Dr Sarah Meale
Senior Lecturer
School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability
+61 7 54601 350
Researcher biography
I am a Senior Lecturer in Animal Science and Production at The University of Queensland. My research integrates ruminant nutrition, gut microbiology, and sustainable livestock production, with a strong focus on improving feed efficiency and manipulating the rumen to reduce methane emissions. Passionate about early-life programming, my lab explores how targeted nutritional strategies from birth can optimise lifetime performance and environmental sustainability. The work we conduct spans the full spectrum of product development—from laboratory testing to animal trials—conducted in both controlled environments and large-scale grazing and feedlot systems, often in collaboration with industry partners.
Book Chapters
Hegarty, Roger, Joseph, Stephen, Rebbeck, Melissa, Meale, Sarah and Paul, Nicholas (2024). Biochar as an animal feed ingredient. Biochar for environmental management. (pp. 735-757) edited by Johannes Lehmann and Stephen Joseph. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003297673-29
Meale, S. J. and McAllister, T. A. (2015). Grain for feed and energy. Triticale. (pp. 167-187) edited by François Eudes. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-22551-7_9
Journal Articles
Chen, Ziming, Ong, Chian Teng, Nguyen, Loan To, Lamb, Harrison J., González-Recio, O., Gutiérrez-Rivas, M., Meale, Sarah J. and Ross, Elizabeth M. (2025). Biases from Oxford Nanopore library preparation kits and their effects on microbiome and genome analysis. BMC Genomics, 26 (1) 504, 504. doi: 10.1186/s12864-025-11649-z
Tahery, Sara, Parra, Mariano C., Munroe, Paul, Mitchell, David R. G., Meale, Sarah J. and Joseph, Stephen (2025). Developing an activated biochar-mineral supplement for reducing methane formation in anaerobic fermentation. Biochar, 7 (1) 26. doi: 10.1007/s42773-024-00403-5
Hristov, Alexander N., Bannink, André, Battelli, Marco, Belanche, Alejandro, Cajarville Sanz, M. Cecilia, Fernandez-Turren, Gonzalo, Garcia, Florencia, Jonker, Arjan, Kenny, David A., Lind, Vibeke, Meale, Sarah J., Meo Zilio, David, Muñoz, Camila, Pacheco, David, Peiren, Nico, Ramin, Mohammad, Rapetti, Luca, Schwarm, Angela, Stergiadis, Sokratis, Theodoridou, Katerina, Ungerfeld, Emilio M., van Gastelen, Sanne, Yáñez-Ruiz, David R., Waters, Sinead M. and Lund, Peter (2025). Feed additives for methane mitigation: Recommendations for testing enteric methane-mitigating feed additives in ruminant studies. Journal of Dairy Science, 108 (1), 322-355. doi: 10.3168/jds.2024-25050
Ni, Mingbo, Parra, Mariano C., Chaves, Alex V. and Meale, Sarah J. (2024). Effect of enriched biochar on methane emissions, rumen microbial structure and rumen fermentation characteristics in Holstein steers. Livestock Science, 289 105590, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105590
Gadzama, I. U., Hoffman, L. C., Holman, B. W. B., Chaves, A. V. and Meale, S. J. (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, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105552
Roques, Simon, Martinez-Fernandez, Gonzalo, Ramayo-Caldas, Yuliaxis, Popova, Milka, Denman, Stuart, Meale, Sarah J. and Morgavi, Diego P. (2023). Recent advances in enteric methane mitigation and the long road to sustainable ruminant production. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, 12 (1), 321-343. doi: 10.1146/annurev-animal-021022-024931
Utami, D., Jayasanti, N. N. S., Meale, S. J. and Young, A. J. (2023). First report of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria causing bacterial leaf spot in chilli pepper (Capsicum sp.) in Indonesia. New Disease Reports, 48 (1) e12208, 1-3. doi: 10.1002/ndr2.12208
Forwood, Daniel L., Innes, David J., Parra, Mariano C., Stark, Terra, de Souza, David P., Chaves, Alex V. and Meale, Sarah J. (2023). Feeding an unsalable carrot total-mixed ration altered bacterial amino acid degradation in the rumen of lambs. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 6942, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-34181-0
