The Centre for Animal Production and Health works across the value chain to support the production of meat, milk and fibres for human consumption and use.
Research activities in the closely industry-linked centre include livestock health, welfare, nutrition, reproductive efficiency and growth, meat science and consumer attitudes.
We apply multi- and inter-disciplinary research to investigate and understand the health and biosecurity challenges that threaten
humans, animals, plants and their shared environment.
We focus on improving pathogen detection, vaccine development and antimicrobial resistance among livestock, as well as the management of animals in export environments.
Our animal behaviour, health and welfare research also extends to nutrition for intensive and extensive production and the development of animal welfare assessment tools.
In the food safety and public health space we investigate the management of zoonotic diseases, the microbial contamination of meat products and effective food storage practices.
This area of research also covers livestock and watershed management as they pertain to food safety and public health interests.
Our research into the efficient, sustainable and ethical production of animals has a strong focus on reproductive and maternal efficiency, which includes improving reproductive outcomes in sheep and lambs.
Our research also investigates metabolic diseases in production animals, sustainable sheep parasite management and the effective and efficient use of limited resources in production systems.
We focus on optimising meat quality and developing products to meet consumer preferences for taste, texture and nutrition.
The research team is at the cutting edge of certification programs with expertise that covers the main production animals – beef and dairy cattle, sheep for meat and wool, pigs, goats and chickens.
