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MLA Methanotroph PhD Scholarship (pdf)
SAS Research Committee - Terms of Reference (pdf)
Research in Animal Production remains the largest single research area with separate research interests in the dairy, beef, pig, equine, poultry, goat and deer industries. The primary disciplines active across these areas are production, health and welfare, nutrition, toxicology, reproduction, product quality, waste management and cellular and molecular biology in the areas of rumen microbiology and reproductive physiology
In the wildlife field the emphasis is on the reproductive biology of a range of native animals, often aimed at the conservation of captive and wild native and introduced animals. The behaviour of animals is researched as a basis for their management, both in captivity and in the wild, including exotic animals (tigers, polar bears). Pest animal management is a rapidly growing area of research, with present interest in the management of rodents, flying foxes, feral goats and pigs.
The focus in equine studies is on endocrine disorders, physiology of exercise, nutrition and sleep behaviour. The reproductive research in the School includes studies on the preservation of horse semen.
Animal products of research interest are goat meat (Capretto and Chevon), omega-3 enrichment of meat and eggs, cheddar cheese quality, and emu leather.
National & International Collaboration
Staff members of the School have a wide network of collaboration with industry and other research organisations.
The Dairy Centre has a close working relationship with the staff of the Mutdapilly and Kairi Research Stations of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.
The Beef Research Unit has a close working relationship with the USDA Meat Animal Research Centre at Clay Centre, Nebraska and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska.
The Poultry Research Unit has close collaboration through regular contract work for international pharmaceutical and feed ingredient companies.
The development of the Boer goat breed as a meat animal for Australia was done in collaboration with the State Government and a number of industry organisations and private landowners.
Collaboration in research training is occurring with the National University of East Timor (UNTL), under the auspices of a major ACIAR program to rehabilitate the University's Agriculture Faculty.
Quality of Research Training
The School provides opportunities for research higher degree training in production and recreational animals, poultry, and wildlife. Research projects can be undertaken at all levels ranging from whole animal, tissue, cellular and molecular.
Where appropriate, the School utilises institutional and industry partnerships to develop research projects for students. The recent move to advisory teams, in line with the remainder of the University, removes the traditional and limited principal supervisor-student relationship and benefit students by exposing them to a broader range of experiences and perspectives. The adoption of a transparent and structured process for the confirmation of candidature will also benefit students by ensuring that they have a meaningful research project and a clear pathway to timely completion of their thesis.