Danila Marini

Dr Danila Marini

School of Animal and Veterinary Science

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

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.

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    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(11), 1000-1005.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS2
    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.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS2
    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.
    DOI Scopus7 WoS7
    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.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
    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.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS13 Europe PMC7
    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.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS13 Europe PMC5
    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.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS12 Europe PMC3
    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.
    DOI Scopus16 WoS19
    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.
    DOI Scopus17 WoS15 Europe PMC7
    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.
    DOI Scopus29 WoS30 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.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC8
    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.
    DOI Scopus15 WoS13 Europe PMC11
    2018 Marini, D., Llewellyn, R., Belson, S., & Lee, C. (2018). Controlling within-field sheep movement using virtual fencing. Animals, 8(3), 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus33 WoS31 Europe PMC13
    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.
    DOI Scopus10 WoS10
    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.
    DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC3
    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.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS6 Europe PMC3
    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.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC3
    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.
    DOI Scopus17 WoS16 Europe PMC8
    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.
    DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC3
    - Marini, D., Pippia, J., Colditz, I. G., Hinch, G. G. N., Petherick, C. J., & Lee, C. (n.d.). Palatability of flunixin and pharmacokinetics when administered to sheep through feed.
    DOI
    - Marini, D., Colditz, I. G., & Lee, C. (n.d.). Can Lambs in Pain Identify Medicated Feed?. Frontiers in Animal Science, 2.
    DOI
  • Phone: 83130541
  • Email: danila.marini@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: Roseworthy
  • Building: J.S. Davies Building, floor Ground Floor
  • Room: G28
  • Org Unit: School of Animal and Veterinary Science
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