
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
2020
Journal Article
An extended photoperiod increases milk yield and decreases ovulatory activity in dairy goats
Logan, Kathryn J., Leury, Brian J., Russo, Vicki M., Cameron, A.W.N. (Sandy), Tilbrook, Alan J. and Dunshea, Frank R. (2020). An extended photoperiod increases milk yield and decreases ovulatory activity in dairy goats. Animals, 10 (10) 1879, 1879-10. doi: 10.3390/ani10101879
2020
Other Outputs
Sheep shearing and epigenetic change
Narayan, Edward, Sawyer, Gregory, Fox, Dylan and Tilbrook, Alan (2020). Sheep shearing and epigenetic change. The Rocks, NSW Australia: Australian Wool Innovation.
2020
Journal Article
Welfare issues associated with moulting of laying hens
Glatz, P. C. and Tilbrook, A. J. (2020). Welfare issues associated with moulting of laying hens. Animal Production Science, 61 (10), 1006-1012. doi: 10.1071/AN19700
2020
Journal Article
Stress, health and the welfare of laying hens
Tilbrook, A. J. and Fisher, A. D. (2020). Stress, health and the welfare of laying hens. Animal Production Science, 61 (10), 931-943. doi: 10.1071/an19666
2019
Journal Article
Reduced protein diet and amino acid concentration alter intestinal barrier function and performance of broiler chickens with or without synthetic glucocorticoid
Barekatain, R., Nattrass, G., Tilbrook, A. J., Chousalkar, K. and Gilani, S. (2019). Reduced protein diet and amino acid concentration alter intestinal barrier function and performance of broiler chickens with or without synthetic glucocorticoid. Poultry Science, 98 (9), 3662-3675. doi: 10.3382/ps/pey563
2019
Journal Article
Addressing animal welfare through collaborative stakeholder networks
Fernandes, Jill, Blache, Dominique, Maloney, Shane K., Martin, Graeme B., Venus, Bronwyn, Walker, Frederick Rohan, Head, Brian and Tilbrook, Alan (2019). Addressing animal welfare through collaborative stakeholder networks. Agriculture, 9 (6) 132, 132. doi: 10.3390/agriculture9060132
2019
Journal Article
Understanding Nature’s Way of Regulating Stress will Improve Animal Welfare and Productivity
Tilbrook, A. J. (2019). Understanding Nature’s Way of Regulating Stress will Improve Animal Welfare and Productivity. Journal of Dairy & Veterinary Sciences, 9 (1). doi: 10.19080/jdvs.2019.09.555755
2019
Journal Article
Understanding Nature’s Way of Regulating Stress will Improve Animal Welfare and Productivity
Tilbrook, A.J. (2019). Understanding Nature’s Way of Regulating Stress will Improve Animal Welfare and Productivity. Journal of Dairy & Veterinary Sciences. doi: 10.19080/JDVS.2019.09.555755
2018
Journal Article
Anogenital distance reflects the sex ratio of a gilt's birth litter and predicts her reproductive success
Seyfang, Jemma, Ralph, Cameron R., Hebart, Michelle L., Tilbrook, Alan J. and Kirkwood, Roy N. (2018). Anogenital distance reflects the sex ratio of a gilt's birth litter and predicts her reproductive success. Journal of Animal Science, 96 (9), 3856-3862. doi: 10.1093/jas/sky248
2018
Journal Article
The effects of floor space and nest box access on the physiology and behavior of caged laying hens
Engel, J.M., Widowski, T.M., Tilbrook, A.J., Butler, K.L. and Hemsworth, P.H. (2018). The effects of floor space and nest box access on the physiology and behavior of caged laying hens. Poultry Science, 98 (2), 533-547. doi: 10.3382/ps/pey378
2018
Journal Article
Sex bias of the birth litter affects surge but not tonic LH secretion in gilts
Seyfang, Jemma, Kirkwood, Roy N., Tilbrook, Alan J. and Ralph, Cameron R. (2018). Sex bias of the birth litter affects surge but not tonic LH secretion in gilts. Journal of Animal Science, 96 (6), 2195-2203. doi: 10.1093/jas/sky151
2018
Journal Article
The sex ratio of a gilt's birth litter can affect her fitness as a breeding female
Seyfang, J., Kirkwood, R. N., Tilbrook, A. J. and Ralph, C. R. (2018). The sex ratio of a gilt's birth litter can affect her fitness as a breeding female. Animal Production Science, 58 (9), 1567-1574. doi: 10.1071/AN17192
2018
Journal Article
Hormones, stress and the welfare of animals
Tilbrook, A. J. and Ralph, C. R. (2018). Hormones, stress and the welfare of animals. Animal Production Science, 58 (3), 408-415. doi: 10.1071/AN16808
2017
Journal Article
The sex ratio of a litter affects the behaviour of its female pigs until at least 16 weeks of age
Seyfang, Jemma, Plush, Kate J., Kirkwood, Roy N., Tilbrook, Alan J. and Ralph, Cameron R. (2017). The sex ratio of a litter affects the behaviour of its female pigs until at least 16 weeks of age. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 200, 45-50. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.12.001
2017
Journal Article
Neurophysiological assessment of animal welfare
Tilbrook, A. J. and Ralph, C. R. (2017). Neurophysiological assessment of animal welfare. Animal Production Science, 57 (12), 2370-2375. doi: 10.1071/AN17312
2017
Journal Article
Response to gonadotrophins differs for gilts from female- and male-biased litters
Seyfang, Jemma, Ralph, C. R., Tilbrook, A. J. and Kirkwood, R. N. (2017). Response to gonadotrophins differs for gilts from female- and male-biased litters. Animal Reproduction Science, 182, 134-137. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2017.05.012
2017
Conference Publication
The pre-ovulatory luteinising hormone surge is affected by the sex ratio of a gilt's birth litter
Seyfang, J., Kirkwood, R. N., Tilbrook, A. J. and Ralph, C. R. (2017). The pre-ovulatory luteinising hormone surge is affected by the sex ratio of a gilt's birth litter. Manipulating Pig Production XVI, Melbourne, Australia, November 2017. Clayton, VIC Australia: CSIRO Publishing. doi: 10.1071/ANv57n12Ab016
2017
Conference Publication
A single intravenous injection of Kisspeptin evokes an increase in luteinising hormone in 15- and 18-week-old gilts
Ralph, C. R., Kirkwood, R. N. and Tilbrook, A. J. (2017). A single intravenous injection of Kisspeptin evokes an increase in luteinising hormone in 15- and 18-week-old gilts. 2017 Australasian Pig Science Association: Manipulating Pig Production XVI, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 19 - 22 November 2017. C S I R O Publishing: Clayton, VIC, Australia. doi: 10.1071/ANv57n12Ab067
2017
Journal Article
Hair cortisol and its potential value as a physiological measure of stress response in human and non-human animals
Burnard, C., Ralph, C., Hynd, P., Hocking Edwards, J. and Tilbrook, A. (2017). Hair cortisol and its potential value as a physiological measure of stress response in human and non-human animals. Animal Production Science, 57 (3), 401-414. doi: 10.1071/AN15622
2016
Journal Article
Effects of varying floor space on aggressive behavior and cortisol concentrations in group-housed sows
Hemsworth, P. H., Morrison, R. S., Tilbrook, A. J., Butler, K. L., Rice, M. and Moeller, S. J. (2016). Effects of varying floor space on aggressive behavior and cortisol concentrations in group-housed sows. Journal of Animal Science, 94 (11), 4809-4818. doi: 10.2527/jas.2016-0583
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
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
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
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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