Research Interests
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences Animal Behaviour Animal Management Animal ProductionDr Danila Marini
Internally Grant-Funded Research Fellow
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
College of Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.
I have always had a passion for animals. My career goals ranged from veterinarian to zoo keeper through to jockey and dog groomer. However a fateful excursion to Adelaide University’s Agricultural campus, Roseworthy and to CSIROs Waite campus opened me up to the world of research. In 2013 I graduated from The University of Adelaide with a B. Animal Science and first class Honours.It was during my Honours year that my passion for livestock, particularly sheep, was ignited so I relocated myself to Armidale in NSW to complete a PhD at the University of New England in conjunction with the CSIRO. It was here that my expertise in animal behaviour and welfare grew, supported by brilliant scientists such as Dr. Caroline Lee, Dr. Alison Small, Professor Geoff Hinch and Dr. Fran Cowley.Since graduating I have been continuing my work in the animal behaviour and welfare field with a primary focus in livestock. My past work at CSIRO with the animal behaviour and welfare team had me leading projects that looked at pain mitigation in livestock as well as welfare assessment in sheep.Now working at the University of Adelaide I am looking to continue research in the animal behaviour and welfare space. My research interests include, looking at ways we can relieve pain and stress in livestock and ensuring that in a changing world with new technology that we use on farm doesn't negatively impact animal welfare. I am also interested in affective state work as well as the learning capabilities of livestock and the potential to develop training protocols that could allow them to have control over their welfare.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 - ongoing | Grant Funded Researcher | University of Adelaide |
| 2020 - 2022 | Experimental Researcher | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation |
| 2016 - 2020 | PostDoc | University of New England |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 - 2017 | University of New England | Australia | PhD |
| 2009 - 2013 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Bachelor of Science |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Marini, D., Kalinowski, T., & Small, A. (2025). Efficacy of a single central injection of lignocaine at the scrotal neck on the behavioural response of lambs to castration. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 52(1), 83-89. |
| 2025 | Farr, R. J., Cowled, C., Rodrigues, C., Rootes, C. L., Campbell, D. L. M., Lee, C., . . . Marini, D. (2025). Circulating microRNA profiles are associated with acute pain and stress in castrated and tail docked lambs. Veterinary and Animal Science, 28, 100445. |
| 2023 | Marini, D., Monk, J. E., Campbell, D. L. M., Lee, C., Belson, S., & Small, A. (2023). Sex impacts pain behaviour but not emotional reactivity of lambs following ring tail docking.. PeerJ, 11, e15092. Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1 |
| 2022 | Marini, D., Cowley, F., Belson, S., & Lee, C. (2022). Comparison of virtually fencing and electrically fencing sheep for pasture management. Animal Production Science, 62(10-11), 1-6. Scopus11 WoS7 |
| 2022 | Kearton, T., Marini, D., Lee, C., & Cowley, F. C. (2022). The influence of observing a maternal demonstrator on the ability of lambs to learn a virtual fence. Animal Production Science, 62(5), 470-481. Scopus7 WoS4 |
| 2021 | Small, A., Marini, D., & Colditz, I. (2021). Local anesthetic delivered with a dual action ring and injection applicator reduces the acute pain response of lambs during tail docking. Animals, 11(8), 9 pages. Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC6 |
| 2021 | Campbell, D. L. M., Marini, D., Lea, J. M., Keshavarzi, H., Dyall, T. R., & Lee, C. (2021). The application of virtual fencing technology effectively herds cattle and sheep. Animal Production Science, 61(13), 1393-1402. Scopus31 WoS24 |
| 2021 | Marini, D., Colditz, I. G., & Lee, C. (2021). Can Lambs in Pain Identify Medicated Feed?. Frontiers in Animal Science, 2, 11 pages. Scopus3 WoS3 |
| 2020 | Kearton, T., Marini, D., Cowley, F., Belson, S., Keshavarzi, H., Mayes, B., & Lee, C. (2020). The Influence of Predictability and Controllability on Stress Responses to the Aversive Component of a Virtual Fence. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 11 pages. Scopus29 WoS26 Europe PMC14 |
| 2020 | Marini, D., Kearton, T., Ouzman, J., Llewellyn, R., Belson, S., & Lee, C. (2020). Social influence on the effectiveness of virtual fencing in sheep. PeerJ, 8, 16 pages. Scopus25 WoS24 Europe PMC10 |
| 2020 | Verdon, M., Lee, C., Marini, D., & Rawnsley, R. (2020). Pre-exposure to an electrical stimulus primes associative pairing of audio and electrical stimuli for dairy heifers in a virtual fencing feed attractant trial. Animals, 10(2), 18 pages. Scopus31 WoS28 Europe PMC13 |
