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Professor Alan Tilbrook
Professor

Alan Tilbrook

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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

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia

Research interests

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

211 works between 1986 and 2025

21 - 40 of 211 works

2022

Journal Article

Interplay between stress and reproduction: Novel epigenetic markers in response to shearing patterns in Australian Merino sheep (Ovis aries)

Narayan, Edward, Sawyer, Gregory, Fox, Dylan, Smith, Ryan and Tilbrook, Alan (2022). Interplay between stress and reproduction: Novel epigenetic markers in response to shearing patterns in Australian Merino sheep (Ovis aries). Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9 830450, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.830450

Interplay between stress and reproduction: Novel epigenetic markers in response to shearing patterns in Australian Merino sheep (Ovis aries)

2022

Journal Article

CCK and GLP-1 release in response to proteinogenic amino acids using a small intestine ex vivo model in pigs

Müller, Maximiliano, Van Liefferinge, Elout, Navarro, Marta, Garcia-Puig, Elisabet, Tilbrook, Alan, van Barneveld, Robert and Roura, Eugeni (2022). CCK and GLP-1 release in response to proteinogenic amino acids using a small intestine ex vivo model in pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 100 (4) skac093. doi: 10.1093/jas/skac093

CCK and GLP-1 release in response to proteinogenic amino acids using a small intestine ex vivo model in pigs

2022

Journal Article

Measurement of corticosterone in the plasma, eggs and faeces of laying hens

Engel, Joanna M., Hemsworth, Paul H., Butler, Kym L. and Tilbrook, Alan J. (2022). Measurement of corticosterone in the plasma, eggs and faeces of laying hens. Animal Production Science, 62 (9), 828-835. doi: 10.1071/an21535

Measurement of corticosterone in the plasma, eggs and faeces of laying hens

2021

Other Outputs

Interplay between stress and reproduction: Novel epigenetic markers in response to shearing patterns in Australian Merino sheep (Ovis aries)

Narayan, Edward, Sawyer, Gregory, Fox, Dylan, Smith, Ryan and Tilbrook, Alan (2021). Interplay between stress and reproduction: Novel epigenetic markers in response to shearing patterns in Australian Merino sheep (Ovis aries).

Interplay between stress and reproduction: Novel epigenetic markers in response to shearing patterns in Australian Merino sheep (Ovis aries)

2021

Conference Publication

Maternal contact and human interaction does little to change piglet performance during lactation

Tomas, K., Savaglia, J., Plush, K.J., D'Souza, D.N., Fernandes, J.N., Butler, K.L., Hemsworth, P.H. and Tilbrook, A.J. (2021). Maternal contact and human interaction does little to change piglet performance during lactation. Manipulating Pig Production XVIII, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 15–18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.145

Maternal contact and human interaction does little to change piglet performance during lactation

2021

Conference Publication

28. The anorexigenic effect of dietary lysine could be mediated by increased jejunal cholecystokinin secretion in piglets

Müller, M., Tilbrook, A. J., van Barneveld, R. J., Niknafs, S. and Roura, E. (2021). 28. The anorexigenic effect of dietary lysine could be mediated by increased jejunal cholecystokinin secretion in piglets. Proceedings of the Eighteenth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 15 - 18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.113

28. The anorexigenic effect of dietary lysine could be mediated by increased jejunal cholecystokinin secretion in piglets

2021

Conference Publication

Reduced maternal contact and positive human contact has a limited effect on 18-day old piglet behaviour in a novel arena test

Savaglia, J., Tomas, K., Plush, K.J., Zemitis, J.E., D'Souza, D.N., Butler, K.L., Hemsworth, P.H. and Tilbrook, A.J. (2021). Reduced maternal contact and positive human contact has a limited effect on 18-day old piglet behaviour in a novel arena test. Manipulating Pig Production XVIII, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 15–18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.146

Reduced maternal contact and positive human contact has a limited effect on 18-day old piglet behaviour in a novel arena test

