You are here: University of Sydney / Faculty of Veterinary Science / Academic Staff / Associate Professor Kendra Kerrisk 

Associate Professor Kendra Kerrisk

BAppSc (Hons), PhD
Principal Research Fellow

C04B - M C Franklin - Laboratory Camden
The University of Sydney

Telephone 0428 101 372
Fax +61 2 4655 2374

Biographical details

I developed a strong interest for the Dairy Industry whilst conducting undergraduate and post-graduate studies at Massey University in New Zealand. After completing my bachelor degree I undertook an Honours degree on Quantitative Trait Loci analysis for milk colour in New Zealand pasture fed dairy bulls. Upon completion I took on a position of Technical Assistant at the WestpacTrust Agricultural Research Station in Taranaki (NZ) employed by the Dairying Research Corporation. In 1999 I was successful in securing a scholarship through the New Zealand Large Herds Association to conduct doctorate studies at the University of Melbourne under the supervision Prof. Jock Macmillan Peri-parturient Management for Large Dairy Herds using Controlled Breeding Programmes. On returning to New Zealand in 2001, with employment at Dexcel (formerly Dairying Research Corporation) I accepted a position in the Greenfield Project the world's first pasture-based Automatic Milking System research farm. I worked within the Greenfield Project for almost 4 years before accepting a position with the University of Sydney as AMS Research Leader within the FutureDairy program based at Camden, NSW, Australia. I have contributed significantly to the national and international knowledge regarding application of Automatic Milking Systems with pasture-based dairying. The work conducted within both the Greenfield Project and the FutureDairy project have been instrumental in our understanding of the implications of robotic milking when cows are grazed at pasture. A significant output of my AMS research career was the development of set of Management Guidelines for Pasture-Based AMS farms. The guidelines have been an extremely valuable tool for farmers adopting (and contemplating adopting) AMS across Australia and further abroad. One of the highlights of the work conducted within FutureDairy has been the involvement with the co-development of the world's first Robotic Rotary (Automatic Milking Rotary, DeLaval AMRTM). This internationally recognised work will increase the feasibility of robotic milking for large dairy herds that are more common within the Australian and New Zealand industries.

Back to Top

Research interests

Future Dairy, Robotic Dairy

Back to Top

Teaching and supervision

Automatic Milking. Milk Harvesting.

Back to Top

Themes

Animal Production

Back to Top

Selected grants

2011

  • Future Dairy 3; Garcia S, Kerrisk (nee Davis) K; Dairy Australia/Research and Development Grants.

2008

  • Investigation into forage, feeding and milking options for future dairy farm systems in Australia; Garcia S, Kerrisk (nee Davis) K; Dairy Australia/Research and Development Grants.
Back to Top

Selected publications

Download citations: PDF RTF Endnote

Journals

  • Kolbach, R., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S., Dhand, N. (2013). Effects of bail activation sequence and feed availability on cow traffic and milk harvesting capacity in a robotic rotary dairy. Journal of Dairy Science, 96, 1-10.
  • Kolbach, R., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S., Dhand, N. (2013). Investigation into the effect of different bail activation sequences with a novel Robotic Rotary on throughput capacity and cow traffic. Journal of Dairy Science.
  • Kolbach, R., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S. (2013). Short communication: The effect of premilking with a teat cup-like device, in a novel robotic rotary, on attachment accuracy and milk removal. Journal of Dairy Science, 96, 360-365.
  • Kolbach, R., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S., Dhand, N. (2012). Attachment accuracy of a novel prototype robotic rotary and investigation of two management strategies for incomlete milked quarters. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 88, 120-124.
  • Hammer, J., Morton, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K. (2012). Quarter - milking, quarter-, udder- and lactation-level risk factors and indicators for clinical mastitis during lactation in pasture-fed dairy cows managed in an automatic milking system. Australian Veterinary Journal, 90(5), 167-174.
  • Kerrisk, K., Jago, J. (2011). Training methods for introducing cows to a pasture-based automatic milking system. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 131(3-4), 79-85.
  • Donohue, R., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S., Dickeson, D., Thomson, P. (2010). Evaluation of two training programs aimed to improve early lactation performance of heifers in a pasture-based automated milking system. Animal Production Science, 50, 939-945.
  • Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Fulkerson, W., Garcia, S., Dickeson, D., Barchia, I. (2008). Premilking Teat Preparation for Australian Pasture-Based Cows Milked by an Automated Milking System. Journal of Dairy Science, 91(7), 2604-2609.
  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Copeman, P., Ohnstad, I., Woolford, M. (2007). Supplementary feeding at milking and minimum milking interval effects on cow traffic and milking performance in a pasture-based automatic milking system. Journal of Dairy Research, 74(4), 492-499.
  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Copeman, P., Woolford, M. (2006). The effect of pre-milking teat-brushing on milk processing time in an automated milking system. Journal of Dairy Research, 73(2), 187-192.
  • Popay, A., Hume, D., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Tapper, B. (2003). Interactions between endophyte (Neotyphodium spp.) and ploidy in hybrid and perennial ryegrass cultivars and their effects on Argentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis). New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 46(4), 311-319.
  • Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Anderson, G., Macmillan, K. (2003). Predicting calving curves for herds using controlled breeding programs. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 46(2), 97-104.

