
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
2009
Journal Article
Cortisol reduces gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse frequency in follicular phase ewes: Influence of ovarian steroids
Oakley, Amy E., Breen, Kellie M., Clarke, Iain J., Karsch, Fred J., Wagenmaker, Elizabeth R. and Tilbrook, Alan J. (2009). Cortisol reduces gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse frequency in follicular phase ewes: Influence of ovarian steroids. Endocrinology, 150 (1), 341-349. doi: 10.1210/en.2008-0587
2008
Journal Article
Potent action of RFamide-related peptide-3 on pituitary gonadotropes indicative of a hypophysiotropic role in the negative regulation of gonadotropin secretion
Clarke, Iain J., Sari, Ika P., Qi, Yue, Smith, Jeremy T., Parkington, Helena C., Ubuka, Takayoshi, Iqbal, Javed, Li, Qun, Tilbrook, Alan, Morgan, Kevin, Pawson, Adam J., Tsutsui, Kazuyoshi, Millar, Robert P. and Bentley, George E. (2008). Potent action of RFamide-related peptide-3 on pituitary gonadotropes indicative of a hypophysiotropic role in the negative regulation of gonadotropin secretion. Endocrinology, 149 (11), 5811-5821. doi: 10.1210/en.2008-0575
2008
Journal Article
Variation in kisspeptin and RFamide-related peptide (RFRP) expression and terminal connections to gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the brain: A novel medium for seasonal breeding in the sheep
Smith, Jeremy T., Coolen, Lique M., Kriegsfeld, Lance J., Sari, Ika P., Jaafarzadehshirazi, Mohammad R., Maltby, Matthew, Bateman, Katherine, Goodman, Robert L., Tilbrook, Alan J., Ubuka, Takayoshi, Bentley, George E., Clarke, Iain J. and Lehman, Michael N. (2008). Variation in kisspeptin and RFamide-related peptide (RFRP) expression and terminal connections to gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the brain: A novel medium for seasonal breeding in the sheep. Endocrinology, 149 (11), 5770-5782. doi: 10.1210/en.2008-0581
2008
Journal Article
Artificial lighting during winter increases milk yield in dairy ewes
Morrissey, A. D., Cameron, A. W. N. and Tilbrook, A. J. (2008). Artificial lighting during winter increases milk yield in dairy ewes. Journal of Dairy Science, 91 (11), 4238-4243. doi: 10.3168/jds.2007-0918
2008
Journal Article
Psychosocial stress suppresses attractivity, proceptivity and pulsatile LH secretion in the ewe
Pierce, B. N., Hemsworth, P. H., Rivalland, E. T. A., Wagenmaker, E. R., Morrissey, A. D., Papargiris, M. M., Clarke, I. J., Karsch, F. J., Turner, A. I. and Tilbrook, A. J. (2008). Psychosocial stress suppresses attractivity, proceptivity and pulsatile LH secretion in the ewe. Hormones and Behavior, 54 (3), 424-434. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.04.005
2008
Journal Article
Responses of the hypothalamopituitary adrenal axis and the sympathoadrenal system to isolation/restraint stress in sheep of different adiposity
Tilbrook, Alan J., Rivalland, Elizabeth A. T., Turner, Anne I., Lambert, Gavin W. and Clarke, Iain J. (2008). Responses of the hypothalamopituitary adrenal axis and the sympathoadrenal system to isolation/restraint stress in sheep of different adiposity. Neuroendocrinology, 87 (4), 193-205. doi: 10.1159/000117576
2008
Journal Article
The effect of testosterone and season on prodynorphin messenger RNA expression in the preoptic area-hypothalamus of the ram
Scott, Christopher J., Clarke, Iain J. and Tilbrook, Alan J. (2008). The effect of testosterone and season on prodynorphin messenger RNA expression in the preoptic area-hypothalamus of the ram. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, 34 (4), 440-450. doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2008.01.001
2008
Journal Article
Pregnancy does not affect commercial milk yield in dairy ewes managed to lamb at 9-month intervals
Morrissey, A. D., Cameron, A. W. N. and Tilbrook, A. J. (2008). Pregnancy does not affect commercial milk yield in dairy ewes managed to lamb at 9-month intervals. Small Ruminant Research, 76 (3), 211-214. doi: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2007.12.021
2007
Journal Article
Predicting milk yield in sheep used for dairying in Australia
Morrissey, A. D., Cameron, A. W. N., Caddy, D. J. and Tilbrook, A. J. (2007). Predicting milk yield in sheep used for dairying in Australia. Journal of Dairy Science, 90 (11), 5056-5061. doi: 10.3168/jds.2007-0336
2007
Journal Article
Sexual behavior of male pigs
Hemsworth, P. H. and Tilbrook, A. J. (2007). Sexual behavior of male pigs. Hormones and Behavior, 52 (1), 39-44. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.03.013
2007
Journal Article
Does cortisol acting via the type II glucocorticoid receptor mediate suppression of pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion in response to psychosocial stress?
