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
2020
Conference Publication
Delay in Progesterone Decline Before Parturition is Connected with Failure of Passive Immune Transfer in Tropical Composite Beef Calves
Silva, Luis F.P, Muller, Jarud and Fordyce, Geoffry (2020). Delay in Progesterone Decline Before Parturition is Connected with Failure of Passive Immune Transfer in Tropical Composite Beef Calves. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference TropAg 2019 , Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036169
2020
Conference Publication
Milk delivery in tropically-adapted neonatal beef calves
Muller, Jarud, Silva, Luis Prada e and Fordyce, Geoffry (2020). Milk delivery in tropically-adapted neonatal beef calves. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference TropAg 2019 , Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036126
2020
Journal Article
Replacing corn with ground or pelleted citrus pulp in diets of Nellore heifers
Sousa, Rafael Teixeira de, Cônsolo, Nara Regina Brandão, Ferrari, Viviane Borba, Marques, Júlia Avansi, Magalhães, Juliane Diniz and Silva, Luis Felipe Prada (2020). Replacing corn with ground or pelleted citrus pulp in diets of Nellore heifers. Revista Brasileira de Saúde e Produção Animal, 21 020. doi: 10.1590/s1519-9940210262020
2019
Conference Publication
Prepartum Supplementation to Improve Transfer of Passive Immunity and Growth
Silva, Luis F. P., Muller, Jarud, Cavalieri, John and Fordyce, Geoffry (2019). Prepartum Supplementation to Improve Transfer of Passive Immunity and Growth. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference TropAg 2019 , Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036007
2019
Journal Article
Nitrogen recycling and feed efficiency of cattle fed protein-restricted diets
Silva, L. F. P., Dixon, R. M. and Costa, D. F. A. (2019). Nitrogen recycling and feed efficiency of cattle fed protein-restricted diets. Animal Production Science, 59 (11), 2093-2107. doi: 10.1071/an19234
2019
Journal Article
Effects of energy sources and inclusion levels of concentrate in sugarcane-silage-based diets of finishing Nellore young bulls: Nutrient digestibility, rumen metabolism and ecosystem
Ferrari, V. B., Cônsolo, N. R. B., Sousa, R. T., Souza, J. M., Bueno, I. C. S. and Silva, L. F. P. (2019). Effects of energy sources and inclusion levels of concentrate in sugarcane-silage-based diets of finishing Nellore young bulls: Nutrient digestibility, rumen metabolism and ecosystem. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 157 (04) PII S0021859619000534, 1-8. doi: 10.1017/s0021859619000534
2019
Journal Article
Effects of energy sources and inclusion levels of concentrate in sugarcane silage-based diets of finishing Nellore young bulls: Feeding behaviour, performance and blood parameters
Ferrari, V. B., Cônsolo, N. R. B., Sousa, R. T., Souza, J. M., Santana, M. H. A. and Silva, L. F. P. (2019). Effects of energy sources and inclusion levels of concentrate in sugarcane silage-based diets of finishing Nellore young bulls: Feeding behaviour, performance and blood parameters. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 157 (04) PII S0021859619000583, 1-7. doi: 10.1017/s0021859619000583
2019
Journal Article
Effect of sugarcane genotype and maturity stage at harvest on feed intake and ruminal parameters of growing steers
Sousa, D. O., Velasquez, A. V., Oliveira, C. A., Souza, J. M., Nadeau, E. and Silva, L. F.P. (2019). Effect of sugarcane genotype and maturity stage at harvest on feed intake and ruminal parameters of growing steers. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 256 114258, 114258. doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2019.114258
2019
Book Chapter
Beef cattle production in the Brazilian biomes
Silva, Luis F. P., de Sousa, Dannylo O., de Sousa, Rafael T. and Ferrari, Viviane B. (2019). Beef cattle production in the Brazilian biomes. Livestock: Production, Management Strategies and Challenges. (pp. 163-188) edited by Victor Roy Squires and Wayne L. Bryden. Hauppauge, NY, United States: Nova Science Publishers.
2019
Conference Publication
More efficient steers on good diets are not the most efficient ones on limiting diets
Carmona, Peter, Costa, Diogo Fleury Azevedo, Lima, Lais de Oliveira and Silva, Luis Felipe Prada (2019). More efficient steers on good diets are not the most efficient ones on limiting diets. ASAS-CSAS Annual Meeting and Trade Show, Austin, TX, United States, 8-11 July 2019. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.
2019
Conference Publication
Feed efficiency of beef cattle in low-protein diets is driven by nitrogen use efficiency
Costa, Diogo Fleury Azevedo, Carmona, Peter, Lima, Lais de Oliveira, Fraser, Brandon and Silva, Luis Felipe Prada (2019). Feed efficiency of beef cattle in low-protein diets is driven by nitrogen use efficiency. ASAS-CSAS Annual Meeting and Trade Show, Austin, TX, United States, 8-11 July 2019.