Conferences

  • Islam, M., Garcia, S., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K. (2012). A modelling approach to screen grazeable forage options for automatic milking system herds. 5th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2012, Melbourne, Australia: Department of Primary Industries.
  • Lyons, N., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S. (2012). Impact of pre vs. post-milking supplementation on milking interval of cows milked in a pasture-based automatic milking system. 5th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2012, Melbourne, Australia: Department of Primary Industries.
  • Talukder, S., Celi, P., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S., Dhand, N. (2012). Reproductive performance of dairy cows in a pasture based Automatic Milking System research farm: a retrospective analysis. 5th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2012, Melbourne, Australia: Department of Primary Industries.
  • Talukder, S., Celi, P., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S. (2012). Use of Digital Infrared Thermography for Oestrus Detection in Dairy Cows. 15th AAAP Animal Science Congress, Bangkok: The Animal Husbandry Association of Thailand.
  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Jensen, R. (2007). Future innovative dairy technologies to address labour constraints on farms. 3rd Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2007, Australia: National Dairy Alliance.
  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Newman, M., Woolford, M. (2006). An economic evaluation of automatic milking systems for New Zealand dairy farms. 66th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2006, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K. (2006). Automatic milking on New Zealand dairy farms. Society of Dairy Cattle Veterinarians of the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) Annual Conference 2006, New Zealand: Vetlearn Foundation.
  • Lopez-Benavides, M., Williamson, J., McGowan, J., Lacy-Hulbert, S., Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Woolford, M. (2006). Mastitis in cows milked in an automated or conventional milking system in New Zealand. 66th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2006, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
  • Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Jago, J., Macdonald, K., McGowan, J., Woolford, M. (2006). Pasture utilisation in a pastoral automated milking system. 68th Conference of New Zealand Grassland Association 2006, Dunedin, New Zealand: New Zealand Grasslands Association (Incorporated).
  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Woolford, M. (2006). Stage of lactation affects the milking performance and behaviour of cows in a pasture-based automated milking system. 66th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2006, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
  • Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Jago, J., Wieliczko, R., Copeman, P., Bright, K., Woolford, M. (2005). Factors influencing milk harvesting efficiency in an automatic milking system. 65th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2005, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
  • Burke, C., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Jago, J. (2005). Predicting next oestrous date and drafting automatically milked cows for focused attention on oestrous detection. 65th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2005, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
  • Woolford, M., Claycomb, R., Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Ohnstad, I., Wieliczko, R., Copeman, P., Bright, K. (2004). Automatic Dairy Farming in New Zealand Using Extensive Grazing Systems. International Symposium on Automatic Milking 2004: A Better Understanding.
  • Jago, J., Bright, K., Copeman, P., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Jackson, A., Ohnstad, I., Wieliczko, R., Woolford, M. (2004). Remote automatic selection of cows for milking in a pasture-based automatic milking system. 64th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2004, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
  • Woolford, M., Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K. (2003). The Dexcel "Greenfield Project": A Prototype for Automatic Dairyfarming on Pasture. Australian Dairy Conference 2003, Australia.

2013

  • Kolbach, R., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S., Dhand, N. (2013). Effects of bail activation sequence and feed availability on cow traffic and milk harvesting capacity in a robotic rotary dairy. Journal of Dairy Science, 96, 1-10.
  • Kolbach, R., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S., Dhand, N. (2013). Investigation into the effect of different bail activation sequences with a novel Robotic Rotary on throughput capacity and cow traffic. Journal of Dairy Science.
  • Kolbach, R., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S. (2013). Short communication: The effect of premilking with a teat cup-like device, in a novel robotic rotary, on attachment accuracy and milk removal. Journal of Dairy Science, 96, 360-365.

