Dr Chris Andrews staff profile picture

Contact details +6469517016

Dr Chris Andrews BSc, MSc, PhD

Lecturer in Animal Science

Doctoral Co-Supervisor
School of Agriculture and Environment

Senior Lecturer

School of Agriculture and Environment

Chris was born in Whangarei and brought up on dairy farms in New Zealand and Australia. Chris returned to New Zealand to study at Massey University and has since completed his B.Sc. (Zoology and Ecology), M.Sc. (Zoology), and Ph.D. (Animal Science). During Chris’s early studies, he interned at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (Front Royal, VA, USA), where he worked closely with global experts in the field of ‘reproductive physiology and conservation’. This sparked Chris’s interest in reproductive physiology and the use of assisted reproductive technologies for improving the conservation of endangered species.

Chris started teaching at Massey University in 2013 while completing his postgraduate studies and has had various roles since then. In 2021, Chris was appointed as a Lecturer position in Animal Science and teaches mostly in the fields of animal reproductive and lactational physiology. His research focuses primarily on reproductive physiology, stress physiology, feline physiology, assisted reproductive technologies, animal behaviour (particularly the use of accelerometry and machine learning to monitor animal behaviour), and wildlife conservation. While Chris has worked with a range domestic and non-domestic species, he has a particular passion for the endangered cat species.

 

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Professional

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science - Massey University (2013)
  • Master of Science, First Class Honours - Massey University (2016)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - Massey University (2022)

Certifications and Registrations

  • Licence, Co-Supervisor, Massey University

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Reproductive physiology/neurophysiology
Canine and feline reproduction
Felid conservation biology
Stress physiology
The effects of stress on reproduction

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Agricultural And Veterinary Sciences (070000):
Animal Behaviour (060801): Animal Developmental and Reproductive Biology (060803): Animal Physiology - Systems (060603):
Animal Production (070200): Animal Reproduction (070206):
Animal Structure and Function (060807): Biological Sciences (060000): Physiology (060600): Zoology (060800)

Research Projects

Current Projects

Project Title: Emerging Innovator - Chris Andrews

Date Range: 2024 - 2025

Funding Body: Kiwi Innovation Network t/a KiwiNet

Project Team:

Research Outputs

Journal

Smit, M., Andrews, CJ., Draganova, I., Corner-Thomas, RA., & Thomas, DG. (2025). Longitudinal Study on the Effect of Season and Weather on the Behaviour of Domestic Cats (Felis catus). Animals. 15(5)
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Corner-Thomas, R., Draganova, I., Thomas, D.
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Hay, A., Stanley-Clarke, N., Winder, L., Maris, R., Andrews, C., & Knook, J. (2025). Benefits for peer educators in delivering wellbeing education to agricultural students. Health Education Journal. 84(1), 58-68
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Stanley-Clarke, N.
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Knook, J., Stanley-Clarke, N., Maris, R., Hay, A., Andrews, C., & Winder, L. (2024). A Mixed Methods Assessment of an Online Mental Health and Resilience Program for Agricultural Sector Students. Journal of Agromedicine.
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Stanley-Clarke, N.
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Redmond, C., Smit, M., Draganova, I., Corner-Thomas, R., Thomas, D., & Andrews, C. (2024). The Use of Triaxial Accelerometers and Machine Learning Algorithms for Behavioural Identification in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris): A Validation Study. Sensors. 24(18)
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Corner-Thomas, R., Draganova, I., Thomas, D.
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1
Smit, M., Corner-Thomas, RA., Draganova, I., Andrews, CJ., & Thomas, DG. (2024). How Lazy Are Pet Cats Really? Using Machine Learning and Accelerometry to Get a Glimpse into the Behaviour of Privately Owned Cats in Different Households. Sensors. 24(8)
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Corner-Thomas, R., Draganova, I., Thomas, D.
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2

