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Professor Alan Tilbrook
Professor

Alan Tilbrook

Email: 

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

181 - 200 of 211 works

1993

Journal Article

Human Recombinant Inhibin-A Suppresses Plasma Follicle-Stimulating-Hormone to Intact Levels But Has No Effect On Luteinizing-Hormone in Castrated Rams

Tilbrook, AJ, Dekretser, DM and Clarke, IJ (1993). Human Recombinant Inhibin-A Suppresses Plasma Follicle-Stimulating-Hormone to Intact Levels But Has No Effect On Luteinizing-Hormone in Castrated Rams. Biology of Reproduction, 49 (4), 779-788. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod49.4.779

Human Recombinant Inhibin-A Suppresses Plasma Follicle-Stimulating-Hormone to Intact Levels But Has No Effect On Luteinizing-Hormone in Castrated Rams

1993

Journal Article

Effect of High-Protein Feed Supplements On Concentrations of Growth-Hormone (Gh), Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I (Igf-I) and Igf-Binding Protein-3 in Plasma and On the Amounts of Gh and Messenger-Rna for Gh in the Pituitary-Glands of Adult Rams

Clarke, IJ, Fletcher, TP, Pomares, CC, Holmes, Jhg, Dunshea, F, Thomas, GB, Tilbrook, AJ, Walton, PE and Galloway, DB (1993). Effect of High-Protein Feed Supplements On Concentrations of Growth-Hormone (Gh), Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I (Igf-I) and Igf-Binding Protein-3 in Plasma and On the Amounts of Gh and Messenger-Rna for Gh in the Pituitary-Glands of Adult Rams. Journal of Endocrinology, 138 (3), 421-427. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1380421

Effect of High-Protein Feed Supplements On Concentrations of Growth-Hormone (Gh), Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I (Igf-I) and Igf-Binding Protein-3 in Plasma and On the Amounts of Gh and Messenger-Rna for Gh in the Pituitary-Glands of Adult Rams

1993

Journal Article

Human Recombinant Inhibin-A and Testosterone Act Directly At the Pituitary to Suppress Plasma-Concentrations of Fsh in Castrated Rams

Tilbrook, AJ, Dekretser, DM and Clarke, IJ (1993). Human Recombinant Inhibin-A and Testosterone Act Directly At the Pituitary to Suppress Plasma-Concentrations of Fsh in Castrated Rams. Journal of Endocrinology, 138 (2), 181-189. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1380181

Human Recombinant Inhibin-A and Testosterone Act Directly At the Pituitary to Suppress Plasma-Concentrations of Fsh in Castrated Rams

1993

Journal Article

Treatment of Young Rams with an Agonist of GnRH Delays Reproductive Development

Tilbrook, AJ, Galloway, DB, Williams, AH and Clarke, IJ (1993). Treatment of Young Rams with an Agonist of GnRH Delays Reproductive Development. Hormones and Behavior, 27 (1), 5-28. doi: 10.1006/hbeh.1993.1002

Treatment of Young Rams with an Agonist of GnRH Delays Reproductive Development

1993

Conference Publication

The Role of Inhibin in the Control of Fsh and Spermatogenesis

Dekretser, DM, Tilbrook, AJ, Clarke, IJ, Simpson, BJ and Wreford, N (1993). The Role of Inhibin in the Control of Fsh and Spermatogenesis. 3rd Organon Round Table Conference - GnRH, GnRH Analogs, Gonadotropins and Gonadal Peptides, Paris France, 1992. LANCASTER: PARTHENON PUBLISHING GROUP LTD.

The Role of Inhibin in the Control of Fsh and Spermatogenesis

1992

Journal Article

Short-Term Reduction in Egg Production in Laying Hens Treated with an Agonist of GNRH

Tilbrook, AJ, Johnson, RJ, Eason, PJ, Walsh, JD, Trigg, TE and Clarke, IJ (1992). Short-Term Reduction in Egg Production in Laying Hens Treated with an Agonist of GNRH. British Poultry Science, 33 (3), 621-638. doi: 10.1080/00071669208417501

Short-Term Reduction in Egg Production in Laying Hens Treated with an Agonist of GNRH

1992

Journal Article

Influence of the sexual motivation of the boar on the sexual partner preferences of oestrous gilts

Hemsworth, PH, Price, EO and Tilbrook, AJ (1992). Influence of the sexual motivation of the boar on the sexual partner preferences of oestrous gilts. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 33 (2-3), 209-215. doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(05)80008-5

Influence of the sexual motivation of the boar on the sexual partner preferences of oestrous gilts

1992

Journal Article

Evidence that Dopaminergic Neurons are not Involved in the Negative Feedback Effect of Testosterone on Luteinizing Hormone in Rams in the Non‐Breeding Season

Tilbrook, AJ and Clarke, IJ (1992). Evidence that Dopaminergic Neurons are not Involved in the Negative Feedback Effect of Testosterone on Luteinizing Hormone in Rams in the Non‐Breeding Season. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 4 (3), 365-374. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.1992.tb00181.x

Evidence that Dopaminergic Neurons are not Involved in the Negative Feedback Effect of Testosterone on Luteinizing Hormone in Rams in the Non‐Breeding Season

