Dr Dominique Van der Saag
People_

Dr Dominique Van der Saag

BAnVetBioSc (Hons); PhD
Lecturer in Animal Welfare Science and Animal Behaviour
Dr Dominique Van der Saag

Dominique is a Lecturer in Animal Welfare Science and Animal Behaviour with the Sydney School of Veterinary Science. Her research is focused on promoting best practice livestock production through innovative strategies for improving farm animal welfare.

-Animal behaviour and welfare science

-Animal health and husbandry

-Livestock production and welfare

-Pain assessment and alleviation in animals

Dominique co-ordinates the Unit of Study Understanding Animal Welfare within the Open Learning Environment of the Sydney School of Veterinary Science. Dominique teaches Animal Welfare and Behaviour Science in the Bachelor of Veterinary Biology / Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and the Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Agriculture and Animal and Veterinary Bioscience).

Improving animal welfare in the red meat industry – pain relief. Meat and Livestock Australia.

University of Sydney representative of the National Primary Industries Animal Welfare RD&E Strategy (Commonwealth of Australia's National Primary Industries Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) Framework)

https://www.awstrategy.net/about.html

EMCR forum representative of the National Committee for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Australian Academy of Science)

https://www.science.org.au/national-committee-agriculture-fisheries-and-food

International grant initiative, ‘Care4Cattle’, worth €10,000 and funded by Bayer Animal Health (2018)

National conference presentation prize, ‘2018 Collaboration Across Boundaries Presenter Prize’, worth $3000 and funded by The Theo Murphy Initiative through the Australian Academy of Science (2018)

Project titleResearch student
Innovative delivery of pain mitigation in routine animal husbandry and veterinary practiceLee METCALF
Novel Wound Treatment Strategies for Dehorning of CattleSamantha RUDD

Publications

Journals

  • Davey, I., Westman, M., Van der Saag, D., Ma, G., Kennedy, B. (2023). Spatial and Temporal Movements of Free-Roaming Cats and Wildlife in Two Local Government Areas in Greater Sydney, Australia. Animals, 13(10). [More Information]
  • Harris, C., White, P., Hall, E., Van der Saag, D., Lomax, S. (2021). Evaluation of Electroencephalography, Behaviour and Eye Temperature in Response to Surgical Castration in Sheep. Animals, 11(3), 1-12. [More Information]
  • Plummer, C., White, P., Kimble, B., Govendir, M., Van der Saag, D. (2021). Preliminary Investigation into a Novel Sustained-Release Formulation of Meloxicam in Sheep (Ovis aries)—Pharmacokinetic Profile. Animals, 11(9), Article number 2484-1-Article number 2484-7. [More Information]

Conferences

  • Van der Saag, D., Garling, E., White, P., Govendir, M., Kimble, B., Lomax, S. (2021). Developing a self-medication strategy for practical delivery of long-lasting analgesia to cattle. Production Efficiency & Global Food Security, Australia.
  • Van der Saag, D., Mithieux, S., Weiss, A., White, P. (2018). Improving animal health and welfare in extensive livestock industries: A collaborative solution between veterinary science and human biomedical engineering disciplines. Collaboration across boundaries 2018 – A Theory Murphy Initiative, Canberra , Australia, Australia.
  • White, P., Van der Saag, D., Lomax, S., Windsor, P., Govendir, M. (2018). Pain relief in Australian Cattle; Where to from here? Multimodal and extended pain relief in cattle. The 30th World Buiatrics Congress August 28 to September 1, 2018 Sapporo, Japan. Bovine Welfare and Cattle Comfort.

2023

  • Davey, I., Westman, M., Van der Saag, D., Ma, G., Kennedy, B. (2023). Spatial and Temporal Movements of Free-Roaming Cats and Wildlife in Two Local Government Areas in Greater Sydney, Australia. Animals, 13(10). [More Information]

2021

  • Van der Saag, D., Garling, E., White, P., Govendir, M., Kimble, B., Lomax, S. (2021). Developing a self-medication strategy for practical delivery of long-lasting analgesia to cattle. Production Efficiency & Global Food Security, Australia.
  • Harris, C., White, P., Hall, E., Van der Saag, D., Lomax, S. (2021). Evaluation of Electroencephalography, Behaviour and Eye Temperature in Response to Surgical Castration in Sheep. Animals, 11(3), 1-12. [More Information]
  • Plummer, C., White, P., Kimble, B., Govendir, M., Van der Saag, D. (2021). Preliminary Investigation into a Novel Sustained-Release Formulation of Meloxicam in Sheep (Ovis aries)—Pharmacokinetic Profile. Animals, 11(9), Article number 2484-1-Article number 2484-7. [More Information]

2020

  • Yu, A., Van der Saag, D., Letchford, P., Windsor, P., White, P. (2020). Preliminary Investigation to Address Pain and Haemorrhage Following the Spaying of Female Cattle. Animals, 10(2), 1-16. [More Information]

