Alyce Swinbourne

Alyce Swinbourne

School of Animal and Veterinary Science

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

I have a passion for all things science, including conducting research, science communication and teaching. My university degrees, ambassadorships, mentoring opportunities and volunteer work has provided me with the opportunities and experience to develop a variety of research and science presentation skills. I now have a Bachelor of Animal Science with First Class Honours, a PhD in wildlife reproduction, a Bachelor of Teaching, specialising in secondary science education and completed a three-year Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship with the University of Adelaide.

I started to develop my research and communication skills as a Bachelor of Science undergraduate when I became an Adelaide Zoo volunteer giving tours and conducting animal encounters with the public in the children’s zoo. During my Honours in pig reproduction, I found thoroughly enjoyed conducting research and presenting my research to peers and decided that during my PhD in wildlife reproduction I would also undertake a Bachelor of Teaching through Charles Sturt University, specialising in secondary science education. I completed my Bachelor of Teaching in 2017 have developed teaching and learning strategies which allow me to be an effective science communicator, and inspire and engage the next generation of scientists.

Video links to my science communication
Channel 7: https://twitter.com/7NewsAdelaide/status/1028573069638389762?s=09

Scope TV: https://tenplay.com.au/channel-eleven/scope/season-3/episode-127

SciWorld: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0455wkiy7nysi8g/video-1500431957.mp4?dl=0

Buswhacked! (Paid clip) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhgHlDpNxEI&t=0s&index=12&list=ELNP1j33ISRmloEhDmYtXcug

Three Minute Thesis: https://vimeo.com/139548431

SRB Science Meets Publican: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtBmEjnLfFg

I am an early career researcher in the field of animal reproduction with experience in both production and wildlife species. My research career began in 2012 when I completed my Honours through the University of Adelaide investigating the effects of season and nutrition on oocyte quality in pubescent pigs, resulting in my first publication. In 2018, I completed my PhD through the University of Queensland to investigate the use of non-invasive tools to monitor and assess the reproductive function and endocrinology in an iconic Australian native species, the southern hairy-nosed wombat. The collection and analysis techniques developed throughout my PhD have not only been applied in subsequent post-graduate wildlife research projects, the valuable information of the wombat’s reproductive cycle has also been used to develop strategies to optimise captive breeding programs.

I completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship on a large scale collaborative research project between the University of Adelaide, the South Australian Research and Development Institute, and Meat & Livestock Australia investigating the effects of maternal nutritional supplementation in gestating ewes to improve twin lamb survival in Merino ewes. This position lead to a wide range of research opportunities in livestock production, including conception, gestation and parturition, nutrition, milk production, heat stress, animal welfare, and methane abatement. 

This post-doctoral position lead me to my current role as an affiliate lecturer with the University and a Senior Research Officer with the South Australian Research and Development Institute. I continue to conducted collaborative research with senior researchers as well as industry partners to development meaningful and relevant strategies to optimise livestock performance outcomes for producers within South Australia. I continue to develop my own academic and research career while fostering the skill development and research potential of recent post-graduate and HDR students.

 

