
Overview
Background
Professor Alan Tilbrook is nationally and internationally recognised for leading scientific research in animal science and biomedical science (endocrinology, neuroendocrinology, behaviour, stress, and reproduction). He is a global leader in animal welfare science. Professor Tilbrook has an outstanding balanced portfolio in leadership, strategic planning, research, academia, education and government. He is Professor of Animal Welfare in the School of Veterinary Science and has an affiliate appointment in the Centre for Animal Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation at The University of Queensland. Professor Tilbrook is one of three expert members of a Strategy Advisory Group to provide expert strategic advice to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to assist the development of the renewed Australian Animal Welfare Strategy. He is Chair and Research Champion of the National Primary Industries Animal Welfare Research, Development and Extension Strategy, represents Universities Australia on the Board of the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching, represents The University of Queensland on the World Organisation for Animal Health and is a member of the Australian Government’s Live Export Animal Welfare Advisory Group. Professor Tilbrook established The Animal Welfare Collaborative, a university-facilitated network of individuals, companies, and organisations working together to make evidence-based improvements in animal welfare. This was a collaborative venture with The University of Newcastle, The University of Western Australia and The University of Adelaide. He was a founder, Deputy Director and Co-Director of the Animal Welfare Science Centre, was the Research Chief of Livestock and Farming Systems at the South Australian Research and Development Institute and was Deputy Head of the Department of Physiology at Monash University. He has held numerous national and local leadership roles. Professor Tilbrook's research is conceptually driven with a multidisciplinary and integrative approach. He has developed cutting edge research programs across a range of species including sheep, pigs, poultry, cattle, goats, rodents, horses, buffalo and humans. Professor Tilbrook places a huge emphasis on collaboration, training and professional development.
Availability
- Professor Alan Tilbrook is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia
Research interests
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Identification of Biomarkers to Assess Animal Welfare
We are seeking to identify biological markers (biomarkers) of animal experiences. The brain processes the experiences of animals. These experiences determine the state of welfare of an animal at any given time. We aim to take peripheral measures of biomarkers that are indicative of brain processing of experiences.
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Importance of human and maternal contact on stress resilience in pigs
We are investigating the impact of human and maternal contact in early life on stress resilience in pigs later in life. The research considers the importance of this early human and maternal contact in affecting welfare, growth and meat quality of pigs.
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Elimination of the need for tail removal in pigs
This large-scale research investigates the reasons for tail biting in pigs with the view to developing strategies to eliminate tail biting without the need to remove tails from piglets. The research has both experimental and epidemiological components.
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Interpreting the welfare of animals exported live by ship
This is project is called “Interpreting Animal Welfare", and is collaborative research led by The University of Western Australia. The project seeks to create an integrated framework capable of assessing, interpreting and aggregating intricate animal welfare data collected during export voyages to give an overall evaluation of animal welfare status.
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Effects of floor space on the welfare of pigs
It is known that restricting space in breeding female pigs can lead to aggression, injuries and sustained physiological stress. Sustained stress in pigs can compromise the health, efficiency of growth and meat quality. The effects of space allowance on the welfare, growth and productivity of finisher pigs have not been well researched. The focus of this research is to determine the effects of different amounts of floor space on the welfare, growth and production parameters of finisher pigs.
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Health and welfare of free-range buffalo in the northern Australia
This project is focussed on understanding and improving the health and welfare of harvested buffalo throughout the supply chain. The research is on free-range buffalo from Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. The work is highly collaborative, multidisciplinary and multi-faceted.
Research impacts
Our research on biomarkers of animal welfare is world leading and novel. We have identified biological markers of brain function in animals which will inform how the brain processes experiences and thereby animal welfare. While this research is emerging and is still in the discovery phase, the objective is for the non-invasive measurement of these biomarkers to be applied in the livestock industries.
We have demonstrated the impact of human and maternal contact in early life on stress resilience in pigs later in life, affecting welfare, growth and meat quality. This presents the opportunity to develop strategies to maximise positive human contact and improve maternal contact in the pork industry.
We also pioneered research to measure steroids in the wool of sheep that has resulted in publications and on-farm assessment of stress, wool quality and epigenetic influences on parameters of stress and reproduction in sheep.
