Hormones, stress and animal welfare

There are numerous endocrine (hormonal) responses during stress and these are often complex. This complexity makes the study of endocrine stress responses challenging and the challenges are intensified when attempts are made to use measures of hormones to assess the welfare of animals because there are so many endocrine systems activated during stress and because there are countless stimuli that trigger these systems. Most research has concentrated on only a small number of these endocrine systems, particularly the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis and the sympathoadrenal system and there is a need to broaden the scope of endocrine systems that are studied. Furthermore, systematic approaches are required to establish when the actions of hormones associated with stress responses result in physiological and/or behavioural consequences that will have negative or positive effects on the welfare of animals. It is not always the case that stress responses are associated with effects on animal welfare.

Professor Alan Tilbrook

Professor Tilbrook is an national and international leader in animal welfare science. He is also internationally renowned for his research animal science and biomedical science (endocrinology, neuroendocrinology, behaviour, stress, and reproduction).
Professor Tilbrook has an outstanding balanced portfolio in leadership, strategic planning, research, academia, education and government. He is a founding member of the Animal Welfare Science Centre and served as Deputy Director and Co-director of the Centre, was the Research Chief of Livestock and Farming Systems at the South Australian Research and Development Institute, was Deputy Head of the Department of Physiology at Monash University and has held many 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 involving broad collaborative initiatives nationally and with leaders in overseas laboratories. His research is multispecies, including sheep, cattle, pigs, poultry, goats, rats, horses and humans. Professor Tilbrook places a huge emphasis on collaboration and on research training and development of leadership in students and postdoctoral researchers.

Can't make it? This seminar will be live streamed here. You can also participate in the Q&A either on Twitter by using #QAAFILIVE, or email Seminar Coordinator Hannah Hardy.