| 2019 | Marini, D., Cowley, F., Belson, S., & Lee, C. (2019). The importance of an audio cue warning in training sheep to a virtual fence and differences in learning when tested individually or in small groups. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 221, 7 pages. Scopus29 WoS26 |
| 2019 | Kearton, T., Marini, D., Cowley, F., Belson, S., & Lee, C. (2019). The effect of virtual fencing stimuli on stress responses and behavior in sheep. Animals, 9(1), 19 pages. Scopus31 WoS28 Europe PMC14 |
| 2018 | Small, A. H., Marini, D., le Floch, M., Paull, D., & Lee, C. (2018). A pen study evaluation of buccal meloxicam and topical anaesthetic at improving welfare of lambs undergoing surgical mulesing and hot knife tail docking. Research in Veterinary Science, 118, 270-277. Scopus16 WoS14 Europe PMC11 |
| 2018 | Small, A. H., Marini, D., Dyall, T., Paull, D., & Lee, C. (2018). A randomised field study evaluating the effectiveness of buccal meloxicam and topical local anaesthetic formulations administered singly or in combination at improving welfare of female Merino lambs undergoing surgical mulesing and hot knife tail docking. Research in Veterinary Science, 118, 305-311. Scopus24 WoS19 Europe PMC16 |
| 2018 | Marini, D., Llewellyn, R., Belson, S., & Lee, C. (2018). Controlling within-field sheep movement using virtual fencing. Animals, 8(3), 11 pages. Scopus57 WoS50 Europe PMC22 |
| 2018 | Marini, D., Meuleman, M. D., Belson, S., Rodenburg, T. B., Llewellyn, R., & Lee, C. (2018). Developing an ethically acceptable virtual fencing system for sheep. Animals, 8(3), 9 pages. Scopus47 WoS42 Europe PMC22 |
| 2017 | Hunter, D., Hazel, S. J., Kind, K. L., Liu, H., Marini, D., Giles, L., . . . Gatford, K. (2017). Effects of induced placental and fetal growth restriction, size at birth and early neonatal growth on behavioural and brain structural lateralization in sheep. Laterality, 22(5), 560-589. Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC3 |
| 2017 | Marini, D., Colditz, I. G., Hinch, G., Petherick, J. C., & Lee, C. (2017). Self-administration by consumption of flunixin in feed alleviates the pain and inflammation associated with castration and tail docking of lambs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 188, 26-33. Scopus17 WoS15 |
| 2016 | Marini, D., Pippia, J., Colditz, I. G., Hinch, G. N., Petherick, C. J., & Lee, C. (2016). Palatability and pharmacokinetics of flunixin when administered to sheep through feed. PeerJ, 4(3), 12 pages. Scopus8 WoS9 Europe PMC5 |
| 2015 | Marini, D., Pippia, J., Colditz, I. G., Hinch, G. G. N., Petherick, C. J., & Lee, C. (2015). Palatability of flunixin and pharmacokinetics when administered to sheep through feed. |
| 2015 | Marini, D., Pippia, J., Colditz, I. G., Hinch, G., Petherick, J. C., & Lee, C. (2015). Randomised trial of the bioavailability and efficacy of orally administered flunixin, carprofen and ketoprofen in a pain model in sheep. Australian Veterinary Journal, 93(8), 265-270. Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC6 |
| 2015 | Hunter, D., Hazel, S., Kind, K., Liu, H., Marini, D., Owens, J., . . . Gatford, K. (2015). Do I turn left or right? Effects of sex, age, experience and exit route on maze test performance in sheep. Physiology and Behavior, 139, 244-253. Scopus24 WoS20 Europe PMC11 |
| 2015 | Hunter, D., Hazel, S., Kind, K., Liu, H., Marini, D., Giles, L., . . . Gatford, K. (2015). Placental and foetal growth restriction, size at birth and neonatal growth alter cognitive function and behaviour in sheep in an age- and sex-specific manner. Physiology & Behavior, 152(A), 1-10. Scopus10 WoS10 Europe PMC5 |
| 1972 | CLEMENTI, F., & MARINI, D. (1972). SURFACE FINE STRUCTURE OF WALLS OF CEREBRAL VENTRICLES AND OF CHORID PLEXUS IN CAT. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR ZELLFORSCHUNG UND MIKROSKOPISCHE ANATOMIE, 123(1), 82-&. WoS94 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Marini, D., Muleman, D., Belson, S., Rodenburg, B., & Lee, C. (2023). Development of an ethical virtual fencing system for sheep. In Proceedings of the 51st Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology: Understanding Animal behaviour (pp. 159). |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 1972 | PERONI, F., SCHIANTA, P., & MARINI, D. (1972). SHAPE MODIFICATIONS OF MAMMALIAN RED BLOOD-CELLS INDUCED BY RADIOPAQUE DYES USED IN ROENTGENOLOGY. In JOURNAL OF SUBMICROSCOPIC CYTOLOGY Vol. 4 (pp. 122-&). EDITRICE COMPOSITORI BOLOGNA. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Marini, D., Pippia, J., Colditz, I. G., Hinch, G. G. N., Petherick, C. J., & Lee, C. (2015). Palatability of flunixin and pharmacokinetics when administered to sheep through feed. DOI |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | The physiological impacts of virtual fencing on sheep and cattle in South Australia. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Miss Megan Beth Willis |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | The physiological impacts of virtual fencing on sheep and cattle in South Australia. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Miss Megan Beth Willis |
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