
Overview
Background
Professor Nigel Perkins is from a mixed grazing property in south west Queensland and completed a veterinary degree at the University of Queensland, followed by a Master of Science at The Ohio State University and a PhD in veterinary epidemiology at Massey University, New Zealand. He has practiced as a veterinarian in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and has worked as a veterinary academic clinician at university veterinary schools in Australia, the USA and New Zealand. In 2003 Nigel was promoted to Associate Professor in veterinary epidemiology and Group Leader of the EpiCentre, an internationally acclaimed epidemiology research and consultancy centre within the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Science, Massey University. Nigel then joined AusVet - a private epidemiology consultancy company - in 2004 and became a Director of AusVet in 2007. Nigel joined UQ in February 2016 as Professor of One Health and Academic Superintendent within the School of Veterinary Science. In October 2017 Nigel was appointed as the Head of School of the School of Veterinary Science.
Nigel has held leadership roles in a number of organisations, including research program manager for the Horse R&D Program within the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), surveillance program co-ordinator for the Australian Biosecurity Co-operative Research Centre (AB-CRC), and Chief Examiner of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists. He is the current Chair of the Thoroughbred Advisory Panel for Agrifutures Australia. Nigel is recognised nationally and internationally as a leader in the field of veterinary epidemiology. He has broad experience in investigations of animal health, welfare, production and disease in a number of species including sheep, cattle, horses, poultry, pigs, aquatic species, and wildlife, as well as experience in human health projects. He has been involved in many short-term projects in Asian countries associated with capacity building in animal health, transboundary animal disease preparedness and response, risk analysis and disease outbreaks. Nigel's work has a strong focus on improving animal health, production and welfare outcomes in Australian livestock as well as providing leadership within the veterinary profession and in the broader areas of science, food sustainability and one health. .
Availability
- Professor Nigel Perkins is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Science, Ohio State University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Massey University
- Fellow, American College of Theriogenologists, American College of Theriogenologists
- Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
Research interests
-
One Health
One Health encompasses issues that have impacts on veterinary medicine, human medicine and environmental health. Examples include zoonotic diseases (diseases of animals that impact human health), biodiversity, sustainable agricultural systems and practices that support general health and welfare for all.
-
Veterinary epidemiology
The study of patterns of health and disease in populations of animals, including studies focusing on disease, production and welfare.
-
Quantitative epidemiology
Application of statistical methods for experimental design, sample size estimation, power analysis and the use of advanced statistical analyses for deriving informaiton from complex datasets.
-
Clinical trials
Design, statistical analyses and reporting for clinical trials including drug development, registration and marketing type applications.
-
Veterinary education
Providing effective training focused on learning outcomes and practical skill development for undergraduate and post graduate students and for veterinarians and other professions aiming to develop advanced skills in epidemiology and statistics.
Research impacts
Professor Perkins has been involved in a wide range of research activities as a university faculty member and as a private consultant. He has led teams investigating outbreaks of unknown or previously undescribed diseases in horses, small animals and aquaculture species both within Australia and internationally. Nigel played a key role in identifying and characterising processionary caterpillar exposure as a new cause of abortion in mares in Australia and developing risk management strategies for this condition. This work is currently being continued under an ARC Linkage grant in collaboration with researchers from the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences. Nigel has been either a team leader or a co-investigator in numerous projects investigating production, health and welfare outcomes in livestock within Australia and overseas. In addition he has been involved in numerous projects with a one health application including projects involving avian influenza, zoonotic disease assessment in Asia, Q Fever, and Hendra virus. Nigel has particular interests in quantitative epidemiology and applied statistics as well as disease control, surveillance, risk analysis, risk factor studies, animal production, reproduction, welfare and zoonotic diseases.
Works
Search Professor Nigel Perkins’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Repeatability of ultrasonographic measurement of cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle in the horse
Symonds, Nicolle E., Dart, Andrew J., Perkins, Nigel R., Burns, Gillian, Young, Alex C., Bell, Robin J. W. and Jeffcott, Leo B. (2024). Repeatability of ultrasonographic measurement of cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle in the horse. Equine Veterinary Education, 36 (12), 628-637. doi: 10.1111/eve.13955
2024
Journal Article
Psychological, physical, and professional impact on second victims in veterinary anaesthesia: a cross-sectional international survey - part 1
Santos, Luiz C. P., McArthur, Michelle, Perkins, Nigel and Goodwin, Wendy (2024). Psychological, physical, and professional impact on second victims in veterinary anaesthesia: a cross-sectional international survey - part 1. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. doi: 10.1016/j.vaa.2024.10.140
2024
Journal Article
Anaesthetic practices and attitudes to patient safety in a sample of Australian veterinary practices
Santos, L. C. P., Perkins, N., Keates, H. and Goodwin, W. (2024). Anaesthetic practices and attitudes to patient safety in a sample of Australian veterinary practices. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 51 (5), 438-448. doi: 10.1016/j.vaa.2024.06.004
2024
Conference Publication
The influence weather station location on heat load prediction in Australian Feedlots
Lees, Angela M., Shemish-Lahey, Lawrence O., Woldeyohannes, Solomon M., Perkins, Nigel R. and Gaughan, John B. (2024). The influence weather station location on heat load prediction in Australian Feedlots. 35th Biennial Conference of the Australian Association of Animal Sciences and the 20th Asian - Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 8-12 July 2024. Toowong, QLD, Australia: Australian Society of Animal Production.
