The University of Western Australia

Assoc/Prof Dominique Blache

Associate Professor
School of Animal Biology

Contact details

Address

School of Animal Biology
The University of Western Australia (M085)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

6488 3587

Fax

6488 2243

Email

dominique.blache@uwa.edu.au

Qualifications

MSc Tours, PhD Bordeaux

Biography

I was born in France and grew up in what is the wheat-belt there. I graduated in Science at the University of Tours (France) and completed my PhD at the University of Bordeaux (France). During my PhD, I worked at Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) in Tours (France) and the AFRC Neuroendocrine Laboratory at Babraham in the UK. I was then awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of Western Australia and, since 1993, have been working on projects funded by ARC or NHMRC.
My research interest is in the mechanisms used by external and internal factors to influence reproductive function. I have been working with sheep and emus and I have used a wide range of approaches to investigate these questions, such as behaviour, in-situ hybridisation and radioimmunoassay. Supported by NHMRC, I have developed a radioimmunoassay for leptin that is suitable for samples from sheep and a variety of other animals. This assay has led to a large number of collaborations nationwide and worldwide with top laboratories working in reproduction and nutrition (UK, USA, NZ, Denmark, Turkey, France). Moreover, to date, 20 papers in refereed journals and more than 35 abstracts have been published using data generated by this assay. I have published more than 65 papers in peer-reviewed journals and 90 communications at scientific meetings. I have published 6 invited reviews including the work done during the previous ARC and NHMRC grants. I have a strong interest in the neural and hormonal pathways in the regulation of intake, bodyweight, metabolism and reproduction by external and internal signals. I have been invited to present my work in specialist symposia at several international and national meeting such as the Ruminant Reproduction Symposium (Wellington NZ 2006).
In July 2000, I was appointed as a Lecturer in Animal Science and developed and coordinated the new unit “Animal Welfare and Ethics”. I was promoted to Senior lecturer in 2005. I have supervised 17 PhD students and 27 undergraduate projects since 1993. The most recent PhDs have used endocrine, molecular and behavioural approaches to study the regulation of reproductive capacity by external factors such as nutrition and internal factors such as emotional reactivity. I am Chief Investigator in one RIRDC grant investigating the effect of nutrition on the reproductive capacity of alpacas. Since 2005, I have been project manager on 4 Meat and Livestock Australia grants investigating the consequences of selection of temperament on reproductive performance, production traits and animal welfare. These projects have involved 2 PhD students, 8 honours students and collaborations with French teams led by Dr Alain Boissy, Pascal Poindron and Raymond Nowak from the Institut Nationale de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA).

Key research

1. Effects of Nutrition on the Reproductive System in sheep

2. Nutrition and reproduction and fleece quality in alpacas

3. Animal ethics and welfare

Understanding the motivation of producers to adopt new strategies to improve animal welfare

Publications

2010

Bickell, S.L. Poindron, P. Nowak, R. Ferguson, D.M. and Blache, D. (2010) Maternal behaviour at parturition in outdoor conditions differs only moderately between single bearing ewes selected for their calm or nervous temperament. Animal Production Science 50, (accepted 19-04-2010).
Celi, P. Miller, D.W. Blache, D. and Martin, G.B. (2010) Interactions between nutritional and opioidergic pathways in the control of LH secretion in male sheep Animal Production Science 117, 67-73.
Chanvallon, A. Blache, D. Chadwick, A. Esmaili, T. Hawken, P.A.R. Martin, G.B. Vinoles, C. and Fabre-Nys, C. (2010) Sexual experience and temperament affect the response of Merino ewes to the ram effect during the anoestrous season. Animal Reproduction Science 119, 205-211.
De Blasio, M.J. Blache, D. Gatford, K.L. Robinson, J.S. and Owens, J.A. (2010) Placental restriction increases adipose leptin gene expression and plasma leptin and alters their relationship to feeding activity in the young lamb. Pediatric Research 67, 603-608.
Digby, S. Blache, D. Masters, D.G. and Revell, D.K. (2010) Responses to saline drinking water in offspring born to ewes fed high salt during pregnancy. Small Ruminant Research 91, 87-92.
Digby, S. Masters, D.G. Blache, D. Hynd, P.I. and Revell, D.K. (2010) Offspring born to ewes fed high salt during pregnancy have altered responses to oral salt loads. Animal 4, 81-88.
Elliot, J. and Blache, D. (2010) Student attitudes and preferences towards non-invasive animal-based and computer-based practicals. Teaching and Learning Forum 2010. Teaching and Learning Forum 2010, Perth.
Henry, B.A. Blache, D. Dunshea, F.R. and Clarke, I.J. (2010) Altered “set-point” of the hypothalamus determines effects of cortisol on food intake, adiposity, and metabolic substrates in sheep. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 38, 46-56.
Martin, G.B. Blache, D. Miller, D.W. and Vercoe, P.E. (2010) Interactions between nutrition and reproduction in the management of the mature male ruminant. Animal 4, 1214-1226.
Matthiesen, C.F. Blache, D. Thomsen, P.D. Hansen, N.E. and Tauson, A.-H. (2010) Effect of late gestation low protein supply to mink (Mustela vison) dams on reproductive performance and metabolism of dam and offspring. Archives of Animal Nutrition 64, 56-76.
Matthiesen, C.F. Blache, D. Thomsen, P.D. and Tauson, A.-H. (2010) Feeding mink (Neovison vison) a protein-restricted diet during pregnancy induces higher birth weight and altered hepatic gene expression in the F2 offspring. British Journal of Nutrition (accepted 12/02/2010), doi:10.1017/S0007114510000802.
Miller, D.R. Blache, D. Jackson, R.B. Dowling, E. and Roche, J.R. (2010) Metabolic maturity at birth and neonate lamb survival and growth: Association among maternal factors, litter size, lamb birth weight, and plasma metabolic and endocrine factors on survival and behavior. Journal of Animal Science 88, 581-593.
Wells, A.E.D. Sneddon, J. Lee, J.A. and Blache, D. (2010) Farmer's response to societal concerns about farm animal welfare: The case of mulesing. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics (accepted 16/06/2010).

