Professor Alex Vieira Chaves
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Professor Alex Vieira Chaves

BSc(Eng), MSc (Plant Science), PhD (Animal Science)
Professor of Animal Nutrition
School of Life and Environmental Sciences 
Phone
+61 2 9036 9312
Fax
+61 2 9351 3957
Professor Alex Vieira Chaves

Alex Chaves is a fellowship prize-winning and internationally-recognised researcher in animal nutrition, sustainable ruminant production systems, the mitigation of greenhouse gases within those systems, and management approaches to utilise existing feed resources more efficiently. Alex has an outstanding publication record. He has supervised a very large number of graduate and post-graduate students (32 since 2013), half of whom have international research experience as a result of my successful grant applications and international collaborations.

Ruminant nutrition

Sustainable ruminant production systems

Environmental friendly farm systems (mitigation of greenhouse gases; management approaches to utilize the existing feed resources more efficiently; etc.)

Feed types and composition

Rumen microbiology

Silage research

In vitro systems

Undergraduate teaching:

Animal nutrition year II AVBS and year II BVB/DVM students

Beef production year II AVBS and BVB students

Animal nutrition year I DVM students

Feed technology year IV AVBS students

  • 2014 Humboldt Research Fellowship. For experienced researchers at Hannover, Germany
  • 2013 Science without Borders Program: Special Visiting Researchers (Research Fellowship)
Animal production and welfare, Food and nutrition, Microbiology
Project titleResearch student
Remote monitoring technologies to improve profitability of feedlot cattleMadison LUKE

Publications

Book Chapters

  • Terry, S., Romero, C., Chaves, A., McAllister, T. (2020). Nutritional factors affecting greenhouse gas production from ruminants: implications for enteric and manure emissions. In Dr C S McSweeney, Prof R I Mackie (Eds.), Improving Rumen Function, (pp. 505-546). Cambridge: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited.
  • Benchaar, C., Wang, Y., Chaves, A., McAllister, T., Beauchemin, K. (2007). Use of Plant Extracts in Ruminant Nutrition. In Surya N. Acharya, James E. (James Ernest) Thomas (Eds.), Advances in Medicinal Plant Research, (pp. 465-489). India: Research Signpost.

Journals

  • Ni, M., Parra, M., Chaves, A., Meale, S. (2024). Effect of enriched biochar on methane emissions, rumen microbial structure and rumen fermentation characteristics in Holstein steers. Livestock Science, 289, 105590. [More Information]
  • Gadzama, I., Hoffman, L., Holman, B., Chaves, A., Meale, S. (2024). Effects of supplementing a feedlot diet with microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) on the performance, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs. Livestock Science, 288, 105552. [More Information]
  • Ribeiro, R., Maurício, R., Chaves, A., Silva, A., Diavão, J., Sacramento, J., Minighin, D., Tomich, T., MacHado, F., Campos, M., et al (2024). Ration particle size has different effects on digestive but not production parameters in higher-yielding (Holstein) compared to lower-yielding (Girolando) cows. Journal of Dairy Research, 91(1), 25-30. [More Information]

Conferences

  • Scott, B., Camacho, A., Clark, C., Golder, H., Molfino, J., Kerrisk (nee Davis), K., Lean, I., Garcia, S., Chaves, A., Hall, E. (2014). The impact of milking order on the quality and quantity of pasture accessed. Dairy Research Foundation Symposium, Australia: N/A.
  • Faichney, G., NedVed, V., Meale, S., Chaves, A. (2010). Digestion of its diet by a male Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia, N/A: N/A.
  • Avila Stagno, J., Chaves, A., Beauchemin, K., McGinn, S., McAllister, T. (2010). Effects of replacing barley in feedlot diets with increasing levels of glycerol on in vitro methane production. Greenhouse Gases and Animal Agriculture (GGAA) 2010, N/A: N/A.

