Contact details +6469519283
Dr Chris Compton BVSc., MVS, PhD, AFHEA
Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Epidemiology
Doctoral Supervisor School of Veterinary ScienceChris teaches a broad range of topics related to epidemiology, data analysis and animal health management to veterinary under- and postgraduate students. He aims to provide up to date content and analytical methods to students that is relevant to the stage of their careers and that can be applied in their professional practice. He uses modern pedagogies to engage students in his courses such as the use of problem-based learning, group exercises with class feedback and peer assessment. He also supervises postgraduate students at the Masters and PhD level as they progress to higher academic achievements and teaches in courses that develop veterinary capability in developing countries.
In addition to his teaching, Chris's current research interests arise from those of his clinical, earlier research and academic careers: mastitis, reproduction, nutrition and metabolic disorders in dairy cattle and their impacts on productivity, health and farm economics. The main themes of his research experience have involved studies in commercial herds on mastitis in dairy heifers, anovulatory anoestrous and oestrous synchronisation programmes, hyperketonaemia or subclinical ketosis, the extent and causes of culling and mortality in dairy cattle, the emergence of new patterns of salmonellosis in dairy cattle and the economic impact of endemic diseases on pastoral farm animals. In these studies he has used a range of analytic methods, including those suitable for multi-level, survival, spatial and temporal data types.
Chris is committed to serving his profession and the communities he works with, both locally, nationally and internationally. He supports the School of Veterinary Science by assisting in selection of students for the veterinary course and marking and reviewing postgraduate student theses. In his role as a committee member of the Epidemiology, Food Safety and Biosecurity Branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association he helps provide continuing professional development courses to NZ vets, contributes to the review of branch and parent organisation policies and the planning of upcoming events. Chris also acts as a manuscript reviewer for several national and international scientific journals and contributes to projects of the World Organisation for Animal Health as a representative of the EpiCentre at Massey University.
Chris is a veterinary epidemiologist with a background in clinical practice, field research and more recently, university teaching. Approximately three-quarters of Chris' work is teaching and supervising under- and post-graduate students on topics related to the management of health and production of pastoral farm animals, his field of expertise. The remaining part of his work is applied to collaborative research mainly within this field that apply modern methods to investigate and communicate findings on important current issues that will have a positive impact on the health and productivity of animals, the sustainability of farming systems and well-being of farmers.
Professional
Contact details
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Ph: 86283
Location: 3.05 B, School of Veterinary Science
Campus: Manawatu
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Veterinary Science - Massey University (1984)
- Master of Veterinary Studies - Massey University (2006)
- Doctor of Philosphy - Massey University (2018)
Fellowships and Memberships
- Member, Higher Education Academy (Associate Member/Fellow) (2018)
Certifications and Registrations
- Registration, VCNZ, Veterinary Council of New Zealand
- Licence, Supervisor, Massey University
Prizes and Awards
- Receipt of the ANZCVS Award for the most commendable paper published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal in 2015. This award recognises the quality of scientific content, style and presentation, and especially the applicability of the findings to veterinary clinical practice. The college commented : "Your paper is both relevant to the veterinary profession and presents the results of a detailed and well presented scientific study." This article is also included in my NRO. - Australia and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (2015)
- Editor's Choice Award for January 2017. Our article “Invited review: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of mortality and culling in dairy cattle” was selected as an “Editor’s Choice” by the editor-in-chief, Matt Lucy. The article featured prominently on the journal’s homepage for one month and was included in the Editor’s Choice Collection, where it was freely accessible to all. - Journal of Dairy Science (2016)
Research Expertise
Research Interests
- Mastiits in dairy cattle
- Reproduction in dairy cattle
- Nutrition and metabolic disorders in dairy cattle
- Culling and mortality of New Zealand dairy cows
- Analytic methods for epidemiologic data
- Spatial data analysis
- Economic analysis of animal health and productivity
