We apply multi and inter-disciplinary research to investigate the health and biosecurity challenges that threaten humans, animals, plants and environment.
About the centre
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.
Core research areas
Animal behaviour, health and welfare
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.
Food safety and public health
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.
Production animal systems
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.
Meat, milk and fibre production
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.
Graham's research focuses on physiological responses to selection for growth, leanness and eating quality within the sheep, pork, and cattle industries, and the development of technologies that measure these traits. Graham is the Chief Investigator of the Advanced Livestock Measurement Technologies Project (ALMTech) which is a national collaboration focused on the development & commercialisation of objective carcase measurement technologies.
Through out my career I have maintained a diverse research program focused on applied sheep production and the adoption of outputs from this research on farms across Australia and internationally.
My research focus is on applied animal welfare and ways to improve health and welfare of animals, particularly livestock. My interests lie in studying the behaviour of animals and involving stakeholders to make continuous improvement in management. Some of my research underpins the development of animal welfare priorities and policies (for industry and government). I am also passionate about veterinary education and have published in this field.
Professor Pethick is one of the founders of animal production research at Murdoch University. He is an agricultural scientist specialising in biochemistry and livestock nutrition.
Professor David Pethick researches carbohydrate and fat metabolism in sheep, cattle and horses and studies the biochemistry of exercise. He also conducts consumer taste panels to discover the qualities needed for repeat purchase of meat products.