2023
Conference Publication
A comparison between visual scoring and a digital object counting platform to estimate buffalo fly counts on cattle.
Feez, A. M., Randhawa, I., Perkins, N. R., Wood, B. J. and Abdullah, S. (2023). A comparison between visual scoring and a digital object counting platform to estimate buffalo fly counts on cattle.. 2023 ASP Annual Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 5-8 September.
2023
Journal Article
Corrigendum to: Production and performance of commercial beef breeding females in northern Australia. 4. Factors influencing the occurrence of lactating cows becoming pregnant within 4 months of calving
McCosker, K. D., Perkins, N. R., Fordyce, G., O’Rourke, P. K. and McGowan, M. R. (2023). Corrigendum to: Production and performance of commercial beef breeding females in northern Australia. 4. Factors influencing the occurrence of lactating cows becoming pregnant within 4 months of calving. Animal Production Science, 63 (4), 422-422. doi: 10.1071/an17502_co
2022
Journal Article
An objective prioritisation method for agriculture RD&E
Fordyce, Geoffry, Smith, Dave R., Perkins, Nigel R. and McGowan, Michael R. (2022). An objective prioritisation method for agriculture RD&E. The Rangeland Journal, 44 (3), 149-158. doi: 10.1071/rj22009
2022
Journal Article
Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 4. Factors influencing the occurrence of lactating cows becoming pregnant within 4 months of calving
McCosker, K. D., Perkins, N. R., Fordyce, G., O’Rourke, P. K. and McGowan, M. R. (2022). Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 4. Factors influencing the occurrence of lactating cows becoming pregnant within 4 months of calving. Animal Production Science, 63 (4), 332-349. doi: 10.1071/an17502
2022
Journal Article
Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 5. Factors influencing risk of non-pregnancy
McCosker, K. D., Perkins, N. R., Fordyce, G., O’Rourke, P. K. and McGowan, M. R. (2022). Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 5. Factors influencing risk of non-pregnancy. Animal Production Science, 63 (4), 350-364. doi: 10.1071/an17503
2022
Journal Article
Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 6. Risk factors associated with reproductive losses between confirmed pregnancy and weaning
Fordyce, G., McCosker, K. D., Barnes, T. S., Perkins, N. R., O'Rourke, P. K. and McGowan, M. R. (2022). Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 6. Risk factors associated with reproductive losses between confirmed pregnancy and weaning. Animal Production Science, 63 (4), 365-377. doi: 10.1071/an19441
2022
Journal Article
Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 7. Risk factors affecting mortality rates of pregnant cows
Fordyce, G., McCosker, K. D., Smith, D. R., Perkins, N. R., O'Rourke, P. K. and McGowan, M. R. (2022). Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 7. Risk factors affecting mortality rates of pregnant cows. Animal Production Science, 63 (4) AN19431, 378-387. doi: 10.1071/an19431
2021
Journal Article
Survival analysis of training methodologies and other risk factors for musculoskeletal injury in 2-year-old thoroughbred racehorses in Queensland, Australia
Crawford, Kylie L., Finnane, Anna, Greer, Ristan M., Barnes, Tamsin S., Phillips, Clive J. C., Woldeyohannes, Solomon M., Bishop, Emma L., Perkins, Nigel R. and Ahern, Benjamin J. (2021). Survival analysis of training methodologies and other risk factors for musculoskeletal injury in 2-year-old thoroughbred racehorses in Queensland, Australia. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8 698298, 1-17. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.698298
2021
Journal Article
Total Intravenous Anaesthesia with Ketamine, Medetomidine and Midazolam as Part of a Balanced Anaesthesia Technique in Horses Undergoing Castration
Cunneen, Alexandra, Pratt, Shaun, Perkins, Nigel, McEwen, Margaret, Truchetti, Geoffrey, Rainger, Joanne, Farry, Trish, Kidd, Lisa and Goodwin, Wendy (2021). Total Intravenous Anaesthesia with Ketamine, Medetomidine and Midazolam as Part of a Balanced Anaesthesia Technique in Horses Undergoing Castration. Veterinary Sciences, 8 (8) 142, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/vetsci8080142
2021
Journal Article
Epidemiology of Chlamydia psittaci infections in pregnant Thoroughbred mares and foals
Anstey, S., Lizárraga, D., Nyari, S., Chalmers, G., Carrick, J., Chicken, C., Jenkins, C., Perkins, N., Timms, P. and Jelocnik, M. (2021). Epidemiology of Chlamydia psittaci infections in pregnant Thoroughbred mares and foals. The Veterinary Journal, 273 105683, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2021.105683
2021
Journal Article
Defining the primary business measure of liveweight production for beef cows in northern Australia
Fordyce, Geoffry, Barnes, Tamsin S., McGowan, Michael R., Perkins, Nigel R., Smith, David R. and McCosker, Kieren D. (2021). Defining the primary business measure of liveweight production for beef cows in northern Australia. Animal Production Science, 63 (4), 395-409. doi: 10.1071/AN20096
