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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 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 was Chair and Research Champion of the National Primary Industries Animal Welfare Research, Development and Extension Strategy from 2013 to 2025. He 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

217 works between 1986 and 2025

141 - 160 of 217 works

2003

Journal Article

Neuronal inputs from the hypothalamus and brain stem to the medial preoptic area of the ram: Neurochemical correlates and comparison to the ewe

Scott, CJ, Clarke, LJ and Tilbrook, AJ (2003). Neuronal inputs from the hypothalamus and brain stem to the medial preoptic area of the ram: Neurochemical correlates and comparison to the ewe. Biology of Reproduction, 68 (4), 1119-1133. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.102.010595

Neuronal inputs from the hypothalamus and brain stem to the medial preoptic area of the ram: Neurochemical correlates and comparison to the ewe

2003

Conference Publication

Cortisol does not suppress the luteinizing hormone (LH) response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in hypothalamo-pituitary disconnected rams and ewes.

Stackpole, CA, Turner, AI, Clarke, IJ and Tilbrook, AJ (2003). Cortisol does not suppress the luteinizing hormone (LH) response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in hypothalamo-pituitary disconnected rams and ewes.. 36th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-the-Study-of-Reproduction, Cincinnati Ohio, Jul 19-22, 2003. SOC STUDY REPRODUCTION.

Cortisol does not suppress the luteinizing hormone (LH) response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in hypothalamo-pituitary disconnected rams and ewes.

2002

Journal Article

Noradrenaline, but not neuropeptide Y, is elevated in cerebrospinal fluid from the third cerebral ventricle following audiovisual stress in gonadectomised rams and ewes

Turner, AI, Rivalland, ETA, Clarke, IJ, Lambert, GW, Morris, MJ and Tilbrook, AJ (2002). Noradrenaline, but not neuropeptide Y, is elevated in cerebrospinal fluid from the third cerebral ventricle following audiovisual stress in gonadectomised rams and ewes. Neuroendocrinology, 76 (6), 373-380. doi: 10.1159/000067584

Noradrenaline, but not neuropeptide Y, is elevated in cerebrospinal fluid from the third cerebral ventricle following audiovisual stress in gonadectomised rams and ewes

2002

Journal Article

Stress and reproduction: Central mechanisms and sex differences in non-rodent species

Tilbrook, A. J., Turner, A. I. and Clarke, I. J. (2002). Stress and reproduction: Central mechanisms and sex differences in non-rodent species. Stress-The International Journal On the Biology of Stress, 5 (2), 83-100. doi: 10.1080/10253890290027912

Stress and reproduction: Central mechanisms and sex differences in non-rodent species

2002

Journal Article

Susceptibility of reproduction in female pigs to impairment by stress and the role of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis

Turner, AI, Hemsworth, PH and Tilbrook, AJ (2002). Susceptibility of reproduction in female pigs to impairment by stress and the role of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 14 (6), 377-391. doi: 10.1071/RD02012

Susceptibility of reproduction in female pigs to impairment by stress and the role of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis

2002

Journal Article

Influence of sex and gonadal status of sheep on cortisol secretion in response to ACTH and on cortisol and LH secretion in response to stress: Importance of different stressors

Turner, AI, Canny, BJ, Hobbs, RJ, Bond, JD, Clarke, IJ and Tilbrook, AJ (2002). Influence of sex and gonadal status of sheep on cortisol secretion in response to ACTH and on cortisol and LH secretion in response to stress: Importance of different stressors. Journal of Endocrinology, 173 (1), 113-122. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1730113

Influence of sex and gonadal status of sheep on cortisol secretion in response to ACTH and on cortisol and LH secretion in response to stress: Importance of different stressors

2001

Journal Article

Differential expression of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript and agouti related-protein in chronically food-restricted sheep

Henry, BA, Rao, A, Ikenasio, BA, Mountjoy, KG, Tilbrook, AJ and Clarke, IJ (2001). Differential expression of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript and agouti related-protein in chronically food-restricted sheep. Brain Research, 918 (1-2), 40-50. doi: 10.1016/S0006-8993(01)02918-3

Differential expression of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript and agouti related-protein in chronically food-restricted sheep

2001

Journal Article

Chronic food-restriction alters the expression of somatostatin and growth hormone-releasing hormone in the ovariectomised ewe

Henry, BA, Rao, A, Tilbrook, AJ and Clarke, IJ (2001). Chronic food-restriction alters the expression of somatostatin and growth hormone-releasing hormone in the ovariectomised ewe. Journal of Endocrinology, 170 (1), R1-R5. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.170R001

Chronic food-restriction alters the expression of somatostatin and growth hormone-releasing hormone in the ovariectomised ewe

2001

Journal Article

Combined xylazine and ketamine as an analgesic regimen in sheep

Hughan, SC, Loose, JM, Caddy, DJ, Canny, BJ, Tilbrook, AJ and Young, IR (2001). Combined xylazine and ketamine as an analgesic regimen in sheep. Australian Veterinary Journal, 79 (3), 207-211. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2001.tb14582.x

Combined xylazine and ketamine as an analgesic regimen in sheep

2001

Journal Article

Influence of the degree of stimulation of the pituitary by gonadotropin-releasing hormone on the action of inhibin and testosterone to suppress the secretion of the gonadotropins in rams

Tilbrook, AJ, de Kretser, DM and Clarke, IJ (2001). Influence of the degree of stimulation of the pituitary by gonadotropin-releasing hormone on the action of inhibin and testosterone to suppress the secretion of the gonadotropins in rams. Biology of Reproduction, 64 (2), 473-481. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod64.2.473

Influence of the degree of stimulation of the pituitary by gonadotropin-releasing hormone on the action of inhibin and testosterone to suppress the secretion of the gonadotropins in rams

2001

Journal Article

Intracerebroventricular infusion of leptin elevates the secretion of luteinising hormone without affecting food intake in long-term food-restricted sheep, but increases growth hormone irrespective of bodyweight

Henry, BA, Goding, JW, Tilbrook, AJ, Dunshea, FR and Clarke, IJ (2001). Intracerebroventricular infusion of leptin elevates the secretion of luteinising hormone without affecting food intake in long-term food-restricted sheep, but increases growth hormone irrespective of bodyweight. Journal of Endocrinology, 168 (1), 67-77. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1680067

Intracerebroventricular infusion of leptin elevates the secretion of luteinising hormone without affecting food intake in long-term food-restricted sheep, but increases growth hormone irrespective of bodyweight

2001

Journal Article

Sex, fat and the tilt of the earth: Effects of sex and season on the feeding response to centrally administered leptin in sheep

Clarke, IJ, Tilbrook, AJ, Turner, AI, Doughton, BW and Goding, JW (2001). Sex, fat and the tilt of the earth: Effects of sex and season on the feeding response to centrally administered leptin in sheep. Endocrinology, 142 (6), 2725-2728. doi: 10.1210/en.142.6.2725

Sex, fat and the tilt of the earth: Effects of sex and season on the feeding response to centrally administered leptin in sheep

2001

Journal Article

Changes in preoptic and hypothalamic levels of progesterone receptor mRNA across the oestrous cycle of the ewe

Scott, CJ, Pereira, AM, Tilbrook, AJ, Rawson, JA and Clarke, IJ (2001). Changes in preoptic and hypothalamic levels of progesterone receptor mRNA across the oestrous cycle of the ewe. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 13 (5), 401-406. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2826.2001.00641.x

Changes in preoptic and hypothalamic levels of progesterone receptor mRNA across the oestrous cycle of the ewe

2001

Journal Article

Progesterone and testosterone in combination act in the hypothalamus of castrated rams to regulate the secretion of LH

Turner, AI, Tilbrook, AJ, Clarke, IJ and Scott, CJ (2001). Progesterone and testosterone in combination act in the hypothalamus of castrated rams to regulate the secretion of LH. Journal of Endocrinology, 169 (2), 291-298. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1690291

Progesterone and testosterone in combination act in the hypothalamus of castrated rams to regulate the secretion of LH

2001

Journal Article

Negative feedback regulation of the secretion and actions of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in males

Tilbrook, A. J. and Clarke, I. J. (2001). Negative feedback regulation of the secretion and actions of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in males. Biology of Reproduction, 64 (3), 735-742. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod64.3.735

Negative feedback regulation of the secretion and actions of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in males

2000

Conference Publication

Gonadal steroid receptors in the regulation of GnRH secretion in farm animals

Scott, CJ, Tilbrook, AJ, Rawson, JA and Clarke, IJ (2000). Gonadal steroid receptors in the regulation of GnRH secretion in farm animals. 14th International Congress on Animal Reproduction - Research and Practice II, Stockholm Sweden, Jul 02-06, 2000. doi: 10.1016/S0378-4320(00)00103-2

Gonadal steroid receptors in the regulation of GnRH secretion in farm animals

2000

Journal Article

Effects of stress on reproduction in non-rodent mammals: the role of glucocorticoids and sex differences

Tilbrook, AJ, Turner, AI and Clarke, IJ (2000). Effects of stress on reproduction in non-rodent mammals: the role of glucocorticoids and sex differences. Reviews of Reproduction, 5 (2), 105-113. doi: 10.1530/ror.0.0050105

Effects of stress on reproduction in non-rodent mammals: the role of glucocorticoids and sex differences

2000

Journal Article

Development of a behavioural test of sensory responsiveness in the growing pig

Hutson, GD, Ambrose, TJ, Barnett, JL and Tilbrook, AJ (2000). Development of a behavioural test of sensory responsiveness in the growing pig. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 66 (3), 187-202. doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(99)00084-2

Development of a behavioural test of sensory responsiveness in the growing pig

2000

Journal Article

Long-term alterations in adiposity affect the expression of melanin-concentrating hormone and enkephalin but not proopiomelanocortin in the hypothalamus of ovariectomized ewes

Henry, BA, Tilbrook, AJ, Dunshea, FR, Rao, A, Blache, D, Martin, GB and Clarke, IJ (2000). Long-term alterations in adiposity affect the expression of melanin-concentrating hormone and enkephalin but not proopiomelanocortin in the hypothalamus of ovariectomized ewes. Endocrinology, 141 (4), 1506-1514. doi: 10.1210/en.141.4.1506

Long-term alterations in adiposity affect the expression of melanin-concentrating hormone and enkephalin but not proopiomelanocortin in the hypothalamus of ovariectomized ewes

2000

Journal Article

The distribution of cells containing estrogen receptor- α (ERα) and ERβ messenger ribonucleic acid in the preoptic area and hypothalamus of the sheep: Comparison of males and females

Scott, CJ, Tilbrook, AJ, Simmons, DM, Rawson, JA, Chu, S, Fuller, PJ, Ing, NH and Clarke, IJ (2000). The distribution of cells containing estrogen receptor- α (ERα) and ERβ messenger ribonucleic acid in the preoptic area and hypothalamus of the sheep: Comparison of males and females. Endocrinology, 141 (8), 2951-2962. doi: 10.1210/en.141.8.2951

The distribution of cells containing estrogen receptor- α (ERα) and ERβ messenger ribonucleic acid in the preoptic area and hypothalamus of the sheep: Comparison of males and females

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

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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