Works
Search Professor Alan Tilbrook’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Effects of maternal contact and positive human contact during lactation on pork quality: Positive human contact to piglets during lactation improves pork loin muscle pH
Tomas, Katelyn, Savaglia, Jemma, Hewitt, Robert J.E., Plush, Kate J., D'Souza, Darryl N., Butler, Kym L., Hemsworth, Paul H. and Tilbrook, Alan J. (2025). Effects of maternal contact and positive human contact during lactation on pork quality: Positive human contact to piglets during lactation improves pork loin muscle pH. Meat Science, 219 109650, 109650. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2024.109650
2024
Journal Article
Near or mid-infra-red spectroscopy of the prefrontal cortex to identify previous stressful experience in an animal
Blache, Dominique, Kho, Elise A., Tilbrook, Alan J., Tomas, Katelyn, Plush, Kate, D'Souza, Darryl, Maloney, Shane K. and Cozzolino, Daniel (2024). Near or mid-infra-red spectroscopy of the prefrontal cortex to identify previous stressful experience in an animal. Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 27594. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-79171-y
2024
Journal Article
Maternal contact and positive human interactions during lactation impact on pig stress resilience post-weaning
Tomas, Katelyn, Savaglia, Jemma, Plush, Kate J., D’Souza, Darryl N., Butler, Kym L., Hemsworth, Paul H. and Tilbrook, Alan J. (2024). Maternal contact and positive human interactions during lactation impact on pig stress resilience post-weaning. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 276 106326, 106326. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106326
2024
Journal Article
Early human contact and housing for pigs - Part 1: Responses to humans, novelty and isolation
Lucas, M.E., Hemsworth, L.M., Butler, K.L., Morrison, R.S., Tilbrook, A.J., Marchant, J.N., Rault, J.-L., Galea, R.Y. and Hemsworth, P.H. (2024). Early human contact and housing for pigs - Part 1: Responses to humans, novelty and isolation. animal, 18 (6) 101164, 101164. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101164
2024
Journal Article
Early human contact and housing for pigs - Part 2: resilience to routine husbandry practices
Lucas, M. E., Hemsworth, L. M., Butler, K. L., Morrison, R. S., Tilbrook, A. J., Marchant, J. N., Rault, J.-L., Galea, R. Y. and Hemsworth, P. H. (2024). Early human contact and housing for pigs - Part 2: resilience to routine husbandry practices. animal, 18 (6) 101165, 101165. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101165
2024
Journal Article
Early human contact and housing for pigs - Part 3: Ability to cope with the environment
Lucas, M. E., Hemsworth, L.M., Butler, K. L., Morrison, R. S., Tilbrook, A. J., Marchant, J. N., Rault, J.-L., Galea, R. Y. and Hemsworth, P. H. (2024). Early human contact and housing for pigs - Part 3: Ability to cope with the environment. animal, 18 (6) 101166, 101166-6. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101166
2024
Journal Article
Finding biomarkers of experience in animals
Babington, Sarah, Tilbrook, Alan J., Maloney, Shane K., Fernandes, Jill N., Crowley, Tamsyn M., Ding, Luoyang, Fox, Archa H., Zhang, Song, Kho, Elise A., Cozzolino, Daniel, Mahony, Timothy J. and Blache, Dominique (2024). Finding biomarkers of experience in animals. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 15 (1) 28, 1-20. doi: 10.1186/s40104-023-00989-z
2024
Journal Article
Excess dietary Lys reduces feed intake, stimulates jejunal CCK secretion and alters essential and non-essential blood AA profile in pigs
Müller, Maximiliano, Van Liefferinge, Elout, Tilbrook, Alan, van Barneveld, Robert and Roura, Eugeni (2024). Excess dietary Lys reduces feed intake, stimulates jejunal CCK secretion and alters essential and non-essential blood AA profile in pigs. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 15 (1) 24, 24. doi: 10.1186/s40104-023-00971-9
2024
Journal Article
Maternal contact and positive human interactions during lactation impacts piglet performance and behaviour during lactation
Tomas, Katelyn, Savaglia, Jemma, Plush, Kate J., D’Souza, Darryl N., Butler, Kym L., Hemsworth, Paul H. and Tilbrook, Alan J. (2024). Maternal contact and positive human interactions during lactation impacts piglet performance and behaviour during lactation. Frontiers in Animal Science, 4 1289518. doi: 10.3389/fanim.2023.1289518
2023
Conference Publication
Early life maternal contact has long-term impacts on pig growth
Tomas, K., Savaglia, J., Plush, K.J., D'Souza, D.N., Butler, K.L., Hemsworth, P.H. and Tilbrook, A.J. (2023). Early life maternal contact has long-term impacts on pig growth. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.005
2023
Conference Publication
Stocking density increases the incidence of tail biting in post-weaned pigs
Abdallah, A., Kumar, A., Navarro, M., Müller, M., Tilbrook, A.J., Plush, K.J., D'Souza, D.N. and Roura, E. (2023). Stocking density increases the incidence of tail biting in post-weaned pigs. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.015
2023
Journal Article
Review of the influence of farrowing and lactation housing and positive human contact on sow and piglet welfare
Hemsworth, Paul H., Tilbrook, Alan J., Galea, Rutu Y., Lucas, Megan E., Chidgey, Kirsty L. and Hemsworth, Lauren M. (2023). Review of the influence of farrowing and lactation housing and positive human contact on sow and piglet welfare. Frontiers in Animal Science, 4 1230830, 1-18. doi: 10.3389/fanim.2023.1230830