2021
Journal Article
Prevalence and spatial distribution of Coxiella burnetii seropositivity in northern Australian beef cattle adjusted for diagnostic test uncertainty
Wood, C. M., Perkins, N., Tozer, S. J., Johnson, W., Barnes, T. S., McGowan, M., Gibson, J., Alawneh, J., Firestone, S. and Woldeyohannes, S. (2021). Prevalence and spatial distribution of Coxiella burnetii seropositivity in northern Australian beef cattle adjusted for diagnostic test uncertainty. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 189 105282, 105282. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105282
2021
Journal Article
A prospective study of training methods for two-year-old thoroughbred racehorses in Queensland, Australia, and analysis of the differences in training methods between trainers of varying stable sizes
Crawford, Kylie L., Finnane, Anna, Greer, Ristan M., Phillips, Clive J. C., Bishop, Emma L., Woldeyohannes, Solomon M., Perkins, Nigel R. and Ahern, Benjamin J. (2021). A prospective study of training methods for two-year-old thoroughbred racehorses in Queensland, Australia, and analysis of the differences in training methods between trainers of varying stable sizes. Animals, 11 (4) 928, 928. doi: 10.3390/ani11040928
2021
Journal Article
The effect of regional hypothermia on mechanical nociceptive thresholds in the equine distal forelimb
Rainger, J. E., Wardius, S., Medina-Torres, C. E., Dempsey, S. M., Perkins, N. and van Eps, A. W. (2021). The effect of regional hypothermia on mechanical nociceptive thresholds in the equine distal forelimb. The Veterinary Journal, 269 105607, 105607. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2021.105607
2021
Journal Article
The Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Injuries in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia: How These Vary for Two-Year-Old and Older Horses and with Type of Injury
Crawford, Kylie L., Finnane, Anna, Phillips, Clive J. C., Greer, Ristan M., Woldeyohannes, Solomon M., Perkins, Nigel R., Kidd, Lisa J. and Ahern, Benjamin J. (2021). The Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Injuries in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia: How These Vary for Two-Year-Old and Older Horses and with Type of Injury. Animals, 11 (2) 270, 270-28. doi: 10.3390/ani11020270
2021
Journal Article
Appraising the welfare of thoroughbred racehorses in training in Queensland, Australia: the incidence, risk factors and outcomes for horses after retirement from racing
Crawford, Kylie L., Finnane, Anna, Greer, Ristan M., Phillips, Clive J. C., Woldeyohannes, Solomon M., Perkins, Nigel R. and Ahern, Benjamin J. (2021). Appraising the welfare of thoroughbred racehorses in training in Queensland, Australia: the incidence, risk factors and outcomes for horses after retirement from racing. Animals, 11 (1) 142, 142-14. doi: 10.3390/ani11010142
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Nigel Perkins is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Master Philosophy
Buffalo fly insecticide resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Wood, Dr Swaid Abdullah
-
Doctor Philosophy
Applying Human Factors to Improve Patient Safety in Veterinary Medicine
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Wendy Goodwin
-
Master Philosophy
Insecticide resistance in Buffalo flies infesting Australian cattle
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Wood, Dr Swaid Abdullah
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Survey and experimental investigation into the role of workload intensity on dorsal metacarpal disease risk and third metacarpal adaptation to treadmill exercise in young horses
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nana Satake
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Detection and epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii infection in beef cattle in northern Australia and the potential risk to public health
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Justine Gibson
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
The Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries, Fatalities and Retirements in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Solomon Woldeyohannes, Professor Ben Ahern
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Pathology of Equine Amnionitis and Foetal Loss: Clinical and Experimental Studies
Associate Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Equine Amnionitis and Foetal Loss: The Role of Caterpillars
Associate Advisor
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
The manipulation of nutrition during pregnancy in the heifer and its effect on metabolic hormones, placental development, milk production, post partum oestrus and the reproductive development of the offspring
Associate Advisor
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Aged Horse Health, Management and Welfare
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Professor Nigel Perkins's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: