Michael Friend

Professor Michael Friend

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation,

Gulbali Institute

Biography

Michael is a highly experienced researcher, having secured in excess of $10m in external grant income as Principal Investigator.  He has led several national programs and projects, spanning fields of animal nutrition, farming systems research and participatory action research.  He is a highly experienced research leader, having led the Future Farm Industries CRC New Livestock Systems Program between 2010-14, and more recently as Director of the University’s largest research Centre, the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation between 2015-18.

As CRC Program Leader, Michael oversaw the ‘EverGraze’ project, which was a finalist in the Sustainable Agriculture category for the Eureka Prizes in 2014, while the ‘Enrich’ project within the New Livestock Systems Program was the winner in the category in 2013.  As Director of the Graham Centre, Michael developed the Centre’s new Strategic Plan, restructured the Centre, and oversaw record growth in external income.  Michael has over 100 refereed publications, and has supervised more than 15 PhD and MPhil students, and numerous Honours students.

Research
  • Animal nutrition
  • Farming systems research
  • Participatory action research
Publications
Full publications list on CRO

Recent Publications

  • Bruce, M., Haslin, E., Clarke, B., Thompson, A., Kenyon, P., Ridler, A., Morris, S., Flay, K., Smith, J., Refshauge, G., Behrendt, R., Robertson, S. M., King, B., Friend, M., Broster, J., Brien, F., Brown, D., Barwell, R., & Jacobson, C. (2025). Dystocia mortality incidence in lambs from Australia and New Zealand. S15-S16. Abstract from 11th International Sheep Veterinary Congress 2025, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.70017
  • Storer, C. E., Godfrey, S. S., Robertson, S. M., Friend, M. A., & Behrendt, K. (2025). Forecasting the performance of alternative sheep production systems grazing perennial pastures. Agricultural Systems, 229, 1-10. Article 104407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104407
  • Lynch, E. E. M., Krebs, G. L., Piltz, J. W., Meyer, R. G., Clayton, E. H., Campbell, M. A., & Friend, M. A. (2025). Supplementing steers up to 43 % canola meal had no negative effects on either ruminal parameters or the degradation characteristics of lucerne hay. Livestock Science, 291, Article 105627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105627
  • Robertson, S. M., Bhanugopan, M., Allworth, B., & Friend, M. (2024). Grazing forage oats during the lambing period may increase perinatal lamb survival. 570. Abstract from 35th Biennial Conference of the Australian Association of Animal Sciences and the 20th Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
  • Robertson, S. M., Morton, W., Friend, M. A., Allworth, B., & Bhanugopan, M. (2024). Lamb survival and weight at marking may be reduced in ewes lambing on forage oats after grazing lucerne during late pregnancy. Animal Production Science, 64(7), 1-10. Article AN23364. https://doi.org/10.1071/AN23364