2021

Conference Publication

An oral gavage of leucine decreases feed intake by triggering early satiation and prolonging satiety in young pigs

Müller, M., Tilbrook, A. J., van Barneveld, R. J., Navarro, M. and Roura, E. (2021). An oral gavage of leucine decreases feed intake by triggering early satiation and prolonging satiety in young pigs. 18th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA), Brisbane, Australia, 15-18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier . doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.114

An oral gavage of leucine decreases feed intake by triggering early satiation and prolonging satiety in young pigs

2021

Journal Article

Sexual behaviour, semen quality and fertility of young Border Leicester rams administered melatonin during spring

Kleemann, D. O., Kelly, J. M., Arney, L. J., Len, J., Tilbrook, A. J. and Walker, S. K. (2021). Sexual behaviour, semen quality and fertility of young Border Leicester rams administered melatonin during spring. Animal Reproduction Science, 231 106804, 106804. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106804

Sexual behaviour, semen quality and fertility of young Border Leicester rams administered melatonin during spring

2021

Book

Animal welfare assessment: volume 1

Edward Narayan, Alan G. McElligott and Alan Tilbrook eds. (2021). Animal welfare assessment: volume 1. Frontiers Research Topics, Laussane, Switzerland: Frontiers Media SA. doi: 10.3389/978-2-88971-098-0

Animal welfare assessment: volume 1

2021

Journal Article

Layer hen welfare

Hemsworth, Paul H., Tilbrook, Alan J., Campbell, Dana L. M. and Fisher, Andrew D. (2021). Layer hen welfare. Animal Production Science, 61 (10), i-i. doi: 10.1071/ANv61n10_FO

Layer hen welfare

2021

Journal Article

Positive human contact and housing systems impact the responses of piglets to various stressors

Hayes, Megan E., Hemsworth, Lauren M., Morrison, Rebecca S., Tilbrook, Alan J. and Hemsworth, Paul H. (2021). Positive human contact and housing systems impact the responses of piglets to various stressors. Animals, 11 (6) 1619, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/ani11061619

Positive human contact and housing systems impact the responses of piglets to various stressors

2021

Journal Article

A retrospective literature evaluation of the integration of stress physiology indices, animal welfare and climate change assessment of production livestock

Narayan, Edward , Barreto, Michelle , Hantzopoulou, Georgia-Constantina and Tilbrook, Alan (2021). A retrospective literature evaluation of the integration of stress physiology indices, animal welfare and climate change assessment of production livestock. Animals, 11 (5) 1287, 1287. doi: 10.3390/ani11051287

A retrospective literature evaluation of the integration of stress physiology indices, animal welfare and climate change assessment of production livestock

2021

Journal Article

Editorial: Animal Welfare Assessment: Edition 1

Narayan, Edward, McElligott, Alan and Tilbrook, Alan J. (2021). Editorial: Animal Welfare Assessment: Edition 1. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8 653422, 653422. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.653422

Editorial: Animal Welfare Assessment: Edition 1

2021

Other Outputs

Researching the sustainable traceability of ruminant livestock production in Vietnam: 2020 ACIAR Launch Workshop: Technical Report

Narayan, Edward, Gaughan, John, McNeill, David, Krishnasamy, Suresh, Tilbrook, Alan and Hoffman, Louw (2021). Researching the sustainable traceability of ruminant livestock production in Vietnam: 2020 ACIAR Launch Workshop: Technical Report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.