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2025 Walker, S. K., Weaver, A. C., Swinbourne, A. M. S., Kelly, J. M., & Kleemann, D. O. (2025). Improving the efficacy of progesterone pessary treatment for synchrony of estrus in the sheep. Theriogenology, 233, 24-31.
    DOI Scopus1
    2025 Lowe, A. M., Kleemann, D. O., Kelly, J. M., Thompson, A. N., Krog, J., van Wettere, W. H. E. J., & Weaver, A. C. (2025). Does Melatonin Enhance Twin Lamb Survival in Commercial Merino Flocks in Australia?. Animals, 15(7), 9 pages.
    DOI
    2024 Munn, A. L., Swinbourne, A. M. F., Brougham, B., van Wettere, W. H. E. J., & Weaver, A. C. (2024). The effects of maternal calcium status during late gestation on lamb growth and survival in twin‐bearing Merino ewes grazing pasture. Australian Veterinary Journal, 102(5), 249-255.
    DOI Scopus6 Europe PMC3
    2024 Brougham, B. J., Weaver, A. C., Swinbourne, A. M., Cottrell, J. J., Kelly, J. M., Kleemann, D. O., & van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2024). Supplementing dietary betaine during late gestation increases plasma betaine and methionine concentrations in pregnant Merino ewes but not neonatal lambs. Small Ruminant Research, 232, 8 pages.
    DOI
    2024 Van Wettere, W. H. E. J., Culley, S., Swinbourne, A. M. F., Leu, S. T., Lee, S. J., Weaver, A. C., . . . Westra, S. (2024). Heat stress from current and predicted increases in temperature impairs lambing rates and birth weights in the Australian sheep flock. Nature Food, 5(3), 206-210.
    DOI Scopus4 Europe PMC3
    2024 Kleemann, D. O., Kelly, J. M., Foyster, K. M., Swinbourne, A. M., Weaver, A. C., & Walker, S. K. (2024). Effects of short and long – term nutrition and progesterone supplementation on the success of fixed – time artificial insemination in the ewe. Animal Reproduction Science, 265, 12 pages.
    DOI Scopus1
    2024 Munn, A. L., van Wettere, W. H. E. J., Swinbourne, A. M., Lean, I. J., & Weaver, A. C. (2024). Negative dietary cation and anion difference supplementation of twin-bearing Merino ewes grazing pasture in late gestation did not affect lamb growth or survival.. J Anim Sci, 102, 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus1
    2024 Brougham, B. J., Weaver, A. C., Swinbourne, A. M., Tscharke, M. R., Munn, A. L., Kelly, J. M., . . . van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2024). Maternal Supplementation with Dietary Betaine during Late Gestation Increased Ewe Plasma Creatine and Lamb Thermoregulation under Field Conditions. Animals, 14(17), 14 pages.
    DOI
    2024 Munn, A. L., van Wettere, W. H., Swinbourne, A. M., Lean, I. J., & Weaver, A. C. (2024). Effects of feeding a negative dietary cation and anion difference diet to twin-bearing Merino ewes in late gestation on parturition outcomes.. Journal of animal science, 102, skae266.
    DOI Scopus1
    2024 Munn, A. L., Van Wettere, W. H. E. J., Swinbourne, A. M. F., & Weaver, A. C. (2024). Feeding twin-bearing Merino ewes above the metabolisable energy requirements for maintenance during late gestation increases the duration of parturition of the first-born lamb. Animal Production Science, 64(15), AN24158-1-AN24158-11.
    DOI
    2023 Walker, S. K., Kelly, J. M., Swinbourne, A. M. S., Weaver, A. C., & Kleemann, D. O. (2023). Ovarian follicle dynamics in ewes treated with intra-vaginal progesterone pessaries. 1. Follicle waves and parameters of the estrous cycle. Theriogenology, 197, 31-36.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS2 Europe PMC1
