Set up in Goondiwindi by former staff of the University of Queensland Sperm Morphology Laboratory, to meet growing demand from vets and bull owners for morphology as part of the bull breeding soundness evaluation.
Dr Viv Perry published her first work on bull fertility in 1990. Building on that work, the Bullpower team under Dick Holroyd showed that sperm morphology is the factor most closely linked to fertility and calf output, in both multi-sire and single sire joinings (Holroyd et al., 2002).
Our staff hold tertiary scientific qualifications and advanced training in sperm evaluation and microscopy, and have provided a trusted service since 2003. All staff undertake ongoing training and internal and external auditing, and are members of and certified by the University of Queensland Sperm Morphology Standardisation Program.
We take part in the standardisation and proficiency workshops run with the University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science. Current research is carried out with Peter McAuliffe and Dr Perry's PhD students in the UK and Australia.
To confirm: the current site says QSML has operated since 2007, but the QSML conference banner says since 2003. The site now uses 2003. Which is right?
To confirm: the current site calls the program both "Semen" and "Sperm" Morphology Standardisation Program. Which is the official name?
To confirm: the current site only says Kelli and Judy live on properties near Goondiwindi. Which towns should Labs 1 and 2 show?
Dr Perry has been central to bringing morphology examination into the Australian bull breeding soundness program. She developed the first standardised analysis (Perry et al., 2002) and was the foundation ACV Chief Examiner from 2002, when the ACV bull reporter scheme was first developed. That scheme is recognised as the gold standard for BBSE, and the joint paper describing it (Fordyce et al., 2006) is highly cited worldwide.
She has taught undergraduate and postgraduate vets in male ruminant reproduction at the Universities of Queensland and Adelaide, and at the University of Nottingham in the UK, where she held the post of Associate Professor in Veterinary Reproduction. Professor Albert Barth, a key mentor, has taught BBSE masterclasses with her in Australia and the UK.
Dr Perry holds a PhD in bull fertility from the University of Queensland Veterinary School, continues to research the environmental effects on fertility and sperm quality, and is available to clients and staff for consultation on individual cases.
To confirm: Sarah and Lisa have no bio on the current site. Can Viv send a few lines for each? Their entries are placeholders for now.
Director and senior advisory morphologist
Thirty years of research into male and female ruminant fertility at universities in Australia and the UK. Her current research focuses on how nutrition affects fertility, particularly in the developing calf, and most recently on how acidosis reduces bull sperm output over the following three months.
Laboratory manager and morphologist
Kelli studied agriculture at Gatton, then worked as a scientific officer at the University of Queensland and completed her master's degree. She moved with Viv to QSML in 2010, where she enjoys the challenge of getting results to clients who "have the truck coming on Monday".
Morphologist
Judy graduated from the University of Queensland and worked at the Queensland Museum preserving scientific specimens, before marrying a Goondiwindi grazier and gaining a lifelong interest in cattle breeding. She loves the research side of sperm assessment and helping clients get timely results.
Morphologist
Emily brings experience in mixed animal practice since graduating in 2014. She is a member of the ACV and has completed her UQSMSP training and certification.
Veterinarian and morphologist
Betty is a vet with more than 20 years in cattle and equine practice, most of it in ambulatory large animal work around Mungindi. She now runs a mobile large animal practice from Agnes Water, where her cattle work includes bull breeding soundness evaluations and semen morphology, alongside Laboratory 4 for QSML.
Morphologist
Sarah runs Laboratory 5 at Yallaroi.
Research officer and accounts manager
Ray runs the on-site research projects in Queensland, and previously in the UK and South Australia. Ray and his sons run Angus and Wagyu breeding and trading operations in Queensland and NSW.
Accounts
Lisa looks after QSML's accounts and invoicing.
Field days, conferences and standardisation workshops with vets and producers.
To confirm: these photos are from QSML's Facebook page. Is Viv happy to use them, and is everyone pictured OK to appear on the website? Captions are best guesses.