Researching the sustainable traceability of ruminant livestock production in Vietnam: 2020 ACIAR Launch Workshop: Technical Report

2021

Journal Article

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the welfare of animals in Australia

Baptista, Jacqueline, Blache, Dominique, Cox-Witton, Keren, Craddock, Nicola, Dalziel, Toni, de Graaff, Nicolas, Fernandes, Jill, Green, Ronda, Jenkins, Helen, Kahn, Sarah, Kelly, Deborah, Lauber, Mariko, Maloney, Shane K., Peachey, Bridget, Rodger, Ian, Skuse, Jeremy, Tilbrook, Alan J., Walker, Frederick Rohan, Wall, Kelly and Zito, Sarah (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the welfare of animals in Australia. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7 621843, 621843. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.621843

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the welfare of animals in Australia

2021

Journal Article

Costs and benefits of improving farm animal welfare

Fernandes, Jill N., Hemsworth, Paul H., Coleman, Grahame J. and Tilbrook, Alan J. (2021). Costs and benefits of improving farm animal welfare. Agriculture, 11 (2) 104, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/agriculture11020104

Costs and benefits of improving farm animal welfare

2021

Conference Publication

Understanding maternal Merino sheep resilience to stress using wool hormone monitoring, epigenetics and Smart tags

Narayan, E,, Fox, D., Sawyer, G. and Tilbrook, A. (2021). Understanding maternal Merino sheep resilience to stress using wool hormone monitoring, epigenetics and Smart tags. 33rd AAAS Biennial Conference , Perth, 1-3 February 2021.

Understanding maternal Merino sheep resilience to stress using wool hormone monitoring, epigenetics and Smart tags

2021

Journal Article

Chronic elevation of plasma cortisol causes differential expression of predominating glucocorticoid in plasma, saliva, fecal, and wool matrices in sheep

Weaver, S. J., Hynd, P. I., Ralph, C. R., Hocking Edwards, J. E., Burnard, C. L., Narayan, E. and Tilbrook, A. J. (2021). Chronic elevation of plasma cortisol causes differential expression of predominating glucocorticoid in plasma, saliva, fecal, and wool matrices in sheep. Domestic Animal Endocronology, 74 106503, 106503. doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2020.106503

Chronic elevation of plasma cortisol causes differential expression of predominating glucocorticoid in plasma, saliva, fecal, and wool matrices in sheep

2020

Conference Publication

Tracking stress remotely via wool cortisol and SMART tags: shearing early in pregnancy reduces stress and improves productivity of Merino sheep

Narayan, Edward, Fox, Dylan, Sawyer, Gregory and Tilbrook, Alan (2020). Tracking stress remotely via wool cortisol and SMART tags: shearing early in pregnancy reduces stress and improves productivity of Merino sheep . QAAFI’s Annual Research Meeting 2020, Australia, 17 November 2020. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation.

Tracking stress remotely via wool cortisol and SMART tags: shearing early in pregnancy reduces stress and improves productivity of Merino sheep

Funding

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2026
    Supply chain best practice to improve the health and welfare of free-range buffalo harvest in Arnhem Land - Northern Territory.
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Goat Industry - Sustainability Credentials Project
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2026
    Animal Welfare Standards Project
    The University of Queensland in America, Inc
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024
    Best practice carbon dioxide stunning for pigs
    Sunpork Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Animal Welfare Standards Project Phase RCC: Sustainable, regional advancement in animal welfare in East Asia.
    The University of Queensland in America, Inc
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Brain measures of positive welfare in pigs
    Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Eliminating pig tail removal to improve welfare and industry sustainability (CRC-P administered by Sunpork)
    Sunpork Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Development of practical measures of animal welfare
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Early stress experiences and stress resilience and emotionality in pigs (ARC Linkage Project administered by The University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Sheep shearing and epigenetic change
    Australian Wool Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Increased pasture intake and reduced supplement requirements of sheep/cattle
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Alan Tilbrook is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Effect of Analgesia and Haemostasis on Beef Calves during dehorning in Northern Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kieren McCosker

  • Doctor Philosophy

    PhD Analgesia and Haemostasis to achieve high standards of beef calf welfare in northern Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kieren McCosker

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Early life experiences and stress resilience in pigs

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Early life stress and subsequent stress resilience and emotionality in pigs

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Maternal-foetal programming of stress resilience in Merino sheep

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Nick Hudson

  • 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

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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