2009

Ben Salem, I. Rekik, M. Ben Hamouda, M. Lassoued, N. and Blache, D. (2009) Live weight and metabolic changes and the associated reproductive performance in maiden ewes. Small Ruminant Research 81, 70-74.
Bickell, S.L. and Blache, D. (2009) Attitudes of undergraduate science students towards the use of animals in teaching. Teaching and Learning Forum 2009. Teaching and Learning Forum 2009, Perth.
Bickell, S.L. Nowak, R. Poindron, P. Sèbe, F. Chadwick, A. Ferguson, D. and Blache, D. (2009) Temperament does not affect the overall establishment of mutual preference between the mother and her young in sheep measured in a choice test. Developmental Psychobiology 51, 429-438.
Bickell, S.L. Poindron, P. Nowak, R. Chadwick, A. Ferguson, D. and Blache, D. (2009) Genotype rather than non-genetic behavioural transmission determines the temperament of Merino lambs. Animal Welfare 18, 459-466.
Blache, D. and Maloney, S.K. (2009) Animal welfare legislation in Australia. Agrociencia 13, 35-44.
Blache, D. and Martin, G.B. (2009) Focus feeding to improve reproductive performance in male and female sheep and goats – how it works and strategies for using it. Options Mediterraneennes 85, 351-364.
Cenesiz, M. Yildiz, S. Kaya, M. Onder, F. Ucar, O. Uzun, M. Blackberry, M. Blache, D. Kaya, I. Unal, Y. Oncuer, A. and Martin, G.B. (2009) Tanniniferous Oak (Quercus hartwissiana) leaves do not affect plasma levels of leptin, IGF-I and LH in lambs. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 8, 634-642.
Chagas, L.M. Lucy, M.C. Back, P.J. Blache, D. Lee, J.M. Gore, P.J.S. Sheahan, A.J. and Roche, J.R. (2009) Insulin resistance in divergent strains of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows offered fresh pasture and increasing amounts of concentrate in early lactation. J. Dairy Sci. 92, 216-222.
Hart, K.W. Contou, C. Blackberry, M. and Blache, D. (2009) Merino ewes divergently selected for calm temperament have a greater concentration of immunoglobulin g in their colostrum than nervous ewes. Proceeding of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 18, 576-579.
Hawken, P.A.R. Esmaili, T. Scanlan, V. Blache, D. and Martin, G.B. (2009) Can audio–visual or visual stimuli from a prospective mate stimulate a reproductive neuroendocrine response in sheep? Animal 3, 690-696.
Hawken, P.A.R. Jorre De St Jorre, T. Rodger, J. Esmaili, T. Blache, D. and Martin, G.B. (2009) Rapid induction of cell proliferation in the adult female ungulate brain associated with activation of the reproductive axis by exposure to unfamiliar males. Biology Of Reproduction 80, 1146-1151.
Miller, D.R. Jackson, R.B. Blache, D. and Roche, J.R. (2009) Metabolic maturity at birth and neonate lamb survival and growth: the effects of maternal low dose dexamethasone treatment. Journal of Animal Science 87, 3167-3178.
Murray, T.L. Blache, D. and Bencini, R. (2009) The selection of dairy sheep on calm temperament before milking and its effect on management and milk production. Small Ruminant Research 87, 45-49.