Thematics
21st Century Citizenship, Health and Well-being, Future Food Systems
Area of Expertise
Field of research codes
Agricultural And Veterinary Sciences (070000):
Agricultural Economics (140201):
Animal Growth and Development (070202):
Animal Nutrition (070204):
Animal Production (070200):
Animal Reproduction (070206):
Applied Economics (140200):
Economics (140000):
Veterinary Epidemiology (070704):
Veterinary Medicine (070706):
Veterinary Sciences (070700)
Keywords
- Animal health
- Animal production
- Dairy cattle
- Reproduction
- Mastitis
- Nutrition
- Epidemiology
- Economics
- Survival analysis
- Spatial
- GIS
Research Projects
Completed Projects
Project Title: Case Control Study of salmonellosis outbreaks on dairy farms in New Zealand
Date Range: 2022 - 2024
Funding Body: Ministry for Primary Industries
Project Team:
- Dr Chris Compton - Project Leader
- Dr Nelly Marquetoux - Team Member
Project Title: M.bovis Direct Impacts
Date Range: 2021 - 2022
Funding Body: Ministry for Primary Industries
Project Team:
- Dr Chris Compton - Project Leader
Project Title: M.bovis positive samples collection
Date Range: 2020 - 2021
Funding Body: Ministry for Primary Industries
Project Team:
- Dr Chris Compton - Project Leader
Project Title: Longtiudinal disease effects and risk factor study of the clinical and sub-clinical impacts of M.bovis at the individual cow level and the whole and part herd levels over time
Date Range: 2020 - 2022
Funding Body: Ministry for Primary Industries
Project Team:
- Dr Chris Compton - Project Leader
Research Outputs
Journal
[Journal article]Authored by: Compton, C., Vallee, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Compton, C., Wada, M.
[Journal article]Authored by: Compton, C., Vallee, E., Vignes, M.
[Journal article]Authored by: Cogger, N., Compton, C.
[Journal article]Authored by: Compton, C.
Conference
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Compton, C., Wada, M.Contributed to by: Compton, C.
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Compton, C., Vignes, M.Contributed to by: Compton, C.
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Compton, C.Contributed to by: Compton, C.
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Compton, C.
[Conference Other]Authored by: Compton, C.
Other
[Internet publication]Authored by: Compton, C.Contributed to by: Compton, C.
Consultancy and Languages
Consultancy
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October 2018 - May 2022
- South-East Asia-China Foot and Mouth Disease Programme
OIE Sub-Regional training on applying Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for advanced spatial analysis of animal health data
Teaching and Supervision
Teaching Statement
Teaching is one of two main focus areas of the EpiCentre group in which I work. This focus is evidenced in our mission statement which I adhere to: "Our teaching and research support the development of sustainable, resilient and healthy people, animals and environments". I apply my experiences and skills from previous roles as a vet clinician and researcher, together with my experience and qualification in teaching at university, to my teaching practice. I focus on teaching foundational principles, exemplified with practical examples, to equip students to respond to the known and unknown challenges they will face in practice. I keep the rapidly changing content across my courses and my pedagogy up to date and teach my students to do likewise by encouraging lifelong learning.
Graduate Supervision Statement
I supervise graduates in a way that supports them to complete their projects and challenges them to develop their research skills for a career beyond graduation. My approach to supervision is collaborative because I believe that both student and supervisor bring important skills and knowledge to their research project, and supportive also because as a relatively recent PhD graduate myself, I readily identify with the competing external and internal pressures that PhD students must manage. I gained certification in 2021 to be a supervisor at Massey and complete several supervision-related university courses annually to keep me up to date on the requirements of my role and developed my skills to supervise graduate students.
Dr Chris Compton is available for Masters and Doctorial supervision.
Summary of Doctoral Supervision
| Position | Current | Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Main Supervisor | 1 | 0 |
| Co-supervisor | 0 | 1 |
Current Doctoral Supervision
Main Supervisor of:
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Yu Wang
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Doctor of Philosophy
Development of evidence-based strategies to control Brucella abortus in dairy herds in Henan Province, China
Completed Doctoral Supervision
Co-supervisor of:
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2020
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Kate Griffiths
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Doctor of Philosophy
An epidemiologic investigation of wastage and productivity of ewes in a sample of New Zealand commercial flocks