2019

  • Van der Saag, D., Lomax, S., Windsor, P., Hall, E., White, P. (2019). Effect of lignocaine and a topical vapocoolant spray on pain response during surgical castration of beef calves. Animals, 9(4), 1-12. [More Information]
  • Woodland, A., Van der Saag, D., Kimble, B., White, P., Govendir, M., Lomax, S. (2019). Plasma pharmacokinetic profile and efficacy of meloxicam administered subcutaneously and intramuscularly to sheep. PloS One, 14(4), 1-14. [More Information]

2018

  • Van der Saag, D., Lomax, S., Windsor, P., Taylor, C., Thomson, P., Hall, E., White, P. (2018). Effects of topical anaesthetic and buccal meloxicam on average daily gain, behaviour and inflammation of unweaned beef calves following surgical castration. Animal, 12(11), 2373-2381. [More Information]
  • Van der Saag, D., White, P., Ingram, L., Manning, J., Windsor, P., Thomson, P., Lomax, S. (2018). Effects of Topical Anaesthetic and Buccal Meloxicam Treatments on Concurrent Castration and Dehorning of Beef Calves. Animals, 8(3), 1-16. [More Information]
  • Van der Saag, D., Lomax, S., Windsor, P., Taylor, C., White, P. (2018). Evaluating treatments with topical anaesthetic and buccal meloxicam for pain and inflammation caused by amputation dehorning of calves. PloS One, 13(6), 1-12. [More Information]

2016

  • Lomax, S., Van der Saag, D., White, P. (2016). Comparing the effects of intranasal and intramuscular administration of xylazine on the pain response of calves. Proceedings of the World Buiatrics Congress 2016, Dublin: World Buiatrics Congress.
  • Van der Saag, D., Lomax, S., Windsor, P., White, P. (2016). Effect of a topical anaesthetic formulation on the cortisol response to surgical castration of unweaned beef calves. Animal, 10(1), 150-156. [More Information]
  • Van der Saag, D., Windsor, P., Harris, C., Lomax, S., White, P. (2016). Effect of Topically Applied Anaesthetic Formulation on the Sensitivity of Scoop Dehorning Wounds in Calves. PloS One, 11(9), 1-13. [More Information]

2015

  • Van der Saag, D., Harris, C., Lomax, S., White, P. (2015). The effect of topical anaesthetic on the sensitivity of dehorning wounds and the effect of topical anaesthetic in combination with meloxicam on the cortisol response to dehorning in unweaned beef calves. Congress on Controversies and Consensus in Bovine Health, industry and Economics (CoBo), Berlin, Germany: N/A.

2014

  • Van der Saag, D., White, P., Lomax, S. (2014). Effect of Topical Anaesthesia on the Cortisol Response of Beef Calves to Castration. World Buiatrics Congres, Australia: Australian Veterinary Association.
  • Van der Saag, D., White, P., Lomax, S. (2014). Effect of Topical anaesthesia on the cortisol responses of beef calves to castration. XXVIII World Buiatrics Congress, Werribee: Australian Cattle Veterinarians A Special interest Group of the Australian Veterinary Association Limited.

Selected Grants

2023

  • Pain relief for sheep, Van der Saag D, Faculty of Science/Re-entry Fellowship

2022

  • Novel wound treatment strategies for dehorning of cattle - MLA Project No: P.PSH.2019, Van der Saag D, White P, Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd/Research and Development Grant

In the media

March 2020 Interviews and stories featured in The Land, Queensland Country Life, Farm Weekly and North Queensland Register news articles – “Blocks have pain relief licked”

1. https://www.theland.com.au/story/6696682/blocks-have-pain-relief-licked/?cs=4933

2. https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/6696682/blocks-have-pain-relief-licked/

3. https://www.northqueenslandregister.com.au/story/6696682/blocks-have-pain-relief-licked/?cs=4744

March 2020 Interview on research project featured on Bayer Animal Health YouTube channel – “Care4Cattle: Dr Dominique Van Der Saag on her winning project”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kaLSalQ2NU

October 2018 Interviews and stories on winning research grant featured in Beef Central, Queensland Country Life, Farm Online National and Ag Trader news articles – “Australian scientist picks up global animal wellbeing research grant”

1. https://www.beefcentral.com/news/people-on-the-move-appointments-retirements-achievements-30/

2. https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/5663182/delivering-pain-relief-through-feed-supplements/

3. https://www.farmonline.com.au/story/5658494/aussie-pain-relief-lick-blocks-attract-research-funds/

4. https://www.agtrader.com.au/news/livestock-cattle/how-feed-supplements-could-deliver-pain-relief

2018 Research promoted as a case study feature by the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework

https://www.sustainableaustralianbeef.com.au/resources/case-studies/