2008
Beausoleil, N., Blache, D., Stafford, K.J., Mellor, D.J., Noble, A.D.L., 2008. Exploring the basis of divergent selection for ‘temperament’ in domestic sheep. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 109, 261-274.
Blache, D., Maloney, S.K., Revell, D., 2008. Use and limitations of alternative feed resources to sustain and improve reproductive performance in sheep and goats. Animal Feed Science and Technology 147, 140-157.
Blache, D., Martin, G.B., Maloney, S.K., 2008. Towards ethically improved animal experimentation in the study of animal reproduction. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 43 (Supll. 2), 8-14.
Chagas, L.M., Gore, P.J.S., Graham, G., Macdonald, K.A., Blache, D., 2008. Effect of restricted feeding and monopropylene glycol postpartum on metabolic hormones and postpartum anestrus in grazing dairy heifers. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 1822-1833.
Digby, S., Masters, D., Blache, D., Blackberry, M., Hynd, P.I., Revell, D., 2008. Reproductive capacity of Merino ewes fed a high-salt diet. Animal 2, 1353-1360.
Forhead, A.J., Lamb, C.A., Franko, K.L., O'Connor, D.M., Wooding, F.B.P., Cripps, R.L., Ozanne, S.E., Blache, D., Min, D., Fowden, A.L., 2008. Role of leptin in the regulation of growth and carbohydrate metabolism in the ovine fetus during late gestation. Journal of Physiology 586, 2393-2403.
Husted, S.M., Nielsen, B.D., Blache, D., Ingvartsen, K.L., 2008. Glucose homeostasis and metabolic adaptation in the pregnant and lactating sheep are affected by the level of nutrition previously provided during her late fetal life. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 34, 419-431.
Martin, G.B., Blache, D., Williams, I.H., 2008. Allocation of resources to reproduction, In: Rauw, W. (Ed.), Resource allocation theory applied to farm animal production, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 169-191.
Nowak, R., Porter, R.H., Blache, D., Dwyer, C.M., 2008. Behaviour and welfare of sheep, In: Dwyer, C.M. (Ed.), The welfare of sheep, Springer, Berlin, pp. 81-134.
Rasmussen, A.N., Nielsen, M.O., Tauson, A.-H., Offenberg, H., Thomsen, P.D., Blache, D., 2008. Mammary gland leptin in relation to lactogenesis in the periparturient dairy goat. Small Ruminant Research 75, 71-79.
Roche, J.F., Blache, D., Kay, J.K., Miller, D.R., Sheahan, A.J., Miller, D.W., 2008. Neuroendocrine and physiological regulation of intake with particular reference to domesticated ruminant animals. Nutr. Res. Rev. 21, 207–234.
Roche, J.R., Sheahan, A.J., Chagas, L.M., Blache, D., Berry, D.P., Kay, J.K., 2008. Long-Term Infusions of Ghrelin and Obestatin in Early Lactation Dairy Cows. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 4728-4740.
Tygesen, M.P., Tauson, A.-H., Blache, D., Husted, S.M., Nielsen, M.O., 2008. Late foetal life nutrient restriction and sire genotype affect postnatal performance of lambs. Animal 2, 574-581.
Wells, A.E.D., Blache, D., 2008. Horses do not exhibit motor bias when their balance is challenged. Animal 2, 1645-1650.

