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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

201 - 211 of 211 works

1988

Journal Article

Habituation to boar stimuli: Possible mechanism responsible for the reduced detection rate of oestrous gilts housed adjacent to boars

Hemsworth, PH, Winfield, CG, Tilbrook, AJ, Hansen, C and Barnett, JL (1988). Habituation to boar stimuli: Possible mechanism responsible for the reduced detection rate of oestrous gilts housed adjacent to boars. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 19 (3-4), 255-264. doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(88)90006-8

Habituation to boar stimuli: Possible mechanism responsible for the reduced detection rate of oestrous gilts housed adjacent to boars

1987

Journal Article

Differences in the sexual "attractiveness" of oestrous ewes to rams

Tilbrook, AJ and Lindsay, DR (1987). Differences in the sexual "attractiveness" of oestrous ewes to rams. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 17 (1-2), 129-138. doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(87)90015-3

Differences in the sexual "attractiveness" of oestrous ewes to rams

1987

Journal Article

The number of spermatozoa required by naturally mated ewes and the ability of rams to meet these requirements

Cameron, Awn, Tilbrook, AJ, Lindsay, DR, Fairnie, IJ and Keogh, EJ (1987). The number of spermatozoa required by naturally mated ewes and the ability of rams to meet these requirements. Animal Reproduction Science, 13 (2), 91-104. doi: 10.1016/0378-4320(87)90122-9

The number of spermatozoa required by naturally mated ewes and the ability of rams to meet these requirements

1987

Journal Article

The influence of factors associated with oestrus on the sexual "attractiveness" of ewes to rams

Tilbrook, AJ (1987). The influence of factors associated with oestrus on the sexual "attractiveness" of ewes to rams. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 17 (1-2), 117-128. doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(87)90014-1

The influence of factors associated with oestrus on the sexual "attractiveness" of ewes to rams

1987

Journal Article

The influence of ram mating preferences and social interaction between rams on the proportion of ewes mated at field joining

Tilbrook, AJ, Cameron, Awn and Lindsay, DR (1987). The influence of ram mating preferences and social interaction between rams on the proportion of ewes mated at field joining. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 18 (2), 173-184. doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(87)90191-2

The influence of ram mating preferences and social interaction between rams on the proportion of ewes mated at field joining

1987

Journal Article

Physical and behavioural factors affecting the sexual "attractiveness" of the ewe

Tilbrook, AJ (1987). Physical and behavioural factors affecting the sexual "attractiveness" of the ewe. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 17 (1-2), 109-115. doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(87)90013-X

Physical and behavioural factors affecting the sexual "attractiveness" of the ewe

1986

Journal Article

Pattern of loss of spermatozoa from the vagina of the ewe

Tilbrook, A. J. and Pearce, D. T. (1986). Pattern of loss of spermatozoa from the vagina of the ewe. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences, 39 (3), 295-304. doi: 10.1071/BI9860295

Pattern of loss of spermatozoa from the vagina of the ewe

1986

Journal Article

Pattern of Loss of Spermatozoa From the Vagina of the Ewe

Tilbrook, AJ and Pearce, DT (1986). Pattern of Loss of Spermatozoa From the Vagina of the Ewe. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences, 39 (3), 295-303.

Pattern of Loss of Spermatozoa From the Vagina of the Ewe

1986

Journal Article

Time required for spermatozoa to remain in the vagina of the Ewe to ensure conception

Tilbrook, A. J. and Pearce, D. T. (1986). Time required for spermatozoa to remain in the vagina of the Ewe to ensure conception. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences, 39 (3), 305-310. doi: 10.1071/BI9860305

Time required for spermatozoa to remain in the vagina of the Ewe to ensure conception

1986

Journal Article

The effect of testicular weight and insemination technique on fertility of sheep

Cameron, Awn, Tilbrook, AJ, Lindsay, DR, Keogh, EJ and Fairnie, IJ (1986). The effect of testicular weight and insemination technique on fertility of sheep. Animal Reproduction Science, 12 (3), 189-194. doi: 10.1016/0378-4320(86)90039-4

The effect of testicular weight and insemination technique on fertility of sheep

1986

Journal Article

Time Required for Spermatozoa to Remain in the Vagina of the Ewe to Ensure Conception

Tilbrook, AJ and Pearce, DT (1986). Time Required for Spermatozoa to Remain in the Vagina of the Ewe to Ensure Conception. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences, 39 (3), 305-309.

Time Required for Spermatozoa to Remain in the Vagina of the Ewe to Ensure Conception

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

    Early life stress and subsequent stress resilience and emotionality in pigs

    Principal Advisor

  • 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

    Eliminating pig tail removal to improve welfare and industry sustainability

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Marta Navarro, Dr Arun Kumar, Professor Eugeni Roura

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Maternal-foetal programming of stress resilience in Merino sheep

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Nick Hudson

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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