2024

  • Ni, M., Parra, M., Chaves, A., Meale, S. (2024). Effect of enriched biochar on methane emissions, rumen microbial structure and rumen fermentation characteristics in Holstein steers. Livestock Science, 289, 105590. [More Information]
  • Gadzama, I., Hoffman, L., Holman, B., Chaves, A., Meale, S. (2024). Effects of supplementing a feedlot diet with microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) on the performance, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs. Livestock Science, 288, 105552. [More Information]
  • Ribeiro, R., Maurício, R., Chaves, A., Silva, A., Diavão, J., Sacramento, J., Minighin, D., Tomich, T., MacHado, F., Campos, M., et al (2024). Ration particle size has different effects on digestive but not production parameters in higher-yielding (Holstein) compared to lower-yielding (Girolando) cows. Journal of Dairy Research, 91(1), 25-30. [More Information]

2023

  • Zhou, T., Zhang, Z., Liu, H., Dong, S., Nghiem, L., Gao, L., Chaves, A., Zamyadi, A., Li, X., Wang, Q. (2023). A review on microalgae-mediated biotechnology for removing pharmaceutical contaminants in aqueous environments: Occurrence, fate, and removal mechanism. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 443. [More Information]
  • Wang, Z., Gao, L., Wang, Q., Li, X., Liu, H., Zhou, T., Qin, Z., Mou, J., Sun, J., Huang, S., Chaves, A. (2023). Bioproduction and applications of short-chain fatty acids from secondary sludge anaerobic fermentation: A critical review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 183, 113502. [More Information]
  • Forwood, D., Innes, D., Parra, M., Stark, T., de Souza, D., Chaves, A., Meale, S. (2023). Feeding an unsalable carrot total-mixed ration altered bacterial amino acid degradation in the rumen of lambs. Scientific Reports, 13(1). [More Information]

2022

  • O'Reilly, G., Holman, D., Holman, D., Muscat, K., Muscatello, G., Parra, M., Meale, S., Chaves, A. (2022). Characterisation of the Faecal Microbiome of Foals from 0–5 Months of Age and Their Respective Mares across Five Geographic Locations. Frontiers in Bioscience, 14(3). [More Information]
  • Zhou, T., Li, X., Zhang, Q., Dong, S., Liu, H., Liu, Y., Chaves, A., Ralph, P., Ruan, R., Wang, Q. (2022). Ecotoxicological response of Spirulina platensis to coexisted copper and zinc in anaerobic digestion effluent. Science of the Total Environment, 837. [More Information]
  • Forwood, D., Holman, D., Meale, S., Chaves, A. (2022). Ensiled Mixed Vegetables Enriched Carbohydrate Metabolism in Heterofermentative Lactic Acid Bacteria. Fermentation, 8(12). [More Information]

2021

  • O'Reilly, G., Huo, Y., Meale, S., Chaves, A. (2021). Dose response of biochar and wood vinegar on in vitro batch culture ruminal fermentation using contrasting feed substrates. Translational Animal Science, 5(3), txab107. [More Information]
  • Forwood, D., Caro, E., Holman, D., Meale, S., Chaves, A. (2021). Ensiling sorghum with unsalable pumpkin improves feed digestibility with minimal influence on the rumen microbial population using the rumen simulation technique. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 105(8), 3289-3300. [More Information]
  • Forwood, D., Holman, B., Hopkins, D., Smyth, H., Hoffman, L., Chaves, A., Meale, S. (2021). Feeding unsaleable carrots to lambs increased performance and carcass characteristics while maintaining meat quality. Meat Science, 173, 108402. [More Information]

2020

  • Nguyen, A., Nguyen, L., Johir, M., Ngo, H., Chaves, A., Nghiem, L. (2020). Derivation of volatile fatty acid from crop residues digestion using a rumen membrane bioreactor: A feasibility study. Bioresource Technology, 312, 123571. [More Information]
  • Terry, S., Redman, A., Ribeiro, G., Chaves, A., Beauchemin, K., Okine, E., McAllister, T. (2020). Effect of a pine enhanced biochar on growth performance, carcass quality, and feeding behavior of feedlot steers. Translational Animal Science, 4(2), 1-8. [More Information]
  • Peng, K., Gresham, G., McAllister, T., Zhongjun, X., Iwaasa, A., Schellenberg, M., Chaves, A., Wang, Y. (2020). Effects of inclusion of purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea Vent.) with native coolseason grasses on in vitro fermentation and in situ digestibility of mixed forages. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 11, 1-14. [More Information]

2019

  • Terry, S., Ribeiro, G., Gruninger, R., Chaves, A., Beauchemin, K., Okine, E., McAllister, T. (2019). A Pine Enhanced Biochar Does Not Decrease Enteric CH4 Emissions, but Alters the Rumen Microbiota. Frontiers of Veterinary Science, 6, 1-12. [More Information]
  • Nguyen, L., Nguyen, A., Johir, M., Guo, W., Ngo, H., Chaves, A., Nghiem, L. (2019). Application of rumen and anaerobic sludge microbes for bio harvesting from lignocellulosic biomass. Chemosphere, 228, 702-708. [More Information]
  • Forwood, D., Hooker, K., Caro, E., Huo, Y., Holman, D., Meale, S., Chaves, A. (2019). Crop Sorghum Ensiled With Unsalable Vegetables Increases Silage Microbial Diversity. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, 1-13. [More Information]

2018

  • Beukers, A., Zaheer, R., Cook, S., Chaves, A., Ward, M., Tymensen, L., Morley, P., Hannon, S., Booker, C., Read, R., et al (2018). Comparison of antimicrobial resistance genes in feedlots and urban wastewater. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 82(1), 24-38.
  • Terry, S., Ribeiro, G., Gruninger, R., Hunerberg, M., Ping, S., Chaves, A., Burlet, J., Beauchemin, K., McAllister, T. (2018). Effect of humic substances on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, methane emissions, and rumen microbiota in beef heifers. Journal of Animal Science, 96(9), 3863-3877. [More Information]
  • Stanford, K., Swift, M., Wang, Y., McAllister, T., McKinnon, J., Blakley, B., Chaves, A. (2018). Effects of feeding a mycotoxin binder on nutrient digestibility, alkaloid recovery in feces, and performance of lambs fed diets contaminated with Cereal Ergot. Toxins, 10(8), 1-10. [More Information]

2017

  • Beukers, A., Zaheer, R., Goji, N., Amoako, K., Chaves, A., Ward, M., McAllister, T. (2017). Comparative genomics of Enterococcus spp. isolated from bovine feces. BMC Microbiology, 17(1), 1-18. [More Information]
  • Camacho Duarte, A., Durmic, Z., Vercoe, P., Chaves, A. (2017). Dose-response effects of dietary pequi oil on fermentation characteristics and microbial population using a rumen simulation technique (Rusitec). Anaerobe, 48, 59-65. [More Information]
  • Ding, S., Meale, S., Alazzeh, A., He, M., Ribeiro, G., Jin, L., Wang, Y., Dugan, M., Chaves, A., McAllister, T. (2017). Effect of Propionibacterium freudenreichii in diets containing rapeseed or flaxseed oil on in vitro ruminal fermentation, methane production and fatty acid biohydrogenation. Animal Production Science, 57(10), 2051-2059. [More Information]

2016

  • Oss, D., Marcondes, M., Machado, F., Pereira, L., Tomich, T., Ribeiro, G., Chizzotti, M., Ferreira, A., Campos, M., Mauricio, R., Chaves, A., et al (2016). An evaluation of the face mask system based on short-term measurements compared with the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer, and respiration chamber techniques for measuring CH4 emissions. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 216, 49-57. [More Information]
  • Machovsky-Capuska, G., Priddel, D., Leong, P., Jones, P., Carlile, N., Shannon, L., Portelli, D., McEwan, A., Chaves, A., Raubenheimer, D. (2016). Coupling bio-logging with nutritional geometry to reveal novel insights into the foraging behaviour of a plunge-diving marine predator. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 50(3), 418-432. [More Information]
  • Gosper, E., Raubenheimer, D., Machovsky-Capuska, G., Chaves, A. (2016). Discrepancy between the composition of some commercial cat foods and their package labelling and suitability for meeting nutritional requirements. Australian Veterinary Journal, 94(1-2), 12-17. [More Information]