2012

  • Islam, M., Garcia, S., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K. (2012). A modelling approach to screen grazeable forage options for automatic milking system herds. 5th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2012, Melbourne, Australia: Department of Primary Industries.
  • Kolbach, R., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S., Dhand, N. (2012). Attachment accuracy of a novel prototype robotic rotary and investigation of two management strategies for incomlete milked quarters. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 88, 120-124.
  • Lyons, N., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S. (2012). Impact of pre vs. post-milking supplementation on milking interval of cows milked in a pasture-based automatic milking system. 5th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2012, Melbourne, Australia: Department of Primary Industries.
  • Hammer, J., Morton, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K. (2012). Quarter - milking, quarter-, udder- and lactation-level risk factors and indicators for clinical mastitis during lactation in pasture-fed dairy cows managed in an automatic milking system. Australian Veterinary Journal, 90(5), 167-174.
  • Talukder, S., Celi, P., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S., Dhand, N. (2012). Reproductive performance of dairy cows in a pasture based Automatic Milking System research farm: a retrospective analysis. 5th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2012, Melbourne, Australia: Department of Primary Industries.
  • Talukder, S., Celi, P., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S. (2012). Use of Digital Infrared Thermography for Oestrus Detection in Dairy Cows. 15th AAAP Animal Science Congress, Bangkok: The Animal Husbandry Association of Thailand.

2011

  • Kerrisk, K., Jago, J. (2011). Training methods for introducing cows to a pasture-based automatic milking system. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 131(3-4), 79-85.

2010

  • Donohue, R., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Garcia, S., Dickeson, D., Thomson, P. (2010). Evaluation of two training programs aimed to improve early lactation performance of heifers in a pasture-based automated milking system. Animal Production Science, 50, 939-945.

2008

  • Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Fulkerson, W., Garcia, S., Dickeson, D., Barchia, I. (2008). Premilking Teat Preparation for Australian Pasture-Based Cows Milked by an Automated Milking System. Journal of Dairy Science, 91(7), 2604-2609.

2007

  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Jensen, R. (2007). Future innovative dairy technologies to address labour constraints on farms. 3rd Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2007, Australia: National Dairy Alliance.
  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Copeman, P., Ohnstad, I., Woolford, M. (2007). Supplementary feeding at milking and minimum milking interval effects on cow traffic and milking performance in a pasture-based automatic milking system. Journal of Dairy Research, 74(4), 492-499.

2006

  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Newman, M., Woolford, M. (2006). An economic evaluation of automatic milking systems for New Zealand dairy farms. 66th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2006, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K. (2006). Automatic milking on New Zealand dairy farms. Society of Dairy Cattle Veterinarians of the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) Annual Conference 2006, New Zealand: Vetlearn Foundation.
  • Lopez-Benavides, M., Williamson, J., McGowan, J., Lacy-Hulbert, S., Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Woolford, M. (2006). Mastitis in cows milked in an automated or conventional milking system in New Zealand. 66th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2006, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
  • Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Jago, J., Macdonald, K., McGowan, J., Woolford, M. (2006). Pasture utilisation in a pastoral automated milking system. 68th Conference of New Zealand Grassland Association 2006, Dunedin, New Zealand: New Zealand Grasslands Association (Incorporated).
  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Woolford, M. (2006). Stage of lactation affects the milking performance and behaviour of cows in a pasture-based automated milking system. 66th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2006, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
  • Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Copeman, P., Woolford, M. (2006). The effect of pre-milking teat-brushing on milk processing time in an automated milking system. Journal of Dairy Research, 73(2), 187-192.

2005

  • Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Jago, J., Wieliczko, R., Copeman, P., Bright, K., Woolford, M. (2005). Factors influencing milk harvesting efficiency in an automatic milking system. 65th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2005, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
  • Burke, C., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Jago, J. (2005). Predicting next oestrous date and drafting automatically milked cows for focused attention on oestrous detection. 65th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2005, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.

2004

  • Woolford, M., Claycomb, R., Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Ohnstad, I., Wieliczko, R., Copeman, P., Bright, K. (2004). Automatic Dairy Farming in New Zealand Using Extensive Grazing Systems. International Symposium on Automatic Milking 2004: A Better Understanding.
  • Jago, J., Bright, K., Copeman, P., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Jackson, A., Ohnstad, I., Wieliczko, R., Woolford, M. (2004). Remote automatic selection of cows for milking in a pasture-based automatic milking system. 64th New Zealand Society of Animal Production Annual Conference NZSAP 2004, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Animal Production.

2003

  • Popay, A., Hume, D., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Tapper, B. (2003). Interactions between endophyte (Neotyphodium spp.) and ploidy in hybrid and perennial ryegrass cultivars and their effects on Argentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis). New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 46(4), 311-319.
  • Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Anderson, G., Macmillan, K. (2003). Predicting calving curves for herds using controlled breeding programs. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 46(2), 97-104.
  • Woolford, M., Jago, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K. (2003). The Dexcel "Greenfield Project": A Prototype for Automatic Dairyfarming on Pasture. Australian Dairy Conference 2003, Australia.
Back to Top

For support on your academic profile contact Research Support.