We seek to understand the health and welfare of animals and their people, in populations and communities, the distribution and spread of diseases, and the determinants of these factors.

The Department of Livestock and One Health aims to understand, the epidemiology of health and disease in populations and communities, the selection and spread of antimicrobial resistance, the determinants of pathogen distributions in space and time, and how, in our rapidly changing world, these may change in the future.

We work across the spectrum on interactions between animals and humans, from farm animals and zoonotic diseases to behavioural interactions. Human and animal welfare is our key priority. We are responsible for Livestock, epidemiology and veterinary public health teaching including our two large working farms. 

We also offer first opinion and referral clinical care via our Farm animal practice.

Staff in the Department of Livestock and One Health

Our challenges

One Health

Using a One Health approach we consider the overlap of, and interaction between, human health, animal health and the environment. Researchers in our department have a particular focus on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the human- animal bond, food sustainability and the effects of climate change on animal diseases.

Equine welfare

Our research covers equine, companion and production animal welfare using epidemiological, observational, experimental and sociological research techniques to better understand health and disease.

Research-led teaching

We disseminate one health messages in our research-led, clinical and non-clinical teaching of health and welfare across all species to undergraduate and post-graduate students.

Facilities

Cow being examined

Farm animal practice

Leahurst Farm Animal Practice provides a comprehensive service for farmers and small animal holders and enables undergraduate students to develop their skills in delivering primary veterinary care across a range of large animal species.

Microbiology laboratories

Research laboratories

We have a range of laboratory facilities including our microbiology laboratories and entomology laboratory, which provides a secure, modern facility for rearing of insect vectors and infection with Category 2 and Category 3 pathogens.

Farm animal post-mortem service

Our farm animal post-mortem service at Leahurst is an APHA Partner Post Mortem Examination (PME) Provider. All post mortems are carried out by vets experienced in farm animal pathology and disease investigation and contribute to UK-wide surveillance information.

cows

Liverpool@ILRI

We have a long term collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute at its principal campuses in both Nairobi, Kenya and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with University of Liverpool staff based there full time, undertaking joint applied research in several areas of One Health. The relationship with ILRI involves the co-hosting of postdocs, PhD and Masters students.