    2023 Walker, S. K., Kelly, J. M., Hebart, M. L., Swinbourne, A. M. S., Weaver, A. C., & Kleemann, D. O. (2023). Ovarian follicle dynamics in ewes treated with intra-vaginal progesterone pessaries. 2. Factors affecting timing of estrus and reproductive outcomes following artificial insemination.. Theriogenology, 202, 103-109.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS1 Europe PMC2
    2023 Weaver, A. C., Kelly, J. M., Swinbourne, A. M., Kleemann, D. O., & Walker, S. K. (2023). Strategies to improve the success of fixed-time artificial insemination in the ewe. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 58(10), 1359-1367.
    DOI Scopus5 Europe PMC1
    2022 McCarthy, N., Brougham, B. -J., Swinbourne, A. M., Weaver, A. C., Kelly, J. M., Gatford, K. L., . . . Van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2022). Maternal oral supplementation with citrulline increases plasma citrulline but not arginine in pregnant Merino ewes and neonatal lambs. Animal Production Science, 62(6), 521-528.
    DOI Scopus2
    2022 Lewis Baida, B. E., Baumert, M., Kushwaha, A., Swinbourne, A. M., Leu, S. T., & Van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2022). Validation of indwelling vaginal sensor to monitor body temperature in ewes. Animal Biotelemetry, 10(1), 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS1
    2022 Agenbag, B., Swinbourne, A. M., Petrovski, K., & Van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2022). Validation of a handheld refractometer to assess Merino ewe colostrum and transition milk quality. Journal of Dairy Science, 106(2), 1394-1402.
    DOI Scopus7 WoS1 Europe PMC3
    2021 Lewis Baida, B. E., Swinbourne, A. M., Barwick, J., Leu, S. T., & van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2021). Technologies for the automated collection of heat stress data in sheep. Animal Biotelemetry, 9(1), 4-1-4-15.
    DOI Scopus42 WoS20
    2021 Swinbourne, A. M., Kind, K. L., Flinn, T., Kleemann, D. O., & van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2021). Caffeine: A potential strategy to improve survival of neonatal pigs and sheep. Animal Reproduction Science, 226, 106700.
    DOI Scopus9 WoS5 Europe PMC7
    2021 Murdock, N. J., Weaver, A. C., Kelly, J. M., Kleemann, D. O., Van Wettere, W. H. E. J., & Swinbourne, A. M. (2021). Supplementing pregnant Merino ewes with caffeine to improve neonatal lamb thermoregulation and viability.. Anim Reprod Sci, 226, 1-11.
    DOI Scopus7 WoS4 Europe PMC4
    2021 Van Wettere, W. H. E. J., Kind, K. L., Gatford, K. L., Swinbourne, A. M., Leu, S. T., Hayman, P. T., . . . Walker, S. K. (2021). Review of the impact of heat stress on reproductive performance of sheep.. J Anim Sci Biotechnol, 12(1), 26.
    DOI Scopus124 WoS15 Europe PMC62
    2021 McCarthy, N., Weaver, A. C., Agenbag, B., Flinn, T., Brougham, B. J., Swinbourne, A. M., . . . van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2021). Maternal lysine, methionine and choline supplementation in twin-bearing Merino ewes during mid-to-late gestation does not alter pregnancy outcomes or progeny growth and survival. Livestock Science, 251, 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus4
    2021 Agenbag, B., Swinbourne, A. M., Petrovski, K., & van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2021). Lambs need colostrum: A review. Livestock Science, 251, 1-8.
    DOI Scopus26 WoS10
    2021 Swinbourne, A. M., Blagojevic, N., Murdock, N. J., Mills, H. B., Flinn, T., McCarthy, N. L., . . . van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2021). Validation of hand-held refractometers for assessing Merino ewe colostrum and neonatal lamb serum. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE, 62(3), 1-11.
    DOI Scopus6
