Queensland Animal Science Precinct

QASP facilities and services

QASP is spread out over approximately 8 hectares and is divided into non-contained and contained areas. The Physical Containment (PC) levels, ranging from nil rating (non-contained) to PC 2 (contained) and include both Office of Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) and Approved Arrangements (BC 5.1 & BC 5.2) accreditations. PC 3 and BC 5.3 accredditation is expected in 2023/24.

The flexible design of animal holding facilities within QASP enables unique research requirements to be accommodated within buildings and outdoors. A variety of configurable animal housing rooms are available, allowing for fully integrated research to be undertaken across a wide range of animal species.

Throughout the complex the use of anti-slip compound flooring has been implemented to reduce the likelihood of slipping injuries for livestock and improve handling safety. The use of laneways interlinked in and around buildings and animal holding areas allows for low stress and efficient movement of livestock. All QASP staff members have completed and are deemed competent in Low Stress Stock Handling. QASP has a wide range of animal research facilities.

The below is overview of all facilities and equipment. For detailed information on each facility, click through to the facility pages

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Non-contained facilities

The non-contained area is primarily designed for nutrition, behavioural, metabolic, and environmental studies and incorporates:
Feedlot
QASP has a small scale research feedlot which is officially accredited under the National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme (NFAS) through the Australian Lot Feeders Association (ALFA).
Individual pens
There are a total of 32 individual large animal pens located adjacent to the main cattle holding yards and feedlot.
Metabolism facility
The QASP metabolism facility is a fully enclosed, secure building adjacent to the individual pens.
Climate control rooms
There are two climate control rooms that can hold temperatures with a tolerance of plus or minus 0.5 degree Celsius within the range of 18 degrees to 42 degrees.
Animal behavioural complex
QASP features a state of the art animal behavioural complex with rooms in a hexagon design orientation based on Dr BF Skinner’s theories of operant conditioning.
Constant temperature rooms / Insectaries
There are a total of 4 constant temperature rooms in the main building to facilitate a wide variety of research with small animals.
Multifunction laboratories
In the main building of QASP there are two multifunction laboratories with a variety of scientific equipment.
Cattle and sheep yards and crushes
In the non-contained area of QASP there are animal handling yards able to accommodate up to 300 head of cattle.
Surgical facilities
QASP has the facility and equipment to set up surgical spaces within the main building.
Meat & Food Science Laboratories
The Meat Science Facility comprises a large analytical laboratory, meat science laboratory and a large coldroom and freezer.

SmartTech Equipment

QASP is equipped with the latest technology that can be modified and adapted to meet a range of research needs:
Growsafe
QASP has access to a total of 8 Growsafe units located undercover in the paddock behind the NFAS accredited feedlot.
Greenfeeders
QASP has six C-Lock GreenFeed systems, five for large ruminants and one for small ruminants. These systems are designed to measure gas fluxes.
SF6 tracers
QASP has a number of SF6 tracer devices that can be used to measure sulphur hexafluoride and methane emissions in untethered, freely-grazing animals.
SmartFeed Pro
QASP has 10 SmartFeed Pro units, used for measuring individual feed intake and efficiency.
Super SmartFeed
The C-Lock Super SmartFeed is an automated feeder with a four-chambered bin capable of delivering up to four supplement types into separate, individual feeding stalls.

Biocontainment facilities

The contained area provides high level microbial and animal biosecurity to projects investigating disease control and vaccine development.

Research features available in the contained area include:
PC1 certified individual large animal pens
The PC1 animal facility is within the main building of the biocontainment area and has a total of 24 individual large animal pens measuring 2.3m by 4m.
Containment area holding yards
The containment area of QASP includes well designed animal holding yards.
Isolation building
The containment area includes an isolation facility which is a building measuring 9m by 15m and is screened with fine mesh.
PC2 certified animal study facilities
Within the main building of the biocontainment facility there are two identical PC2 animal holding rooms each with ante rooms and showers on the external entry side and leading to the internal corridor.
PC2 certified laboratories
The PC2 classified corridor is linked to the two PC2 laboratories. One of the two PC2 laboratories also has a PC2 animal holding room and a cull room attached to it.
PC2 necropsy facility
The main building within the containment area has a large necropsy room measuring 8.5m by 6.5m which incorporates a state of the art hoist rated to lift up to 1.25 tonne.
Tick research facility
The containment area of QASP houses a tick research facility which is comprised of 7 strains across 16 maintenance pens which are separated from an additional 4 research pens.
Temperature controlled rooms
There are a total of six PC1 containment rooms including four temperature controlled rooms measuring 4m by 4m, and two larger 9m by 6m rooms with evaporative cooling.
Waste treatment - under construction
Waste treatment system for Risk Group 2 microorganisms

Rural and remote research services

QASP staff are equipped with the training and experience to travel, manage and conduct animal research anywhere across Queensland, Northern Territory and New South Wales. 
Rural & Remote Research Services
QASP staff can travel, manage and conduct animal research anywhere across Queensland, the NT, and NSW.

QASP services

QASP has the ability to provide high quality support to all phases of research projects
Qualified support staff
QASP staff are experienced in bleeding, taking samples and performing other specialised animal research technique, and on-call 24 hours a day.
Low stress livestock handling
Staff trained in Low Stress Stock handling (LSS) techniques.
Meeting rooms and offices
Office and conference facilities are available for use in several areas of QASP.

Additional facilities
Cold room dehydrators
Cold rooms in each main building for storage of feed and samples.
E-Z-GO vehicle
The vehicle emits no audible noise which is of benefit to animal welfare.
Feed mixer
QASP has the capacity to mix research diets on site with our feed mixer and tractor.
Large capacity certified sterilisation facilities
QASP has two large capacity steam sterilising autoclaves.
Large capacity drying room
Researchers can utilise this drying oven to ensure their samples are dried directly after collection.
Building Management System (BMS)
The environmental parameters of QASP are managed by a sophisticated ‘Building Management System’ that digitally manages and logs air flow, temperature, humidity and air pressure.
https://qasp.uq.edu.au/facilities-and-services/qasp-glance#