Forbes Brien

Dr Forbes Brien

Associate Professor

School of Animal and Veterinary Science

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Forbes is currently an Externally Funded Research Fellow with the University of Adelaide (School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences), based at the Roseworthy campus north of Adelaide. Raised on a sheep and mixed farming property near Colac in Victoria, he graduated from Melbourne University with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Agricultural Science. After several years of working in research and extension roles, Forbes completed a PhD in quantitative genetics at the University of Edinburgh, then worked in Victoria and South Australia in industry development, research and research management roles for state government agencies. During that time he also remained closely involved in farming, managing a 650 ha wool-producing property at Nareen, near Hamilton.

In more recent years, genetic improvement of lamb survival has been a focus of Forbes’s research, including guest-editing 2 special editions in the journal Animal Production Science on behalf of the Sheep CRC. He has written annual genetic reviews of Australian Wool Innovation’s breech strike R, D and E program since 2011 and has also led and participated in other AWI-funded projects and consultancies. Forbes was a committee member for the 1995 AAABG conference and vice-President of AAABG for the 2009 conference. He is President-Elect for the 2021 conference of AAABG, to be held in South Australia

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2010 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Breeding for robustness in maternal sheep breeds Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Samuel Felix Walkom
    2008 - 2014 External Supervisor Metabolic maturity and vigour in neonatal lambs, and subsequent impacts on thermoregulation and survival Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Kate Plush
  • Position: Associate Professor
  • Phone: 83137623
  • Email: forbes.brien@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83137972
  • Campus: Roseworthy
  • Building: J.S. Davies, floor G
  • Org Unit: School of Animal and Veterinary Science

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