2023
Journal Article
Leucine (and lysine) increased plasma levels of the satiety hormone CCK, and phenylalanine of the incretin GLP-1 after oral gavages in pigs
Müller, Maximiliano, Xu, Chenjing, Navarro, Marta, Masiques, Nuria Elias, Tilbrook, Alan, van Barneveld, Robert and Roura, Eugeni (2023). Leucine (and lysine) increased plasma levels of the satiety hormone CCK, and phenylalanine of the incretin GLP-1 after oral gavages in pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 101 skad175. doi: 10.1093/jas/skad175
2023
Journal Article
State of the art and the future of fecal analysis using infrared spectroscopy
Kho, Elise A., Fernandes, Jill N., Tilbrook, Alan J., Fox, Glen P., Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T., Kotze, Andrew C., Beasley, Anne M., James, Peter J., Tolleson, Douglas R. and Cozzolino, Daniel (2023). State of the art and the future of fecal analysis using infrared spectroscopy. Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, 58 (10), 755-785. doi: 10.1080/05704928.2022.2143795
2023
Conference Publication
Plasma cortisol response to adrenocorticotropin hormone is negativelym related to previous wool growth and is greater in twin than single sheep
Walters, K. L., Dunshea, F. R., Tilbrook, A. J. and Leury, B. J. (2023). Plasma cortisol response to adrenocorticotropin hormone is negativelym related to previous wool growth and is greater in twin than single sheep. ISRP 2009: XIth International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 6-9 September 2009. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
2022
Journal Article
An oral gavage of lysine elicited early satiation while gavages of lysine, leucine, or isoleucine prolonged satiety in pigs
Müller, Maximiliano, Xu, Chenjing, Navarro, Marta, Masiques, Nuria Elias, Tilbrook, Alan, van Barneveld, Robert and Roura, Eugeni (2022). An oral gavage of lysine elicited early satiation while gavages of lysine, leucine, or isoleucine prolonged satiety in pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 100 (12) skac361, 1-8. doi: 10.1093/jas/skac361
2022
Conference Publication
Variation in wool cortisol concentrations of australian merino lambs between twice or single shorn ewes
Hantzopoulou, Georgia-Constantina, Sawyer, Gregory, Tilbrook, Alan and Narayan, Edward (2022). Variation in wool cortisol concentrations of australian merino lambs between twice or single shorn ewes. QAAFI Student Symposium 2022 – A Future for Sustainable Food Systems 2.0, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 30 September 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Wool provides key insights into the physiological sensitivity of Merino sheep to environment and management intervention
Narayan, Edward, Hantzopoulou, Georgia, Sawyer, Gregory and Tilbrook, Alan (2022). Wool provides key insights into the physiological sensitivity of Merino sheep to environment and management intervention. Australasian Association of Animal Sciences, Cairns, QLD, Australia, 5-7 July 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Melatonin dose: testicular and testosterone response in Border Leicester rams during spring
Kleemann, D. O., Kelly, J. M., Arney, L. J., Tilbrook, A. J. and Walker, S. K. (2022). Melatonin dose: testicular and testosterone response in Border Leicester rams during spring. Livestock Science, 260 104928, 104928. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2022.104928
2022
Journal Article
Intra-and Inter-sample variation in wool cortisol concentrations of Australian Merino lambs between twice or single shorn ewes
Hantzopoulou, Georgia-Constantina, Sawyer, Gregory, Tilbrook, Alan J. and Narayan, Edward (2022). Intra-and Inter-sample variation in wool cortisol concentrations of Australian Merino lambs between twice or single shorn ewes. Frontiers in Animal Science, 3 890914. doi: 10.3389/fanim.2022.890914
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Alan Tilbrook is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Effect of Analgesia and Haemostasis on Beef Calves during dehorning in Northern Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kieren McCosker
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Doctor Philosophy
PhD Analgesia and Haemostasis to achieve high standards of beef calf welfare in northern Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kieren McCosker
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Doctor Philosophy
Early life experiences and stress resilience in pigs
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Early life stress and subsequent stress resilience and emotionality in pigs
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Eliminating pig tail removal to improve welfare and industry sustainability
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Marta Navarro, Dr Arun Kumar, Professor Eugeni Roura
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Doctor Philosophy
Maternal-foetal programming of stress resilience in Merino sheep
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Hudson
Completed supervision
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Dietary amino acid excesses and appetition in weaned pigs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Eugeni Roura
Media
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