2015

  • Ribeiro Jr., G., Gonçalves, L., Pereira, L., Chaves, A., Wang, Y., Beauchemin, K., McAllister, T. (2015). Effect of fibrolytic enzymes added to a Andropogon gayanus grass silage-concentrate diet on rumen fermentation in batch cultures and the artificial rumen (Rusitec). Animal, 9(7), 1153-1162. [More Information]
  • Beukers, A., Zaheer, R., Cook, S., Stanford, K., Chaves, A., Ward, M., McAllister, T. (2015). Effect of in-feed administration and withdrawl of tylosin phosphate on antibiotic resistance in enterococci isolated from feedlot steers. Frontiers in Microbiology, May(6), 1-14. [More Information]
  • Meale, S., Chaves, A., He, M., Guan, L., McAllister, T. (2015). Effects of various dietary lipid additives on lamb performance, carcass characteristics, adipose tissue fatty acid composition, and wool characteristics. Journal of Animal Science, 93(6), 3110-3120. [More Information]

2014

  • Meale, S., Beauchemin, K., Hristov, A., Chaves, A., McAllister, T. (2014). Board Invited Review: Opportunities and challenges in using exogenous enzymes to improve ruminant production. Journal of Animal Science, 92(2), 427-442. [More Information]
  • Reis, L., Chaves, A., Williams, S., Moate, P. (2014). Comparison of enantiomers of organic acids for their effects on methane production in vitro. Animal Production Science, 54, 1345-1349. [More Information]
  • Meale, S., Chaves, A., He, M., McAllister, T. (2014). Dose-response of supplementing marine algae (Schizochytrium sp.) on production performance, fatty acid profiles and wool parameters of growing lambs. Journal of Animal Science, 92(5), 2202-2213. [More Information]

2013

  • Meale, S., Chaves, A., Hannah, M., Williams, S., Hume, D., Mace, W., Moate, P. (2013). Comparison of wild type, AR1 and AR37 endophyte infected perennial ryegrass on in vitro methanogenesis. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 180, 10-17. [More Information]
  • Vieira, P., Pereira, L., Azevedo, J., Neves, A., Chizzotti, M., dos Santos, R., de Araujo, G., Mistura, C., Chaves, A. (2013). Development of mathematical models to predict dry matter intake in feedlot Santa Ines rams. Small Ruminant Research, 112(1-3), 78-84. [More Information]
  • Meale, S., Chaves, A., Ding, S., Bush, R., McAllister, T. (2013). Effects of crude glycerin supplementation on wool production, feeding behavior, and body condition of Merino ewes. Journal of Animal Science, 91(2), 878-885. [More Information]

2012

  • Charles, E., Jonas, E., Chaves, A. (2012). Diet preference of lambs offered a choice of concentrate diets containing different proportions of wheat dried distiller's grain with solubles. Small Ruminant Research, 108(1), 67-72. [More Information]
  • Chaves, A., Baah, J., Wang, Y., McAllister, T., Benchaar, C. (2012). Effects of cinnamon leaf, oregano and sweet orange essential oils on fermentation and aerobic stability of barley silage. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 92(4), 906-915. [More Information]
  • Meale, S., Chaves, A., Baah, J., McAllister, T. (2012). Methane Production of Different Forages in In vitro Ruminal Fermentation. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 25(1), 86-91. [More Information]

2011

  • Chaves, A., Dugan, M., Stanford, K., Gibson, L., Bystrom, J., McAllister, T., Van Herk, F., Benchaar, C. (2011). A Dose-Response of Cinnamaldehyde Supplementation on Intake, Ruminal Fermentation, Blood Metabolites, Growth Performance, and Carcass Characteristics of Growing Lambs. Livestock Science, 141(2), 213-220. [More Information]
  • Cleary, L., Van Herk, F., Gibb, D., McAllister, T., Chaves, A. (2011). Dry Matter Digestion Kinetics of Two Varieties of Barley Grain Sown with Different Seeding and Nitrogen Fertilization Rates in Four Different Sites Across Canada. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 24(7), 965-973. [More Information]
  • O'Hara, A., Tanner, A., McAllister, T., Gibb, D., Van Herk, F., Chaves, A. (2011). Effect of low and high oil corn distillers' grain on rumen fermentation, growth performance and carcass characteristics of lambs. Animal Production Science, 51, 708-716. [More Information]