    2020 Brougham, B. -J., Weaver, A. C., Swinbourne, A. M. F., Lewis Baida, B. E., Kelly, J. M., Walker, S. K., . . . Van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2020). Maternal Supplementation with Dietary Betaine during Gestation to Improve Twin Lamb Survival.. Animals (Basel), 10(10), 14 pages.
    DOI Scopus16 WoS5 Europe PMC8
    2020 Flinn, T., Gunn, J. R., Kind, K. L., Swinbourne, A. M., Weaver, A. C., Kelly, J. M., . . . Kleemann, D. O. (2020). Maternal melatonin implants improve twin Merino lamb survival. Journal of Animal Science, 98(11), 1-5.
    DOI Scopus15 WoS5 Europe PMC6
    2020 Flinn, T., Kleemann, D. O., Swinbourne, A. M., Kelly, J. M., Weaver, A. C., Walker, S. K., . . . van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2020). Neonatal lamb mortality: major risk factors and the potential ameliorative role of melatonin. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 11(1), 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus33 WoS14 Europe PMC15
    2020 Flinn, T., Mc Carthy, N. L., Swinbourne, A. M., Gatford, K. L., Weaver, A. C., McGrice, H. A., . . . Van Wettere, W. H. E. J. (2020). Supplementing Merino ewes with melatonin during the last half of pregnancy improves tolerance of prolonged parturition and survival of second-born twin lambs. Journal of animal science, 98(12), 1-10.
    DOI Scopus15 WoS5 Europe PMC6
    2019 Swinbourne, M., Taggart, D., Swinbourne, A., & Ostendorf, B. (2019). Southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) in the Gawler Ranges region of South Australia: population growth from 1988 to 2016. Australian Mammalogy, 41(1), 112-122.
    DOI Scopus7 WoS6
    2018 Swinbourne, A., Johnston, S., Janssen, T., Lisle, A., & Keeley, T. (2018). Reproductive biology of captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Part 1: Oestrous cycle characterisation. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 30(11), 1412-1423.
    DOI Scopus4 Europe PMC2
    2018 Swinbourne, A., Phillips, C., Janssen, T., Lisle, A., Keeley, T., & Johnston, S. (2018). Reproductive biology of captive female southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Part 2: Oestrous behaviour. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 30(11), 1424-1433.
    DOI Scopus3 Europe PMC2
    2018 Swinbourne, M., Taggart, D., Swinbourne, A., Lewis, M., & Ostendorf, B. (2018). Using satellite imagery to assess the distribution and abundance of southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Remote Sensing of Environment, 211, 196-203.
    DOI Scopus21 WoS15 Europe PMC2
    2017 Swinbourne, A. M., Johnston, S. D., Janssen, T. M., Lisle, A., & Keeley, T. (2017). Validation of techniques to measure reproductive hormones in the urine of female southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). General and Comparative Endocrinology, 252, 130-141.
    DOI Scopus7 Europe PMC5
    2016 Swinbourne, A. M., Johnston, S. D., Janssen, T., Lisle, A., Keeley, T., & Phillips, C. J. C. (2016). Olfactory behavioural responses in captive male southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) exposed to oestrous and non-oestrous urine samples. Australian Journal of Zoology, 64(6), 395-401.
    DOI Scopus1
    2015 Swinbourne, A., Janssen, T., Phillips, C., & Johnston, S. (2015). Non-invasive urine collection in the female southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) with the aid of classical conditioning. Zoo Biology, 34(1), 89-93.
    DOI Scopus7 Europe PMC4
    2014 Swinbourne, A., Kelly, J., Kind, K., Kennaway, D., & van Wettere, W. (2014). The effects of season and moderate nutritional restriction on ovarian function and oocyte nuclear maturation in cycling gilts. Theriogenology, 82(9), 1303-1309.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS3 Europe PMC1

