. C., Costa, D.F., Meale, S. J. and Silva, L. F. P. (2022). Rumen bacteria and feed efficiency of beef cattle fed diets with different protein content. Animal Production Science, 62 (10-11), 1029-1039. doi: 10.1071/an21508
2021
Journal Article
Diet, marker and fecal sampling method interactions with internal and external marker pairs when estimating dry matter intake in beef cattle
Velásquez, Alejandro V., Oliveira, Cassiele A., Martins, Cristian M.M.R., Balieiro, Julio C.C., Silva, Luis F.P., Fukushima, Romualdo S. and Sousa, Dannylo O. (2021). Diet, marker and fecal sampling method interactions with internal and external marker pairs when estimating dry matter intake in beef cattle. Livestock Science, 253 104730, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104730
2021
Journal Article
Resilience achieved via multiple compensating subsystems: The immediate impacts of COVID-19 control measures on the agri-food systems of Australia and New Zealand
Snow, Val, Rodriguez, Daniel, Dynes, Robyn, Kaye-Blake, William, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak, Zydenbos, Sue, Cong, Lei, Obadovic, Irena, Agnew, Rob, Amery, Nicole, Bell, Lindsay, Benson, Cristy, Clinton, Peter, Dreccer, M. Fernanda, Dunningham, Andrew, Gleeson, Madeleine, Harrison, Matthew, Hayward, Alice, Holzworth, Dean, Johnstone, Paul, Meinke, Holger, Mitter, Neena, Mugera, Amin, Pannell, David, Silva, Luis F.P., Roura, Eugeni, Siddharth, Prince, Siddique, Kadambot H.M. and Stevens, David (2021). Resilience achieved via multiple compensating subsystems: The immediate impacts of COVID-19 control measures on the agri-food systems of Australia and New Zealand. Agricultural Systems, 187 103025, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2020.103025
2021
Journal Article
The use of live yeast to increase intake and performance of cattle receiving low-quality tropical forages
Parra, M. C., Costa, D. F. A., Palma, A. S. V., Camargo, K. D. V., Lima, L. O., Harper, K. J., Meale, S. J. and Silva, L. F. P. (2021). The use of live yeast to increase intake and performance of cattle receiving low-quality tropical forages. Journal of Animal Science, 99 (2) skab017, 1-13. doi: 10.1093/jas/skab017
2020
Journal Article
Estimating body weight, body condition score, and type traits in dairy cows using three dimensional cameras and manual body measurements
Martins, B. M., Mendes, A. L. C., Silva, L. F., Moreira, T. R., Costa, J. H. C., Rotta, P. P., Chizzotti, M. L. and Marcondes, M. (2020). Estimating body weight, body condition score, and type traits in dairy cows using three dimensional cameras and manual body measurements. Livestock Science, 236 104054. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104054
2020
Journal Article
Feed efficiency and nitrogen use rankings of Bos indicus steers differ on low and high protein diets
Carmona, P., Costa, D. F. A. and Silva, L. F. P. (2020). Feed efficiency and nitrogen use rankings of Bos indicus steers differ on low and high protein diets. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 263 114493, 114493. doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2020.114493
2020
Conference Publication
Nutritional Value of Black Soldier Fly Grown on Abattoir Waste
Silva, Luis F. P., Brown, Geoff W. and James, Peter J. (2020). Nutritional Value of Black Soldier Fly Grown on Abattoir Waste. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019), Brisbane, Australia, 11-13 November. Basel Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036216
2020
Conference Publication
Flight zone as an alternative temperament assessment to predict animal efficiency
Parra, Mariano, Breed, Tia, Connolly, Alana, Janz, Emily, Kennedy, Sarah, Reid, Jonathan, Palma, Andre, Costa, Diogo Fleury Azevedo and Silva, Luis Felipe Prada e Silva (2020). Flight zone as an alternative temperament assessment to predict animal efficiency. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11–13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI AG. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036207
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Luis Prada e Silva is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing beef cattle production in Northern Australia: Understanding performance variations, adoption of management practices, and modelling the impact of interventions on business performance
Principal Advisor
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Master Philosophy
Advanced Probiotic Solutions for Rumen Health and Feedlot Performance
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Anne Beasley, Associate Professor Sarah Meale
Completed supervision
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2026
Doctor Philosophy
Beef cattle tail hair nitrogen isotope (15N) as a proxy for nitrogen metabolism changes during periods of nutritional, heat and gestational stress
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Gaughan
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2025
Master Philosophy
Ability of on-animal sensors to estimate individual intake of supplements in beef cattle
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kieren McCosker, Associate Professor Sarah Meale
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2024
Master Philosophy
Heritability of Isotopes and Using NIRS for Improved Nitrogen Use in Cattle
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Daniel Cozzolino
Media
Enquiries
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