2007
Alvarez, R.L., Galindo, M.F., Zarco, Q.L., Blache, D., Martin, G.B., 2007. Social rank and response to the “male effect” in the Australian Cashmere goat. Animal Reproduction Science 102, 258-266.
Anukulkitch, C., Rao, A., Dunshea, F., Blache, D., Lincoln, G., Clarke, I., 2007. Influence of photoperiod and gonadal status on food intake, adiposity and gene expression of hypothalamic appetite regulators in a seasonal mammal. American Journal of Physiology 292, R242-R252.
Blache, D., Chagas, L.M., Martin, G.B., 2007. Nutritional inputs into the reproductive neuroendocrine control system – a multidimensional perspective, In: Juengel, J.I., Murray, J.F., Smith, M.F. (Eds.), Reproduction in Domestic Ruminants VI, Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, UK, pp. 123-139.
Blache, D., Grandison, M.J., Masters, D.G., Dynes, R.A., Blackberry, M.A., Martin, G.B., 2007. Relationships between metabolic endocrine systems and voluntary feed intake in Merino sheep fed a high salt diet. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47, 544-550.
Celi, P., Walkden-Brown, S.W., Blache, D., Szell, A.Z., Wilkinson, H.M., Martin, G.B., 2007. Twin efficiency for reproductive variables in monozygotic twin sheep. Theriogenology 68, 663-672.
Chagas, L.M., Bass, J.J., Blache, D., Burke, C.R., Kay, J.K., Lindsay, D.R., Lucy, M.C., Martin, G.B., Meir, S., Rhodes, F.M., Roche, J.R., Thatcher, W.W., Webb, R., 2007. New perspectives on the roles of nutrition and metabolic priorities in the subfertility of high-producing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 4022-4032.
Hawken, P.A.R., Beard, A.P., Esmaili, T., Kadokawa, H., Evans, A.C., Blache, D., Martin, G.B., 2007. The introduction of rams induces an increase in pulsatilie LH secretion in cyclic ewes during the breeding season. Theriogenology 68, 56-66.
Husted, S.M., Nielsen, M.O., Tygesen, M.P., Kiani, A., Blache, D., Ingvartsen, K.L., 2007. Programming of intermediate metabolism in young lambs affected by late gestational maternal undernourishment. American Journal of Physiology 293, E548-E557.
Kadokawa, H., Aikawa, K., Kimura, K., Blache, D., Williams, I.H., Martin, G.B., 2007. Links between de novo fatty acid synthesis and leptin secretion in bovine adipocytes. J. Vet. Med. Sci. 69, 225-231.
Maloney, S.K., Mitchell, D., Blache, D., 2007. The contribution of carotid rete variability to brain temperature variability in sheep in a thermoneutral environment. American Journal of Physiology 292, R1298-R1305.
Matthiesen, C.F., Blache, D., Tauson, A.-H., 2007. Effect of in utero metabolic programming on postnatal growth of mink kits, In: Ortigues-Marty, I. (Ed.), Energy and protein metabolism and nutrition. EAAP publication, no. 124, Wageningen Academic Publishers, Vichy, pp. 201-202.
O'Connor, D.M., Blache, D., Hoggard, N., Brookes, E., Wooding, F.B., Fowden, A.L., Forhead, A.J., 2007. Developmental control of plasma leptin and adipose leptin mRNA in the ovine fetus during late gestation: role of glucocorticoids and thyroid hormones. Endocrinology 148, 3750-3757.
Szymanski, L.A., Schneider, J.E., Friedman, M.I., Ji, H., Kurose, Y., Blache, D., Rao, A., Dunshea, F.R., Clarke, I.J., 2007. Changes in insulin, glucose and ketone bodies, but not leptin or body fat content precede restoration of luteinising hormone secretion in ewes. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 19, 449-460.

2006
Blache, D., Zhang, S., Martin, G.B., 2006. Dynamic and integrative aspects of the regulation of reproduction by metabolic status in male sheep. Reproduction, Nutrition, Development 46, 379-390.
Celi, P., Blache, D., Blackberry, M., Martin, G.B., 2006. Intracerebroventricular infusion of leptin into mature Merino rams of different metabolic status: effects on blood concentrations of glucose and reproductive and metabolic hormones. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 41, 79-90.
Chagas, L.M., Rhodes, F.M., Blache, D., Gore, P.J.S., MacDonald, K.A., Verkerk, G.A., 2006. Precalving feeding and body condition effects on metabolic responses and postpartum anestrus interval in grazing primiparous dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 1981-1989.
Hart, K.W., Chadwick, A., Sébé, F., Poindron, P., Nowak, R., Blache, D., 2006. Colostrum quality of ewes of calm temperament is not responsible for low lamb mortality. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 46, 827-829.
Kadokawa, H., Blache, D., Martin, G.B., 2006. Plasma leptin levels correlate positively with pulsatile LH secretion in early postpartum Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 3020-3027.
Muirhead, S., Blache, D., Wykes, B., Bencini, R., 2006. Roo-Guard® sound emitters are not effective at deterring tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) from a source of food. Wildlife Research 33, 131-136.

Future research

Ethics of animal use in teaching

Languages

French (mother-tongue), English (fluent), Spanish (Knowledge) Thai (Knowledge)

Teaching

I currently lecture in the following units:

ANIM3312: Animal Ethics & Welfare

ANIM2210: Animal Science

Current projects

Currently I supervise the following PhD Students:

Alex Wells - Why people do what they do - Livestock handling

Joanne Elliott - Attitudes, social influence and human behaviour in the adoption of strategies to improve lamb survival

Sharon Tay - Does mums diet affect her offspring?

Travis Murray -Dairy ewes and temperament: shape up or sheep out

Kirrin Lund - Energy and nitrogen metabolism in alpacas

Aprille Chadwick - Improving welfare of reproductive technology for goats

Daud Dzulsuhaimi - Thermoregulation and reproduction in male alpacas

Kelsie Moore: Pelt characteristics and insulation in alpacas

Mikaela Ciprian: Decision making in Animal Ethics Commitee

Miriam Sullivan: The welfare of aquarium fish: Current issues, possible solutions and public implementation

Research profile

Research profile and publications