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ALVARENGA, Flavio

Flavio Alvarenga

Research interests

  • Beef / sheep productivity and efficiency at pasture
  • Livestock behaviour and sensor technologies
  • Feeding strategies and pasture management to improve meat quality and profitability
  • Impact of mycotoxins and insufficient magnesium in beef cattle.

Background

Flavio Alvarenga is currently Research Officer (Grazing efficiency) – Extensive Livestock unit of NSW Department of Primary Industries. He graduated in Animal Science (UFVJM, Brazil) and developed his Masters and Doctoral studies in animal production and nutrition (UFLA and UFMG).

Dr. Alvarenga has been working with animal supplementation at pasture and its effect on growth rate, grazing behaviour, biometric measures, rumen wall evaluation and carcass traits. Currently he is involved in a multi-component, interdisciplinary project that aims to improve feed efficiency by developing new traits for genetic selection of cattle including behaviour, intake and efficiency at pasture. Also developing an understanding of the contribution of these traits to efficiency of grazing cattle.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Animal Science (Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG)
  • Master of Animal Science (Federal University of Lavras - UFLA)
  • Bachelor of Animal Science (Federal University of Vales of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri - UFVJM)

Current and past projects

  • Productivity and efficiency at pasture: Development and application of sensor technologies and livestock phenomics facilities for enhanced productivity and efficiency at pasture
  • Supplementation to reduce the impact of mycotoxins and insufficient magnesium in beef cattle

Selected Recent Publications

DOBOS RC, ALVARENGA FAP.; BANSI H, AUSTIN KL, DONALDSON AJ, WOODGATE RT, GREENWOOD PL (2021) Mapping variability of pasture sward height, dry matter yield, availability and disappearance during grazing. Crop & Pasture Science, 72, 551-564. https://doi.org/10.1071/CP20347

MONTELLI, NLLL, ALVARENGA TIRC, ALMEIDA AK, ALVARENGA FAP, FURUSHO-GARCIA IF, GREENWOOD PL, PEREIRA IG (2021) Associations of feed efficiency with circulating IGF-1 and leptin, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs. Meat Science, 173. DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108379

ALVARENGA FAPBANSI HDOBOS RC, AUSTIN KL, DONALDSON AJ, WOODGATE RTGREENWOOD PL (2020) Performance of Angus weaner heifers varying in residual feed intake-feedlot estimated breeding values grazing severely drought-affected pasture. Animal Production Science, 61(3), 337–343. https://doi.org/10.1071/AN20152

ALVARENGA FAP, BORGES I, ODDY VH, DOBOS RC (2020) Discrimination of biting and chewing behaviour in sheep using a tri-axial accelerometer. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 168 (105051). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2019.105051

SA HCM, BORGES I, MACEDO JUNIOR GL, SANTOS FS, CAVALCANTI LFL, ALVARENGA FAP, MARTINS TLT, CAMPOLINA JP (2017) Evaluation of dairy sheep lambs supplemented with crude glycerine conveyed in water during pregnancy and lactation. Semina. Ciências Agrárias, v. 38, N. 4, JUL/AGO. DOI: 10.5433/1679-359.2017v38n4Supl1p2681

ALVARENGA FAP, BORGES I, PALKOVIČ L, RODINA J, ODDY VH, DOBOS RC (2016) Using a three-axis accelerometer to identify and classify sheep behaviour at pasture. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, v. 181, p. 91-99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2016.05.026

DOBOS RC, ALVARENGA FAP, BORGES I, PALKOVIČ, RODINA J, ODDY VH (2016) Inferring rumination behaviour from a tri-axial accelerometer. Animal Production in Australia 31, 68 (abstract) Published online at: http://www.asap.asn.au/conference/abstract-directory/

SA HCM, BORGES I, MACEDO JUNIOR GL, SANTOS FS, CAVALCANTI LFL, LIMA NLL, ALVARENGA FAP, GUEDES LF (2016) Evaluation of offspring of dairy sheep given water supplemented with crude glycerin during pregnancy and lactation. Semina. Ciências Agrárias, v. 37, p. 2567. DOI: 10.5433/1679-0359.2016v37n4Supl1p2567

FURUSHO-GARCIA IF, COSTA TIR, PEREZ JRO, ALMEIDA AK, GALLO SB, PEREIRA IG, ALVES NG, ALVARENGA FAP (2014) Allometric growth of non-carcass components in crossed lambs. Ciência Rural (UFSM. Impresso), v. 44, p. 1229-1235. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20130489

ALVARENGA TIRC, FURUSHO-GARCIA IF, PEREZ JRO, RAMOS EM, FARIA PB, ALVARENGA FAP, LEOPOLDINO JR I, CHIZZOTTI ML, HOPKINS DL (2014) Effect on lamb meat of supplementing with calcium soap fatty acids. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Producción Animal, v. 22, p. 435-438, 2014.

FURUSHO-GARCIA IF, COSTA TIR, ALMEIDA AK, PEREIRA IG, ALVARENGA FAP, LIMA NLL (2010) Performance and carcass characteristics of Santa Inês pure lambs and crosses with Dorper e Texel at different management systems. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia / Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, v. 39, p. 00518-08. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982010000600021

Fields of research

  • 070201   Animal Breeding
  • 070202   Animal Growth and Development
  • 070203   Animal Management
  • 070204   Animal Nutrition
  • 070107   Farming Systems Research

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

  • Efficiency at pasture
  • Animal nutrition and production
  • Animal growth and development
  • Animal behaviour
  • Muscle biology
  • Meat quality
  • Livestock phenomics

Contact details

Email: flavio.alvarenga@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Phone: (02) 6776 1353

Mobile: 0408 839 707

Location: Armidale Livestock Industries Centre, JSF Barker Building, Trevenna Road, University of New England