  • Conference Items
    Year Citation
    2018 Swinbourne, A. M., Phillips, C. J. C., Janssen, T., Lisle, A., Keeley, T., & Johnston, S. D. (2018). Urine as a tool to identify and monitor oestrous in captive female southern hairy-nosed wombats. Poster session presented at the meeting of Wombats Through Space and Time. The University of Adelaide.
    2018 Keeley, T., Janssen, T., Swinbourne, A., Ho, L., Shritri, S., & Johnston, S. D. (2018). In search for a non-invasive pregnancy test for marsupials: the southern hairy-nosed wombat as a model species. Poster session presented at the meeting of Wombats Through Space and Time. The University of Adelaide.
    2018 Keeley, T., Janssen, T., Swinbourne, A., Ho, L., Shritri, S., & Johnston, S. D. (2018). In search for a non-invasive pregnancy test for marsupials: the southern hairy-nosed wombat as a model species. Poster session presented at the meeting of Wombats Through Space and Time. The University of Adelaide.
    2018 Johnston, S. D., Janssen, T., Brooks, P., Hogan, L., Swinbourne, A., Du, Z., . . . Keeley, T. (2018). The development of breeding technology in captive wombats. Poster session presented at the meeting of Wombats Through Space and Time. The University of Adelaide.
    2018 Swinbourne, A. M., Flinn, T., McCarthy, N., Kelly, J., Gatford, K., Kind, K., . . . Van Wettere, W. (2018). The effects of maternal melatonin supplementation on blood glucose and thermoregulation in neonatal lambs. Poster session presented at the meeting of The Joint Annual Scientific Meetings of the Endocrine Society of Australia and the Society for Reproductive Biology.
    2018 Flinn, T., Swinbourne, A., McCarthy, N., Kelly, J., Gatford, K., Kind, K., . . . Van Wettere, W. (2018). The effects of maternal melatonin supplementation in mid to late gestating singleton and twin-bearing merino ewes on growth parameters at birth. Poster session presented at the meeting of The Joint Annual Scientific Meetings of the Endocrine Society of Australia and the Society for Reproductive Biology. Adelaide, South Australia.
    2018 Flinn, T., Swinbourne, A., McCarthy, N., Kelly, J., Gatford, K., Kind, K., . . . Van Wettere, W. (2018). The effects of maternal melatonin supplementation in mid to late gestating singleton and twin-bearing merino ewes on growth parameters at birth. Poster session presented at the meeting of The Joint Annual Scientific Meetings of the Endocrine Society of Australia and the Society for Reproductive Biology. Adelaide, South Australia.
    2017 Swinbourne, A. M., Johnston, S. D., Janssen, T., & Keeley, T. (2017). Variability of the oestrous cycle in captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) as measured by urinary progesterone metabolites. Poster session presented at the meeting of 12th International Mammalogical Congress. Perth, Western Australia.
    2016 Swinbourne, A. M., Janssen, T., Keeley, T., Johnston, S. D., & Phillips, C. J. C. (2016). Breeding behaviour of captive female southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Poster session presented at the meeting of 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting and Symposium of the Australian Mammal Society. Alice Spring, Northern Territory, Australia.
    2015 Swinbourne, A. M., Janssen, T., Johnston, S. D., & Keeley, T. (2015). The measurement of female reproductive steroid hormones in marsupial urine. Poster session presented at the meeting of International Society of Wildlife Endocrinology 2015 Conference Proceedings. Berlin, Germany.
    2015 Swinbourne, A. M., Janssen, T., Johnston, S. D., & Keeley, T. (2015). Gonadotrophin releasing hormone challenge for the validation and analysis of luteinizing hormone in non-invasive urine samples from captive female southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Poster session presented at the meeting of Endocrine Society Australian and Society of Reproductive Biology 2015 Conference Proceedings. Adelaide , South Australia.
    2015 Swinbourne, A. M., Janssen, T., Phillips, C. J. C., Keeley, T., & Johnson, S. D. (2015). Differentiation of the flehmen response in six captive male southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) exposed to oestrous and non-oestrous urine sample. Poster session presented at the meeting of 61st Australian Mammal Society Scientific Meeting. Hobart, Tasmania. Australia.
    2013 Swinbourne, A. M., Kelly, J., Kind, K., Kennaway, D., & Van Wettere, W. (2013). The effects of season and moderate feed restriction on oocyte developmental competence in cycling gilts. Poster session presented at the meeting of 14th Australasian Pig Science Association Manipulating Pig Production 2013 Conference. Melbourne, Victoria. Australia.

Livestock SA Research grant. 2021

The University of Adelaide Collaboration Grant. 2018

The Society of Reproductive Biology Early Career Researcher Collaboration Grant. 2018

UQ’s School of Agriculture and Food Science International Travel Grant. 2016

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 Co-Supervisor Colostrum Quality in Merino Ewes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Bianca Agenbag

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Understanding the impact of ewe metabolic state and mineral status on parturition duration and the incidence of dystocia. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Amy Laurel Munn
    2020 - 2025 Co-Supervisor Thermoregulation in response to heat stress in sheep and impacts on fertility Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Bobbie Emilia Lewis Baida
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