Dr Alison Colvin

Research Fellow - School of Environmental and Rural Science

Biography

Dr Alison Colvin is a Research Fellow at UNE, she coordinates the mobile acquired data for the ACIAR Goat Production Systems and Marketing in Lao PDR and Vietnam project including building CommCare apps, data collation and statistical analysis.

Dr Colvin has a PhD in the use of intensive rotational (‘cell’) grazing for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep and recently managed the Benchmarking Australian sheep parasite control practices survey which was funded by Australian Wool Innovation Ltd and was the third in a series of surveys of Australian sheep farmers over a 15-year period.

Dr Colvin has been involved in undergraduate teaching at UNE for 18 years through marking of written and oral assessments and casual lecturing. She also provides supervision at the higher research degree level.

Dr Colvin offers experience in small ruminant disease epidemiology, management of large experiments and datasets, survey design, online survey building, survey app design, statistical analysis of survey data, industry communications and scientific publication.

Qualifications

B.Sc.Agr(HONS), University of Sydney, 1996-2000

Phd, University of New England, 2003-2006

Teaching Areas

ANPR321 Animal Function, Health and Welfare (Unit coordinator)

Primary Research Area/s

Ruminant parasitology; Farmer surveys; Animal production systems

Research Interests

2019-present ACIAR Goat production systems and marketing in Lao PDR and Vietnam

2018-2021 Benchmarking Australian sheep parasite control practices survey - Australian Wool Innovation Ltd.

Research Supervision Experience

Tadiose Habte Tekelemariam, Epidemiology of selected respiratory disease of chicken in Central Ethiopia.

Publications

Colvin, A.F., Reeve, I., Kahn, L.P., Thompson, L.J., Horton, B.J., Walkden-Brown, S.W., 2022. Australian surveys on incidence and control of blowfly strike in sheep between 2003 and 2019 reveal increased use of breeding for resistance, treatment with preventative chemicals and pain relief around mulesing. Vet. Parasitol. Reg. Stud. Reports

Colvin, A.F., Reeve, I., Kahn, L.P., Thompson, L.J., Horton, B.J., Walkden-Brown, S.W., 2022. Prevalence of sheep lice and trends in control practices across Australia – Australian sheep parasite control surveys from 2003 to 2019. Vet. Parasitol. Reg. Stud. Reports27, 100662.

Colvin, A.F., Reeve, I., Peachey, B., Walkden-Brown, S.W., 2021a. Benchmarking Australian sheep parasite control practices - a national online survey. Anim. Prod. Sci.61, 237-245.

Colvin, A.F., Reeve, I., Thompson, L.J., Kahn, L.P., Besier, R.B., Walkden-Brown, S.W., 2021b. Benchmarking Australian sheep parasite control: Changes in gastrointestinal nematode control practices reported from surveys between 2003 and 2019. Vet. Parasitol. Reg. Stud. Reports26, 100653.

Colvin, A.F., Reeve, I., Thompson, L.J., Kahn, L.P., Walkden-Brown, S.W., 2021c. Australian surveys on parasite control in sheep between 2003 and 2019 reveal marked regional variation and increasing utilisation of online resources and on-farm biosecurity practices. Vet. Parasitol. Reg. Stud. Reports25, 100614.

Colvin, A.F., Walkden-Brown, S.W., Reeve, I., 2020, Benchmarking Australian Sheep Parasite Control: Project final report Ltd., A.W.I., Armidale.

Colvin, A.F., Walkden-Brown, S.W., Knox, M.R., 2012. Role of host and environment in mediating reduced gastrointestinal nematode infections in sheep due to intensive rotational grazing. Vet. Parasitol.184, 180.

Colvin, A.F., Walkden-Brown, S.W., Knox, M.R., Scott, J.M., 2008. Intensive rotational grazing assists control of gastrointestinal nematodosis of sheep in a cool temperate environment with summer-dominant rainfall. Vet. Parasitol.153, 108-120.

Walkden-Brown, S.W., Colvin, A.F., Hall, E., Knox, M.R., Mackay, D.F., Scott, J.M., 2013. Grazing systems and worm control in sheep: a long-term case study involving three management systems with analysis of factors influencing faecal worm egg count. Anim. Prod. Sci.53, 765-779.

Hinch, G.N., Hoad, J., Lollback, M., Hatcher, S., Marchant, R., Colvin, A., Scott, J.M., Mackay, D., 2013. Livestock weights in response to three whole-farmlet management systems. Anim. Prod. Sci.53, 727-739.

Scott, J.M., Behrendt, K., Colvin, A., Scott, F., Shakhane, L.M., Guppy, C., Hoad, J., Gaden, C.A., Edwards, C., Hinch, G.N., Cacho, O.J., Donald, G.E., Cottle, D., Coventry, T., Williams, G., Mackay, D.F., 2013. Integrated overview of results from a farmlet experiment which compared the effects of pasture inputs and grazing management on profitability and sustainability. Anim. Prod. Sci.53, 841-855.

Colvin, A.F., Walkden-Brown, S.W., 2006. Intensive rotational grazing and it's role as a tool for Barber's Pole worm control in the New England. In: The Cicerone Farms: coming to conclusions?, Armidale NSW, pp. 31-38.

Healey, A.F., Hall, E., Walkden-Brown, S.W., Scott, J.M., Gaden, C.A., 2004. Intensive rotational grazing reduces nematode faecal egg counts in sheep on the Cicerone project. Science Access1, 85-88.

Scott, J., Gaden, C., Shakhane, L., Healey, A., 2004. Holding a measuring stick up to the Cicerone farmlets: how are they shaping up. In: Proceedings of the 19th Grasslands Society of NSW conference’.(Eds S. Boschma, G. Lodge) pp, pp. 63-68.