Research interests

• Animal breeding and genetics
• Genetic improvement in efficiency of feed utilisation in beef cattle
• Breeding systems design in beef cattle
• Growth and development in livestock.

Background

Paul Arthur heads NSW Department of Primary Industries largest research centre, providing scientific leadership for the centre’s research, diagnostics and advisory effort.

He joined NSW Agriculture* in 1991 as a research scientist and has undertaken research in beef cattle breeding and genetics, and in livestock growth and development. He has over 30 years scientific research experience in Ghana, Canada and Australia, and has written over 200 scientific papers, half of which are peer-reviewed publications.

Paul is currently a Senior Principal Research Scientist, and the Research Leader of NSW DPI’s Animal Genetics Research Unit. He has held senior scientific leadership roles in the Cooperative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies.

*NSW Department of Primary Industries was formed on July 1, 2004 through an amalgamation of NSW Agriculture, NSW Fisheries, State Forests of NSW and the NSW Department of Mineral Resources.

Qualifications

• B.Sc. (Agric) – University of Ghana 1977
• M.Sc. Animal Breeding and Genetics – University of Alberta (Canada) 1982
• PhD Animal Genetics – University of Alberta (Canada) 1990

Current projects

• Improving the efficiency of feed utilisation for beef production
• Divergent selection for feed efficiency in Angus cattle
• Feed efficiency gene discovery and gene expression
• Genetic improvement of cattle for reduced greenhouse gas emissions 
• Growth and development in livestock.

Recent Publications

Chen Y, Arthur PF, Herd RM, Quinn K, and Barchia IM (2012) Using gene expression profiles in bulls to evaluate steers divergently selected for high and low residual feed intake. Animal Production Science (In Press).

O’Rourke BA, Greenwood PL, Arthur PF and Goddard ME (2012) Inferring the recent ancestry of myostatin alleles affecting muscle mass in cattle. Animal Genetics (In Press).

Arthur PF, Barchia IM, Giles LR, and Eamens GJ (2011) Chemical composition of growing pigs and its relationship with body tissue composition assessed by X-ray computed tomography. Journal of Animal Science 89: 3935-3944.

Bolormaa S, Hayes BJ, Savin K, Hawken R, Barendse W, Arthur PF, Herd RM and Goddard ME (2011) Genome-wide association studies for feedlot and growth traits in cattle. Journal of Animal Science 89: 1684-1697.

Donoghue KA, Arthur PF, Wilkins JF and Herd RM (2011) Onset of puberty and early life reproduction in Angus females divergently selected for post-weaning residual feed intake. Animal Production Science. 51: 183-190.

Herd R, Arthur P, Dibley K, Mula D, Snelgar T and Thompson J (2011) Benefits of net feed intake in a large commercial feedlot. Australian Farm Business Management Journal. 8: 73-75.

Osei-Amponsah R, Kayang BB, Naazie A, Arthur PF and Barchia IM (2011) Characterisation of local Ghanaian chickens:  Growth performance evaluation based on Richards growth model and genetic size scaling. Tropical Animal Health and Production 43: 1195-1201.

Arthur PF, Herd RM and Basarab JA (2010) The role of cattle genetically efficient in feed utilisation in an Australian carbon trading environment. Australian Farm Business Management Journal. 7: 5-14.

Herd R, Accioly J, Arthur P, Copping K, Deland M, Donoghue K, Edwards N, Graham J, Hebart M, Jones F, Laurence M, Lee S, Parnell P, Pitchford W and Speijers J (2010) Cow maternal efficiency – “Giving the girls some credit”. Australian Farm Business Management Journal. 7: 1-4.

Barchia IM, Arthur PF, Giles LR and Eamens GJ (2010) Temporal growth and development of body tissues of pigs as assessed by X-ray computed Tomography. Animal Production Science. 50: 322-328.

Arthur PF, Giles LR, Eamens GJ, Barchia IM, James KJ and Taylor RD (2009) Measures of growth and feed efficiency and their relationships with body composition and carcass traits of growing pigs. Animal Production Science. 49: 1105-1112.

Giles LR, Eamens GJ, Arthur PF, Barchia IM, James KJ and Taylor RD (2009) Differential growth and development of pigs as assessed by X-ray computed Tomography. Journal of Animal Science. 87: 1648-1658.

Herd RM and Arthur PF (2009) Physiological basis for residual feed intake. Journal of Animal Science. 87: E64-E71.

O’Rourke BA, Dennis JA, Healy PJ, McKiernan WA, Greenwood PL, Cafe LM, Perry D, Walker KH, Marsh I, Parnell PF and Arthur PF (2009) Quantitative analysis of performance, carcass and meat quality traits in cattle from two Australian beef herds in which null myostatin alleles are segregating. Animal Production Science 49: 297-305.

Schutt KM, Arthur PF and Burrow HM (2009) Brahman and first-cross cattle grown on pasture and in feedlots in subtropical and temperate Australia. 3. Feed efficiency and feeding behaviour of feedlot finished animals. Animal Production Science 49: 452-460.

Arthur PF, Barchia IM and Giles LR (2008) Optimum duration of performance tests for evaluating growing pigs for growth and feed efficiency traits. Journal of Animal Science. 86: 1096-1105.

Arthur PF and Herd RM (2008) Residual feed intake in beef cattle. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia (Brazilian Journal of Animal Science) 37 (Special Supplement): 269-279.

Hogue MA, Arthur PF, Hiramoto K, Gilmour AR and Oikawa T (2007) Variance components due to direct genetic, maternal genetic and permanent environmental effect for growth and feed efficiency traits in young male Japanese Black cattle. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics. 124:102-107.

Professional associations and activities

• Member American Society of Animal Science
• Member Australian Society of Animal Production
• Member Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics

Fields of Research

• 070201 Animal Breeding
• 070202 Animal Growth and Development

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

• Animal husbandry
• Animal breeding
• Animal growth and development