2018
Journal Article
Effect of different sources of non-fiber carbohydrate on ruminal pH and in vitro digestibility of tropical forage
Ferrari, Viviane Borba, Diaz, Angélica Patrícia Ordoñez, Cônsolo, Nara Regina Brandão, De Sousa, Rafael Teixeira, Rodriguez, Frederich Diaz and Silva, Luis Felipe Prada e (2018). Effect of different sources of non-fiber carbohydrate on ruminal pH and in vitro digestibility of tropical forage. Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 55 (3) e133480, e133480. doi: 10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2018.133480
2018
Journal Article
Effects of Lactobacillus buchneri as a silage inoculant and as a probiotic on feed intake, apparent digestibility and ruminal fermentation and microbiology in wethers fed low-dry-matter whole-crop maize silage
Rabelo, C. H. S., Basso, F. C., Lara, E. C., Jorge, L. G. O., Harter, C. J., Mesquita, L. G., Silva, L. F. P. and Reis, R. A. (2018). Effects of Lactobacillus buchneri as a silage inoculant and as a probiotic on feed intake, apparent digestibility and ruminal fermentation and microbiology in wethers fed low-dry-matter whole-crop maize silage. Grass and Forage Science, 73 (1), 67-77. doi: 10.1111/gfs.12303
2018
Journal Article
Live yeast supplementation improves rumen fibre degradation in cattle grazing tropical pastures throughout the year
Sousa, D. O., Oliveira, C. A., Velasquez, A. V., Souza, J. M., Chevaux, E., Mari, L. J. and Silva, L. F. P. (2018). Live yeast supplementation improves rumen fibre degradation in cattle grazing tropical pastures throughout the year. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 236, 149-158. doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2017.12.015
2017
Journal Article
Effects of fibre digestibility and level of roughage on performance and rumen fermentation of finishing beef cattle
Sousa, Dannylo Oliveira, Mesquita, Bruno de Sousa, Pires, Alexandre Vaz, Santana, Miguel Henrique de Almeida and Silva, Luis Felipe Prada (2017). Effects of fibre digestibility and level of roughage on performance and rumen fermentation of finishing beef cattle. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 49 (7), 1503-1510. doi: 10.1007/s11250-017-1353-1
2017
Journal Article
Monensin and a blend of castor oil and cashew nut shell liquid used in a high-concentrate diet abruptly fed to Nellore cattle
Zotti, C. A., Silva, A. P., Carvalho, R., Marino, C. T., Rodrigues, P. H. M., Silva, L. F. P., McAllister, T. A. and Leme, P. R. (2017). Monensin and a blend of castor oil and cashew nut shell liquid used in a high-concentrate diet abruptly fed to Nellore cattle. Journal of Animal Science, 95 (9), 4124-4138. doi: 10.2527/jas.2017.1580
2017
Journal Article
Effect of sugarcane fiber digestibility, conservation method and concentrate level on the ruminal ecosystem of beef cattle
de Souza, Johnny Maciel, de Sousa, Dannylo Oliveira, de Mesquita, Bruno Souza, Mesquita, Ligia Garcia and Prada Silva, Luis Felipe (2017). Effect of sugarcane fiber digestibility, conservation method and concentrate level on the ruminal ecosystem of beef cattle. AMB Express, 7 (1) 55, 55. doi: 10.1186/s13568-017-0356-7
2017
Journal Article
Effect of high energy intake on carcass composition and hypothalamic gene expression in Bos indicus heifers
Diniz-Magalhaes, Juliane , Mesquita, Lígia Garcia, de Carvalho, Marina Vieira, Machado, Anna Beatriz Escarpellin , Pimentel, José Rodrigo Valim and e Silva, Luis Felipe Prada (2017). Effect of high energy intake on carcass composition and hypothalamic gene expression in Bos indicus heifers. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 46 (8), 664-669. doi: 10.1590/S1806-92902017000800006
2016
Journal Article
Zilpaterol hydrochloride improves beef yield, changes palatability traits, and increases calpain-calpastatin gene expression in Nellore heifers
Brandao Consolo, Nara Regina, Ferrari, Viviane Borba, Mesquita, Ligia Garcia, Goulart, Rodrigo Silva and Prada e Silva, Luis Felipe (2016). Zilpaterol hydrochloride improves beef yield, changes palatability traits, and increases calpain-calpastatin gene expression in Nellore heifers. Meat Science, 121, 375-381. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.07.005
2016
Journal Article
Effects of different amounts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on apparent digestibility and faecal parameters in horses fed high-roughage and high-concentrate diets
Taran, F.M.P., Gobesso, A.A.O., Gonzaga, I.V.F., Francoso, R., Centini, T.N., Moreira, C.G. and Silva, L.F.P. (2016). Effects of different amounts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on apparent digestibility and faecal parameters in horses fed high-roughage and high-concentrate diets. Livestock Science, 186, 29-33. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2015.11.023
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Luis Prada e Silva is:
- Available for supervision
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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
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