Breen, Kellie M., Oakley, Amy E., Pytiak, Andrew V., Tilbrook, Alan J., Wagenmaker, Elizabeth R. and Karsch, Fred J. (2007). Does cortisol acting via the type II glucocorticoid receptor mediate suppression of pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion in response to psychosocial stress?. Endocrinology, 148 (4), 1882-1890. doi: 10.1210/en.2006-0973
2007
Journal Article
Isolation and restraint stress results in differential activation of corticotrophin-releasing hormone and arginine vasopressin neurons in sheep
Rivalland, E. T. A., Clarke, I. J., Turner, A. I., Pompolo, S. and Tilbrook, J. (2007). Isolation and restraint stress results in differential activation of corticotrophin-releasing hormone and arginine vasopressin neurons in sheep. Neuroscience, 145 (3), 1048-1058. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.12.045
2007
Conference Publication
Gonadal steroids of the follicular phase enable cortisol to act centrally and inhibit GNRH pulse frequency.
Oakley, Amy, Tilbrook, Alan, Wagen-Maker, Elizabeth and Karsch, Fred (2007). Gonadal steroids of the follicular phase enable cortisol to act centrally and inhibit GNRH pulse frequency.. 40th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-the-Study-of-Reproduction, San Antonio Tx, Jul 21-25, 2007. SOC STUDY REPRODUCTION.
2007
Book Chapter
Neuropeptides, Stress-Related
Tilbrook, A. J. (2007). Neuropeptides, Stress-Related. Encyclopedia of Stress. (pp. 903-908) Elsevier Inc.. doi: 10.1016/B978-012373947-6.00735-2
2007
Conference Publication
Estradiol enables the direct pituitary actions of cortisol to suppress gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GNRH)-induced lh secretion in ovariectomized hypothalamo-pituitary disconnected (HPD) ewes during the breeding season.
Pierce, Bree, Clarke, Lain, Breen, Kellie, Karsch, Fred, Rivalland, Elizabeth, Caddy, David and Tilbrook, Alan (2007). Estradiol enables the direct pituitary actions of cortisol to suppress gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GNRH)-induced lh secretion in ovariectomized hypothalamo-pituitary disconnected (HPD) ewes during the breeding season.. 40th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-the-Study-of-Reproduction, San Antonio Tx, Jul 21-25, 2007. SOC STUDY REPRODUCTION.
2006
Journal Article
Projections to the preoptic area from the paraventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis are unlikely to be involved in stress-induced suppression of GnRH secretion in sheep
Rivalland, Elizabeth T. A., Tilbrook, Alan J., Turner, Anne I., Iqbal, Javed, Pompolo, Sueli and Clarke, Iain J. (2006). Projections to the preoptic area from the paraventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis are unlikely to be involved in stress-induced suppression of GnRH secretion in sheep. Neuroendocrinology, 84 (1), 1-13. doi: 10.1159/000096372
2006
Journal Article
Neuroendocrine mechanisms of innate states of attenuated responsiveness of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis to stress
Tilbrook, A. J. and Clarke, I. J. (2006). Neuroendocrine mechanisms of innate states of attenuated responsiveness of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis to stress. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 27 (3), 285-307. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2006.06.002
2006
Conference Publication
Isolation/restraint stress in sheep activates projections to the preoptic area arising from the paraventricular nucleus but not those arising from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis or the arcuate nucleus
Tilbrook, A. J., Rivalland, E. T. A., Turner, A. I., Pompolo, S. and Clarke, I. J. (2006). Isolation/restraint stress in sheep activates projections to the preoptic area arising from the paraventricular nucleus but not those arising from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis or the arcuate nucleus. 6th International Congress of Neuroendocrinology, Pittsburgh Pa, Jun 19-22, 2006. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2006.03.081
2006
Journal Article
A sex difference in the cortisol response to tail docking an ACTH develops between 1 and 8 weeks of age in lambs
Turner, AI, Hosking, BJ, Parr, RA and Tilbrook, AJ (2006). A sex difference in the cortisol response to tail docking an ACTH develops between 1 and 8 weeks of age in lambs. Journal of Endocrinology, 188 (3), 443-449. doi: 10.1677/joe.1.06328
2006
Journal Article
Sex difference in the suppressive effect of cortisol on pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone in sheep
Stackpole, Catherine A., Clarke, Iain J., Breen, Kellie M., Turner, Anne I., Karsch, Fred J. and Tilbrook, Alan J. (2006). Sex difference in the suppressive effect of cortisol on pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone in sheep. Endocrinology, 147 (12), 5921-5931. doi: 10.1210/en.2006-0667
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
Maternal-foetal programming of stress resilience in Merino sheep
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nick Hudson
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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
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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