Mary McQuillan

Mary McQuillan

School of Animal and Veterinary Science

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

I am a veterinary researcher with a deep commitment to improving animal health, welfare, and productivity in extensive production systems, with a strong focus on sheep. My research bridges clinical practice, epidemiology, and diagnostic development to address key industry issues such as ewe mortality, pneumonia and lamb feedlot health.

A central focus of my work is on the causes and prevention of peri-parturient ewe mortality. As part of the MLA-funded "Unlocking the Keys to Ewe Survival" project, I led extensive post-mortem investigations across southern Australia. Building on this, my doctoral thesis applied Bayesian Network modelling to quantify and predict key mortality risks, offering new insights for producers and veterinarians.

I also lead innovative research into sheep pneumonia, supported by pharmaceutical partnerships and diagnostic tool development supported by the Sheep Industry Fund. 

Through national and international conference presentations, technical publications, industry collaborations, and academic mentoring, I aim to translate research findings into practical, evidence-based strategies for producers and veterinarians.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - ongoing Associate Lecturer The University of Adelaide

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2020 - 2023 Charles Sturt University Australia Doctor of Veterinary Studies
    2014 - 2016 The University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
    2010 - 2013 The University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Veterinary Bioscience

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2024 McQuillan, M. C., Glanville, E., Jacobson, C., Sherriff, L., McGill, D. M., Whale, A., & Allworth, M. B. (2024). Peri-parturient ewe mortality in commercial, southern Australian, non-Merino ewe flocks: establishing the frequency and investigating causes. Australian Veterinary Journal, 102(12), 605-615.
    DOI Scopus1 Europe PMC1
    2023 Allworth, M. B., McQuillan, M., McGrath, S. R., Wilson, C. S., & Hernandez-Jover, M. (2023). A survey on bloat in southern Australian beef production systems. Australian Veterinary Journal, 101(3), 121-126.
    DOI Scopus2 Europe PMC1

  • Conference Papers
    Year Citation
    2023 McQuillan, M., McGrath, S., Rast, L., Hernandez-Jover, M., Allworth, B., & McQuillan, M. (2023). Investigating animal health and diseases in Australian lamb feedlots. In Animal Science Proceedings-ISVC-2023. Seville, Spain.
    2022 Allworth, J., Wilson, C., McGrath, S., McQuillan, M., & Allworth, B. (2022). The Bloat Alert app: an early warning app for bloat in cattle. In https://www.publish.csiro.au/AN/ANv62n11abs. Cairns, Australia.
    2022 McGarth, S., Stephens, J., McQuillan, M., Bates, A., Allworth, B., & McQuillan, M. (2022). Uncastrated Composite lambs grow faster than castrated lambs but the benefit is in the pre-weaning period. In https://www.publish.csiro.au/AN/ANv62n11abs (Abstracts). Cairns, Australia.
    2022 McQuillan, M., Glanville, E., Jacobson, C., Sherriff, L., Whale, A., & Allworth, B. (2022). Understanding the incidence of dystocia related death in ewes: a key to unlocking ewe survival. In https://www.publish.csiro.au/AN/ANv62n11abs. Cairns.
    2021 McQuillan, M., McGrath, S., Keogh, T., Luzia, R., Hernandez-Jover, M., & Allworth, B. (2021). Investigating animal health and diseases in Australian lamb feedlots. In https://www.ava.com.au/siteassets/conference/scgv-conference/2021/scgv-conference-2021---proceedings-as-of-30.06.21.pdf. Wagga Wagg, Australia.

I have successfully secured and managed over $1.6 million in competitive research funding across my academic career, including multiple projects as principal investigator. My work has been supported by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), the Sheep Industry Fund, the School of Animal and Veterinary Science, and industry partners.

Current and Recent Grants:
2024–2025 | Principal Investigator
Sheep Industry Fund Grant – $301,829
Researching fertility improvement in rams under heat stress using melatonin intervention strategies.

2023 | Lead Applicant
School of Animal and Veterinary Science Seed Grant
Used to leverage an additional $160,000 from a pharmaceutical company to support pneumonia research in sheep via the Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology (ACARE).

2021–2023 | Project Lead
MLA Project P.PSH.0019: Investigating Animal Health and Diseases in Lamb Feedlots – $304,750
Epidemiological analysis and field-based investigations into health issues in Australian lamb feedlots.

2018–2021 | Project Lead
MLA Project L.LSM.0019: Unlocking the Keys to Ewe Survival – $600,000
National-level post-mortem analysis and data modelling of ewe mortality during lambing.

2020–2021 | Team Member
MLA Project L.LSM.0030: Fit to Join – $250,520
Development of assessment tools to assist producers in determining ewe readiness for joining.

These projects have not only advanced scientific understanding but also generated practical outputs including technical guides, producer workshops, and tools for veterinary and farm-level decision-making.

I am a passionate and student-focused educator who values inclusivity, curiosity, and active learning. As a recent graduate of the University of Adelaide’s veterinary program, I bring a contemporary perspective to curriculum delivery and design. I aim to inspire and empower students to pursue careers in production animal medicine through immersive, hands-on, and evidence-based education.

Teaching Highlights:
Outstanding SELT Scores: Consistently scored ≥6.5/7 across multiple categories, including approachability, clarity, student engagement, participation encouragement, and overall effectiveness.

Student-Led Recognition: Winner of the “Favourite Lecturer” award (2023 & 2024) from DVM II students.

Connect With Me
External Profiles