1992

Journal Article

A role for inhibin in the regulation of the secretion of follicle stimulating hormone in male domestic animals

Tilbrook, AJ, Dekretser, DM and Clarke, IJ (1992). A role for inhibin in the regulation of the secretion of follicle stimulating hormone in male domestic animals. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, 9 (4), 243-260. doi: 10.1016/0739-7240(92)90013-N

A role for inhibin in the regulation of the secretion of follicle stimulating hormone in male domestic animals

1992

Conference Publication

Stress and Reproduction in Farm-Animals

Clarke, IJ, Hemsworth, PH, Barnett, JL and Tilbrook, AJ (1992). Stress and Reproduction in Farm-Animals. International Symp On Stress and Reproduction, Port Douglas Australia, Jul 25-27, 1991. NEW YORK: RAVEN PRESS.

Stress and Reproduction in Farm-Animals

1992

Journal Article

Influence of non-photoperiodic environmental factors on reproduction in domestic animals

Clarke, IJ and Tilbrook, AJ (1992). Influence of non-photoperiodic environmental factors on reproduction in domestic animals. Animal Reproduction Science, 28 (1-4), 219-228. doi: 10.1016/0378-4320(92)90108-P

Influence of non-photoperiodic environmental factors on reproduction in domestic animals

1991

Journal Article

The Negative Feedback Effects of Testicular-Steroids Are Predominantly At the Hypothalamus in the Ram

Tilbrook, AJ, Dekretser, DM, Cummins, JT and Clarke, IJ (1991). The Negative Feedback Effects of Testicular-Steroids Are Predominantly At the Hypothalamus in the Ram. Endocrinology, 129 (6), 3080-3092. doi: 10.1210/endo-129-6-3080

The Negative Feedback Effects of Testicular-Steroids Are Predominantly At the Hypothalamus in the Ram

1991

Journal Article

Studies On the Testicular Source of Inhibin and its Route of Secretion in Rams - Failure of the Leydig-Cell to Secrete Inhibin in Response to a Human Chorionic-Gonadotropin Lh Stimulus

Tilbrook, AJ, Dekretser, DM and Clarke, IJ (1991). Studies On the Testicular Source of Inhibin and its Route of Secretion in Rams - Failure of the Leydig-Cell to Secrete Inhibin in Response to a Human Chorionic-Gonadotropin Lh Stimulus. Journal of Endocrinology, 130 (1), 107-114. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1300107

Studies On the Testicular Source of Inhibin and its Route of Secretion in Rams - Failure of the Leydig-Cell to Secrete Inhibin in Response to a Human Chorionic-Gonadotropin Lh Stimulus

1991

Journal Article

Inhibin in Rams

Clarke, IJ, Tilbrook, AJ, Galloway, DB, Earl, CR, Findlay, JK and Dekretser, DM (1991). Inhibin in Rams. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 43, 163-170.

Inhibin in Rams

1990

Journal Article

Parallel changes in the proceptive and receptive behaviour of the ewe

Tilbrook, AJ, Hemsworth, PH, Topp, JS and Cameron, Awn (1990). Parallel changes in the proceptive and receptive behaviour of the ewe. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 27 (1-2), 73-92. doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(90)90008-2

Parallel changes in the proceptive and receptive behaviour of the ewe

1990

Journal Article

Detection of oestrus in gilts housed adjacent or opposite boars or exposed to exogenous boar stimuli

Tilbrook, AJ and Hemsworth, PH (1990). Detection of oestrus in gilts housed adjacent or opposite boars or exposed to exogenous boar stimuli. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 28 (3), 233-245. doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(90)90102-J

Detection of oestrus in gilts housed adjacent or opposite boars or exposed to exogenous boar stimuli

1989

Journal Article

Effect of Shearing On Estrus and Ovulation in Sheep

Parr, RA, Davis, IF and Tilbrook, AJ (1989). Effect of Shearing On Estrus and Ovulation in Sheep. Journal of Agricultural Science, 113 (3), 411-412. doi: 10.1017/S0021859600070143

Effect of Shearing On Estrus and Ovulation in Sheep

1989

Journal Article

An investigation of the social behaviour and response to humans of young cattle

Tilbrook, AJ, Hemsworth, PH, Barnett, JL and Skinner, A (1989). An investigation of the social behaviour and response to humans of young cattle. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 23 (1-2), 107-116. doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(89)90011-7

An investigation of the social behaviour and response to humans of young cattle

1989

Journal Article

Ram mating preferences for woolly rather than recently shorn ewes

Tilbrook, AJ and Cameron, Awn (1989). Ram mating preferences for woolly rather than recently shorn ewes. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 24 (4), 301-312. doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(89)90058-0

Ram mating preferences for woolly rather than recently shorn ewes

1989

Journal Article

The effects of handling by humans at calving and during milking on the behaviour and milk cortisol concentrations of primiparous dairy cows

Hemsworth, PH, Barnett, JL, Tilbrook, AJ and Hansen, C (1989). The effects of handling by humans at calving and during milking on the behaviour and milk cortisol concentrations of primiparous dairy cows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 22 (3-4), 313-326. doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(89)90026-9

The effects of handling by humans at calving and during milking on the behaviour and milk cortisol concentrations of primiparous dairy cows

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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