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Thomas, DG., Dyer, P., & Andrews, CJ. (2024). The effect of dietary olive polyphenols on markers of inflammation and bodyweight in senior domestic cats. Journal of Applied Animal Nutrition. 12(1), 29-39
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Thomas, D.
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Boshoff, M., Lopez-Villalobos, N., Andrews, C., & Turner, SA. (2024). Modeling daily yields of milk, fat, protein, and lactose of New Zealand dairy goats undergoing standard and extended lactations. Journal of Dairy Science. 107(3), 1500-1509
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Lopez-Villalobos, N.
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1
García-Medina, A., Becerril-Martínez, L., Parra-Bracamonte, GM., Sánchez-Dávila, F., Albarrán-Portillo, B., Andrews, C., . . . Vázquez-Armijo, JF. (2024). Selenium Injection in Dam Rabbits During Gestation Has Important Effects on Progeny Productive Performance. Biological Trace Element Research. 202(7), 3119-3127
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Lopez-Villalobos, N.
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Smit, M., Ikurior, SJ., Corner-Thomas, RA., Andrews, CJ., Draganova, I., & Thomas, DG. (2023). The Use of Triaxial Accelerometers and Machine Learning Algorithms for Behavioural Identification in Domestic Cats (Felis catus): A Validation Study. Sensors. 23(16)
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Corner-Thomas, R., Draganova, I., Thomas, D.
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8
Andrews, CJ., Yapura, J., Potter, MA., McGlade, K., & Thomas, DG. (2023). Prolonged glucocorticoid administration affects oocyte morphology in cats (Felis catus) undergoing an ovarian stimulation protocol. Theriogenology. 208, 77-87
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Potter, M., Thomas, D., Yapura, M.
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1
Andrews, CJ., Yapura, J., Potter, MA., McGlade, K., Perrott, MR., & Thomas, DG. (2022). Exogenous glucocorticoid treatment affects Sertoli cell load and epididymal sperm quality in domestic cats (Felis catus). Theriogenology. 189, 20-30
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Perrott, M., Potter, M., Thomas, D., Yapura, M.
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3
Andrews, CJ., Cosner, Z., & Thomas, DG. (2022). The efficacy of pinch-induced behavioral inhibition (clip restraint) in domestic cats (Felis catus) declines with age. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 49, 15-19
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Thomas, D.
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Andrews, CJ., Potter, MA., Yapura, J., & Thomas, DG. (2022). Accelerometry and infrared thermography show potential for assessing ovarian activity in domestic cats (Felis catus). Theriogenology. 179, 237-244
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Potter, M., Thomas, D., Yapura, M.
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2
Andrews, CJ., Thomas, DG., Welch, MV., Yapura, J., & Potter, MA. (2020). Monitoring ovarian function and detecting pregnancy in felids: A review. Theriogenology. 157, 245-253
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Potter, M., Thomas, D., Yapura, M.
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4
Andrews, CJ., Thomas, DG., Yapura, J., & Potter, MA. (2019). Reproductive biology of the 38 extant felid species: a review. Mammal Review. 49(1), 16-30
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Potter, M., Thomas, D., Yapura, M.
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26
11
Andrews, CJ., Potter, MA., & Thomas, DG. (2015). Quantification of activity in domestic cats (Felis catus) by accelerometry. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 173, 17-21
[Journal article]Authored by: Andrews, C., Potter, M., Thomas, D.
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Thesis

Andrews, C. (2021). Stress and reproduction in domestic cats (Felis catus) as a model for endangered felids. (Doctoral Thesis)
[Doctoral Thesis]Authored by: Andrews, C.Edited by: Potter, M., Thomas, D., Yapura, M.
Andrews, C. (2016). The assessment of activity in colony-housed domestic cats (Felis catus). (Master's Thesis)
[Masters Thesis]Authored by: Andrews, C.Edited by: Thomas, D.

Conference

Stanley-Clarke, N., Hay, A., Knook, J., Maris, R., & Andrews, C.(2024, November). Involving young people in wellbeing education. .
[Conference]Authored by: Andrews, C., Stanley-Clarke, N.
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Stanley-Clarke, N., Winder, L., Knook, J., Maris, R., Hay, A., & Andrews, C.(2024, July). Engaging university students in wellbeing education.. .
[Conference]Authored by: Andrews, C., Stanley-Clarke, N.
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Andrews, C., Thomas, D., & Potter, M. (2016). Can activity assessment be used to detect oestrus in felids?. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science in association with AHDB. Vol. 7: British Society of Animal Science
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Andrews, C., Potter, M., Thomas, D.

Other

Andrews, C., Thomas, D., Welch, M., Yapura, M., & Potter, M. (2020). A dataset of circulating estradiol and progesterone, and fecal estradiol and progesterone metabolite concentrations of female felids. Retreived from https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/h8mcfz95bf/1
[Dataset]Authored by: Andrews, C., Potter, M., Thomas, D., Yapura, M.
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Teaching and Supervision

Contact Supervisor

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Main Supervisor 1 0
Co-supervisor 4 0

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • Shannon Ruddy - Doctor of Philosophy
    Using smart collars and machine learning to compare the behaviour, energy expenditure and foraging preferences of sheep in mixed-forage systems in New Zealand

Co-supervisor of:

  • Cloud Ren - Doctor of Philosophy
    Enhancing the welfare of farmed pigs with enrichment, and investigating the impact of external stimuli on their emotional state and behaviour.
  • Taylor Manville - Doctor of Philosophy
    Comparing effects of long-term feeding of moderate amounts of either inorganic phosphates or organic phosphates on health parameters in ageing cats
  • Sarah Bird - Doctor of Philosophy
    Selecting suitable animals for extended lactations in pasture-based dairy systems
  • Michelle Smit - Doctor of Philosophy
    Unravelling domestic cat behaviour using acellerometers and machine learning