Utami, Desi, Meale, Sarah Jade and Young, Anthony Joseph (2023). Bacterial leaf spot susceptibility screening of chili pepper cultivars using qPCR determination of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria Titers. Phytopathology, 114 (4), 681-689. doi: 10.1094/phyto-12-22-0479-r
Parra, Mariano C., Forwood, Daniel L., Chaves, Alex V. and Meale, Sarah J. (2023). In vitro screening of anti-methanogenic additives for use in Australian grazing systems. Frontiers in Animal Science, 4 1123532, 1-8. doi: 10.3389/fanim.2023.1123532
Forwood, Daniel L., Holman, Devin B., Meale, Sarah J. and Chaves, Alex V. (2022). Ensiled mixed vegetables enriched carbohydrate metabolism in heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Fermentation, 8 (12) 699, 1-20. doi: 10.3390/fermentation8120699
Sarich, Jenna M., Stanford, Kim, Schwartzkopf-Genswein, Karen S., Gruninger, Robert J., McAllister, Tim A., Meale, Sarah J., Blakley, Barry R., Penner, Gregory B. and Ribeiro, Gabriel O. (2022). Effect of ergot alkaloids and a mycotoxin deactivating product on in vitro ruminal fermentation using the Rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). Journal of Animal Science, 100 (9) skac226. doi: 10.1093/jas/skac226
Utami, Desi, Meale, Sarah Jade and Young, Anthony Joseph (2022). A pan-global study of bacterial leaf spot of chilli caused by Xanthomonas spp. Plants, 11 (17) 2291, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/plants11172291
O'Reilly, Grace C., Holman, Devin B., Muscat, Katharine, Muscatello, Gary, Parra, Mariano C., Meale, Sarah J. and Chaves, Alex V. (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 (Elite Edition), 14 (3) 22, 1-9. doi: 10.31083/j.fbe1403022
Silva, L. F. P., Hegarty, R. S., Meale, S. J., Costa, D. A. F. and Fletcher, M. T. (2022). Using the natural abundance of nitrogen isotopes to identify cattle with greater efficiency in protein-limiting diets. Animal, 16 100551, 100551. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100551
Forwood, Daniel L., Holman, Devin B., Chaves, Alex V. and Meale, Sarah J. (2022). Unsalable vegetables ensiled with sorghum promote heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria and improve in vitro rumen fermentation. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13 835913, 1-14. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.835913
Parra, M. C., Costa, D.F., Meale, S. J. and Silva, L. F. P. (2022). Rumen bacteria and feed efficiency of beef cattle fed diets with different protein content. Animal Production Science, 62 (10-11), 1029-1039. doi: 10.1071/an21508
Meale, S. J., Ruiz-Sanchez, A. L., Dervishi, E., Roy, B. C., Paradis, F., Juárez, M., Aalhus, J., López-Campos, , Das, C., Li, C., Block, H., Colazo, M. G., Straathof, C., Bruce, H. L. and Fitzsimmons, C. (2021). Impact of genetic potential for residual feed intake and diet fed during early- to mid-gestation in beef heifers on carcass characteristics and meat quality attributes of their castrated male offspring. Meat Science, 182 108637, 108637. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2021.108637
Meale, S. J., Popova, M., Saro, C., Martin, C., Bernard, A., Lagree, M., Yáñez-Ruiz, D. R., Boudra, H., Duval, S. and Morgavi, D. P. (2021). Early life dietary intervention in dairy calves results in a long-term reduction in methane emissions. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 3003, 3003. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-82084-9
Cheng, L., Cantalapiedra-Hijar, G., Meale, S. J., Rugoho, I., Jonker, A., Khan, M. A., Al-Marashdeh, O. and Dewhurst, R. J. (2021). Review: Markers and proxies to monitor ruminal function and feed efficiency in young ruminants. Animal, 15 (10) 100337, 100337. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100337
O'Reilly, Grace Celia, Huo, Yuxin, Meale, Sarah Jade and Chaves, Alex V. (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, txab107. doi: 10.1093/tas/txab107
