Veterinary scientist and beef cattle researcher honoured

February 01, 2007

Professor Keith Entwistle (pictured here) is one of two scientists at The University of New England who were made Members of the Order of Australia (AM) on Australia Day.

The other recipient, Dr Ralph (Wal) Whalley, was the subject of Monday's posting.

Dr Entwistle, now an Adjunct Professor at UNE, retired as Executive Dean of the Faculty of The Sciences in 2001. He has been honoured "for service to the beef industry through research into the reproductive physiology of tropical beef cattle, and to veterinary education".

Over a 20-year period, Professor Entwistle and his team of students and collaborators conducted research into the reproductive physiology of tropical beef cattle that has enabled the north Queensland cattle industry to employ more productive management strategies.

Their work on enhancing female fertility led to simple but effective strategies such as "spike feeding" – a short burst of additional nutrition in late pregnancy that influences fertility in the following year.

Their research on bull fertility contributed to the development of new standards for evaluating the breeding soundness of bulls that are now widely used by cattle veterinarians throughout Australia.

"The industry is now more sophisticated, more productive, and better managed," Professor Entwistle said, adding modestly that he and his team had made "some contributions".

As a researcher and educator, Professor Entwistle was based at James Cook University (JCU), where he supervised more than 40 postgraduate students, many of whom have progressed to senior academic or industrial positions in Australia or overseas. He served as Head of JCU's Graduate School of Tropical Veterinary Science, and Director of the Tropical Veterinary Research Station at Charters Towers. In May last year the Australian Veterinary Association presented him with its highest award: the Gilruth Prize "for meritorious service to veterinary science". Only seven months later, in December 2006, the University of Queensland awarded him its Gatton Gold Medal for his services to veterinary science and the beef industry.

He came to UNE as Dean of The Sciences in 1993. In addition to his administrative role, he contributed significantly to UNE courses in beef cattle production, and played a leading role in establishing Commonwealth Cooperative Research Centres for beef, wool and cotton. He was elected to fellowship of the Australian Society of Animal Production in 2004.

Professor Entwistle has always had a "hands-on" interest in the beef cattle industry, and will continue to raise cattle in his retirement. "I think the Australian cattle industry is going through its most buoyant phase in the past 50 years," he said.

Several distinguished alumni of UNE were among those who received Australia Day honours this year, and a subsequent posting will focus on them.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at February 1, 2007 06:19 PM