2010

  • Faichney, G., NedVed, V., Meale, S., Chaves, A. (2010). Digestion of its diet by a male Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia, N/A: N/A.
  • McKeown, L., Chaves, A., Oba, M., Dugan, M., Okine, E., McAllister, T. (2010). Effects of corn-, wheat- or triticale dry distillers' grains with solubles on in vitro fermentation, growth performance and carcass traits of lambs. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 90(1), 99-108. [More Information]
  • Fung, Y., Sparkes, J., Van Ekris-Schouten, I., Chaves, A., Bush, R. (2010). Effects of Feeding Fresh Citrus pulp to Merino Wethers on Wool Growth and Animal Performance. Animal Production Science, 50, 52-58. [More Information]

2009

  • He, M., Yang, W., You, J., Chaves, A., Mir, P., Benchaar, C., McAllister, T. (2009). Effect of Garlic Oil on Fatty Acid Accumulation and Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity in Differentiating Adipocytes. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 22(12), 1686-1692. [More Information]
  • Boudon, A., Peyraud, J., Faverdin, P., Delagarde, R., Delaby, L., Chaves, A. (2009). Effect of rumen fill on intake of fresh perennial ryegrass in young and mature dairy cows grazing or zero-grazing fresh perennial ryegrass. Animal, 3(12), 1706-1720. [More Information]
  • Chaves, A., Schei, I., Wang, Y., McAllister, T., Benchaar, C. (2009). Effects of carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde on microbial fermentation when added to a barley- or corn-based diet in a continuous-culture system. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 89(1), 97-104. [More Information]

2008

  • Benchaar, C., Calsamiglia, S., Chaves, A., Fraser, G., Colombatto, D., McAllister, T., Beauchemin, K. (2008). A review of plant-derived essential oils in ruminant nutrition and production. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 145(1-4), 209-228. [More Information]
  • Cook, S., Maiti, P., Chaves, A., Benchaar, C., Beauchemin, K., McAllister, T. (2008). Avian (IgY) anti-methanogen antibodies for reducing ruminal methane production: In vitro assessment of their effects. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ('09 renamed: Animal Production Science), 48(1-2), 260-264. [More Information]
  • Benchaar, C., Eugene, M., Cortes, C., Chaves, A., Petit, H., McAllister, T., Iwaasa, A., Chouinard, P. (2008). Digestion, milk production, and milk composition of dairy cows fed increasing amounts of linseed oil. Joint Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) and the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) 2008, United States: American Dairy Science Association and American Society of Animal Science.

2007

  • Fraser, G., Chaves, A., Wang, Y., McAllister, T., Beauchemin, K., Benchaar, C. (2007). Assessment of the effects of cinnamon leaf oil on rumen microbial fermentation using two continuous culture systems. Journal of Dairy Science, 90(5), 2315-2328. [More Information]
  • Chaves, A., Stanford, K., Gibson, L., McAllister, T., Van Herk, F., Benchaar, C. (2007). Dose response of cinnamaldehyde on lamb performance and carcass characteristics. 58th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production EAAP 2007, The Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers.
  • Benchaar, C., Chaves, A., Fraser, G., Wang, Y., Beauchemin, K., McAllister, T. (2007). Effects of essential oils and their components on in vitro rumen microbial fermentation. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 87(3), 413-419. [More Information]

2006

  • Chaves, A., Burke, J., Waghorn, G., Brookes, I. (2006). Digestion kinetics of leaf, stem and inflorescence from five species of mature grasses. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 86, 816-825. [More Information]
  • Chaves, A., Waghorn, G., Brookes, I., Woodfield, D. (2006). Effect of maturation and initial harvest dates on the nutritive characteristics of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Animal Feed Science and Technology, 127, 293-318. [More Information]
  • Yang, W., Chaves, A., He, M., Benchaar, C., McAllister, T. (2006). Effect of monensin and essential oil on feed intake, ruminal fermentation, milk yield and composition of lactating dairy cows. Joint Colloquium of the Canadian Society of Agronomy (CSA), the Canadian Society for Horticultural Society (CSHS) and the Canadian Society of Animal Science (CSAS) 2006, Canada: Agricultural Institute of Canada.

Selected Grants

2023

  • Utilising novel Pongamia trees to decarbonise Australias beef value-chain, Chaves A, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP)

2018

  • Assessment of SCD Bio Livestock Probiotics using in vitro systems, Chaves A, DVC Research/Industry & Community Engagement Seed Fund (I&CEF)