Forwood, Daniel L., Caro, Eleonora, Holman, Devin B., Meale, Sarah J. and Chaves, Alex V. (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. doi: 10.1007/s00253-021-11220-2
Forwood, Daniel L., Holman, Benjamin W.B., Hopkins, David L., Smyth, Heather E., Hoffman, Louwrens C., Chaves, Alex V. and Meale, Sarah J. (2021). Feeding unsaleable carrots to lambs increased performance and carcass characteristics while maintaining meat quality. Meat Science, 173 108402, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108402
Parra, M. C., Costa, D. F. A., Palma, A. S. V., Camargo, K. D. V., Lima, L. O., Harper, K. J., Meale, S. J. and Silva, L. F. P. (2021). The use of live yeast to increase intake and performance of cattle receiving low-quality tropical forages. Journal of Animal Science, 99 (2) skab017, 1-13. doi: 10.1093/jas/skab017
Dieters, Luke S. E., Meale, Sarah J., Quigley, Simon P. and Hoffman, Louwrens C. (2021). Meat quality characteristics of lot-fed Australian Rangeland goats are unaffected by live weight at slaughter. Meat Science, 175 108437, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2021.108437
Forwood, Daniel L., Bryce, Elizabeth K., Caro, Eleonora, Holman, Devin B., Meale, Sarah J. and Chaves, Alex V. (2020). Influence of probiotics on biofilm formation and diversity of bacteria colonising crop sorghum ensiled with unsalable vegetables. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 104 (20), 8825-8836. doi: 10.1007/s00253-020-10877-5
Tun, Hein M., Li, Shucong, Yoon, Ilkyu, Meale, Sarah J., Azevedo, Paula A., Khafipour, Ehsan and Plaizier, Jan C. (2020). Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products (SCFP) stabilize the ruminal microbiota of lactating dairy cows during periods of a depressed rumen pH. BMC Veterinary Research, 16 (1) 237, 237. doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02437-w
Nasrollahi, Sayyed Mahmoud, Meale, Sarah Jade, Morgavi, Diego P., Schiphorst, Anne Marie, Robins, Richard J., Ortigues-Marty, Isabelle and Cantalapiedra-Hijar, Gonzalo (2020). The origin of N isotopic discrimination and its relationship with feed efficiency in fattening yearling bulls is diet-dependent. PLoS ONE, 15 (6) e0234344, e0234344. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234344
Forwood, Daniel, Hooker, Kristian, Caro, Eleonora, Huo, Yuxin, Holman, Devin, Meale, Sarah J. and Chaves, Alex (2019). Crop sorghum ensiled with unsalable vegetables increases silage microbial diversity. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10 2599, 2599. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02599
Hooker, Kristian, Forwood, Daniel L., Caro, Eleonora, Huo, Yuxin, Holman, Devin B., Chaves, Alex V. and Meale, Sarah J. (2019). Microbial characterization and fermentative characteristics of crop maize ensiled with unsalable vegetables. Scientific Reports, 9 (1) 13183, 13183. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49608-w
Teoh, Rebecca, Caro, Eleonora, Holman, Devin B., Joseph, Stephen, Meale, Sarah J. and Chaves, Alex V. (2019). Effects of hardwood biochar on methane production, fermentation characteristics, and the rumen microbiota using rumen simulation. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10 (JULY) 1534, 1534. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01534
MacPherson, J., Meale, S. J., Macmillan, K., Haisan, J., Bench, C. J., Oba, M. and Steele, M. A. (2019). Effects of feeding frequency of an elevated plane of milk replacer and calf age on behavior, and glucose and insulin kinetics in male Holstein calves. animal, 13 (07), 1385-1393. doi: 10.1017/s175173111800294x
Meale, Sarah J., Morgavi, Diego P., Cassar-Malek, Isabelle, Andueza, Donato, Ortigues-Marty, Isabelle, Robins, Richard J., Schiphorst, Anne-Marie, Migné, Carole, Pétéra, Mélanie, Laverroux, Sophie, Graulet, Benoit, Boudra, Hamid and Cantalapiedra-Hijar, Gonzalo (2018). Correction to Exploration of biological markers of feed efficiency in young bulls. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 66 (17), 4580-4580. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b01910
