Leading tropical livestock research and development
The Centre for Animal Science delivers world-class research to Australia’s animal industries. We aim to increase on-farm productivity and sustainability in the northern Australian beef industry and across the livestock industries, including pigs and poultry.
We have major programs and capability in genetics and genomics; breeding and reproductive capability of northern Australian cattle breeds; welfare and ethics; pest and disease control through improved detection; monitoring and vaccine technologies; nutrition; metabolism and growth.
Research Capabilities:
Research project information:
Research Highlights
A massive global study involving 58,000 cattle has pinpointed the genes that influence the complex genetic trait of height in cattle, opening the door for researchers to use the same approach to map high-value traits including those important for beef and milk production. The research was undertaken by a UQ-led global 1000 Bull Consortium of 57 researchers from 30 institutes, to tackle the challenge of identifying variants in the genome affecting complex traits, due to variations within multiple genes and to behavioural and environmental factors.
The Animal Welfare Collaborative (TAWC) is a non-partisan, university-led ‘knowledge broker’ for animal welfare. The Animal Welfare Collaborative is funded by UQ and is powered by the enthusiasm and tireless efforts of researchers across Australian universities. We work closely with all industry, academic, animal welfare and community groups, as well as Federal, State and Territory Governments and members of the public.
Research Impact
Case studies
A new vaccine offering season-long protection could play an important role in the battle against cattle ticks by reducing reliance on acaricides – pesticides which target ticks and mites – and allowing producers to move cattle from tick free to tick endemic areas. Researchers are also trialling a new single-dose tick vaccine delivery system.
A new QAAFI research project aimed at producing a preventative probiotic for cattle to mitigate poisoning from the potentially fatal pasture plant, pimelea, received funding from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) in 2017.