Meale, Sarah J., Auffret, Marc D, Watson, Mick, Morgavi, Diego P, Cantalapiedra-Hijar, Gonzalo, Duthie, Carol-Anne, Roehe, Rainer and Dewhurst, Richard J (2018). Fat accretion measurements strengthen the relationship between feed conversion efficiency and Nitrogen isotopic discrimination while rumen microbial genes contribute little. Scientific reports, 8 (1) 3854, 3854. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22103-4
Meale, Sarah J., Morgavi, Diego P., Cassar-Malek, Isabelle, Andueza, Donato, Ortigues-Marty, Isabelle, Robins, Richard J., Schiphorst, Anne-Marie, Laverroux, Sophie, Graulet, Benoit, Boudra, Hamid and Cantalapiedra-Hijar, Gonzalo (2017). Exploration of biological markers of feed efficiency in young bulls. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 65 (45), 9817-9827. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b03503
Meale, Sarah J., Chaucheyras-Durand, Frederique, Berends, Harma, Guan, Le Luo and Steele, Michael A. (2017). From pre- to postweaning: transformation of the young calf's gastrointestinal tract. Journal of Dairy Science, 100 (7), 5984-5995. doi: 10.3168/jds.2016-12474
Popova, Milka, McGovern, Emily, McCabe, Matthew S., Martin, Cecile, Doreau, Michel, Arbre, Marie, Meale, Sarah J., Morgavi, Diego P. and Waters, Sinead M. (2017). The structural and functional capacity of ruminal and cecal microbiota in growing cattle was unaffected by dietary supplementation of linseed oil and nitrate. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8 (MAY) 937. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00937
Meale, S. J., Li, S. C., Azevedo, P., Derakhshani, H., DeVries, T. J., Plaizier, J. C., Steele, M. A. and Khafipour, E. (2017). Weaning age influences the severity of gastrointestinal microbiome shifts in dairy calves. Scientific Reports, 7 (198) 198. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-00223-7
Ding, S., Meale, S. J., Alazzeh, A. Y., He, M. L., Ribeiro, G. O., Jr., Jin, L., Wang, Y., Dugan, M. E. R., Chaves, A. V. and McAllister, T. A. (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. doi: 10.1071/AN15878
Meale, Sarah J., Shucong, Li, Azevedo, Paula, Derakhshani, Hooman, Plaizier, Jan C. , Khafipour, Ehsan and Steele, Michael A. (2016). Development of ruminal and fecal microbiomes are affected by weaning but not weaning strategy in dairy calves. Frontiers in Microbiology, 7 (MAY) 582. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00582
Meale, S. J., Leal, L. N., Martin-Tereso, J. and Steele, M. A. (2015). Delayed weaning of Holstein bull calves fed an elevated plane of nutrition impacts feed intake, growth and potential markers of gastrointestinal development. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 209, 268-273. doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2015.08.008
Meale, S. J., Chaves, A. V., He, M. L., Guan, L. L. and McAllister, T. A. (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. doi: 10.2527/jas2014-8437
McAllister, T. A., Meale, S. J., Valle, E., Guan, L. L., Zhou, M., Kelly, W. J., Henderson, G., Attwood, G. T. and Janssen, P. H. (2015). Ruminant nutrition symposium: use of genomics and transcriptomics to identify strategies to lower ruminal methanogenesis. Journal of Animal Science, 93 (4), 1431-1449. doi: 10.2527/jas.2014-8329
Alazzeh, A. Y., Smith, A. H., Beauchemin, K. A., Meale, S. J. and McAllister, T. A. (2014). Supplementing Propionibacterium acidipropionici P169 does not affect methane production and volatile fatty acid profiles of different diets in in vitro rumen cultures from heifers. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A. Animal Science, 64 (3), 170-177. doi: 10.1080/09064702.2014.988746
Meale, S. J., Chaves, A. V., Ding, S., Bush, R. D. and McAllister, T. A. (2014). Effects of crude glycerin supplementation on wool production, feeding behavior, and body condition of Merino ewes. Journal of Animal Science, 91 (2), 878-885. doi: 10.2527/jas.2012-5791
Meale, S. J., Ding, S., He, M. L., Dugan, M. E. R., Ribeiro, G. O., Jr., Alazzeh, A. Y., Holo, H., Harstad, O. M., McAllister, T. A. and Chaves, A. V. (2014). Effect of Propionibacterium freudenreichii on ruminal fermentation patterns, methane production and lipid biohydrogenation of beef finishing diets containing flaxseed oil in a rumen simulation technique. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 94 (4), 685-695. doi: 10.4141/CJAS-2014-051
Meale, S. J., Romao, J. M., He, M. L., Chaves, A. V., McAllister, T. A. and Guan, L. L. (2014). Effect of diet on microRNA expression in ovine subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues. Journal of Animal Science, 92 (8), 3328-3337. doi: 10.2527/jas.2014-7710
Meale, S. J., Chaves, A. V., He, M. L. and McAllister, T. A. (2014). Dose-response of supplementing marine algae (Schizochytrium spp.) on production performance, fatty acid profiles, and wool parameters of growing lambs. Journal of Animal Science, 92 (5), 2202-2213. doi: 10.2527/jas2013-7024
Meale, S. J., Beauchemin, K. A., Hristov, A. N., Chaves, A. V. and McAllister, T. A. (2014). Board-invited review: opportunities and challenges in using exogenous enzymes to improve ruminant production. Journal of Animal Science, 92 (2), 427-442. doi: 10.2527/jas.2013-6869
Meale, S. J., Chaves, A. V., McAllister, T. A., Iwaasa, A. D., Yang, W. Z. and Benchaar, C. (2014). Including essential oils in lactating dairy cow diets: effects on methane emissions. Animal Production Science, 54 (9), 1215-1218. doi: 10.1071/AN14152
Olivares-Palma, S. M., Meale, S. J., Pereira, L. G. R., Machado, F. S., Carneiro, H., Lopes, F. C. F., Mauricio, R. M. and Chaves, A. V. (2013). In vitro fermentation, digestion kinetics and methane production of oilseed press cakes from biodiesel production. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 26 (8), 1102-1110. doi: 10.5713/ajas.2013.13098
Meale, S. J., Chaves, A. V., Hannah, M. C., Williams, S. R. O., Hume, D. E., Mace, W. J. and Moate, P. J. (2013). Comparison of wild type, AR1 and AR37 endophyte infected perennial ryegrass on in vitro methanogenesis. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 180 (1-4), 10-17. doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2012.12.003
Meale, S. J., McAllister, T. A., Beauchemin, K. A., Harstad, O. M. and Chaves, A. V. (2012). Strategies to reduce greenhouse gases from ruminant livestock. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section A- Animal Science, 62 (4), 199-211. doi: 10.1080/09064702.2013.770916
Meale, S. J., Chaves, A. V., Baah, J. and McAllister, T. A. (2012). Methane production of different forages in in vitro ruminai fermentation. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 25 (1), 86-91. doi: 10.5713/ajas.2011.11249
Conference Papers
Hungerford, Natasha L., Chaleat, Celine, Santiago, Viviene S., Ouwerkerk, Diane, Gilbert, Rosalind A., Meale, Sarah J., Parra, Mariano, Pratt, Steven, Lant, Paul, Fletcher, Mary T. and Laycock, Bronwyn (2024). Towards mitigation of methane emissions from extensively grazing cattle with 3-nitrooxypropanol. 2nd Australian Conference on Green & Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 8-12 December 2024.
Utami, Desi, Edson, Janette, Miftahussurur, Muhammad, Gao, Wei, Meale, Sarah and Young, Anthony (2023). Dual RNA sequencing of chili pepper cultivars and Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria causing bacterial leaf spot (BLS). 12th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Lyon, France, 20-25 August 2023.
Evans, P., Forwood, D.L., Holman, D.B., Meale, S.J. and Chaves, A.V. (2023). Evaluating the microbiome of ensiled sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) cultivars, with or without probiotic inoculation. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.04.148
Forwood, Daniel L., Hooker, Kristian, Caro, Eleonora, Huo, Yuxin, Holman, Devin, Chaves, Alex V. and Meale, Sarah J. (2020). Ensiling unsalable vegetables with crop sorghum to produce high quality feed. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference TropAg 2019 , Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036113