LRIC'S LYRICS 
 
 

Updates From the World of Livestock & Poultry Research



Congratulations!

UBC dairy scientist receives 2018 Hans Sigrist Prize

Canadian researcher Marina (Nina) von Keyserlingk has been awarded an approximately $130,000 research grant from the Hans Sigrist Foundation at the University of Bern, Switzerland. Von Keyserlingk received the 2018 prize for her outstanding academic contributions, and is recognized internationally for her cutting-edge research on the care and housing of dairy cows and calves.

University of Guelph Dairy Researcher Receives Bovine Welfare Award

Dr. Todd Duffield, chair of the department of population medicine at the University of Guelph's (U of G) Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), is the recipient of the 2018 Metacam 20 Bovine Welfare Award for his work in improving the well-being of bovines.
Making News

New Zealand Reopens Debate on Dairy Gene Editing

The successful use of gene editing to knock down a major milk allergen by New Zealand researchers has reopened the genetically modified debate in the country. But New Zealanders don't embrace gene editing and generally favour being GE-free.

LRIC Update

The Canadian Poultry Research Council is currently calling for Letters of Intent. The deadline for submitting completed LOI's is February 1, 2019.

Details on open calls for research proposals are available online. Log into LRIC's research management system 
       Details Here

Any questions can be directed to info@livestockresearch.ca

Coming Events
Jan 10 - 12, 2019: Beef Industry Convention, London, ON,

Jan 19, 2019:  FarmSmart and Beef Symposium , Guelph ON

Feb 6, 2019: Poultry Industry Council Producer Updates, Jordan, ON,

Feb 12 - 14, 2019: International Production and Processing Expo, Atlanta, GA,

Feb 19 - 22, 2019:  17th International Exhibition of Equipment & Technologies for Livestock Farming, Dairy and Meat Production, Moscow, Russia,

Feb 20, 2019: Poultry Industry Council Producer Updates, Mount Brydges, ON,

Feb 20 - 21, 2019:  Beef Farmers of Ontario annual general meeting, Toronto, ON,

Feb 20 - 22, 2019: Alberta Beef Industry Conference, Red Deer, AB,

Feb 26, 2019: Poultry Industry Council Producer Updates, Mount Forest, ON, 

Mar 4 - 6, 2019: Progressive Dairy Operators' Triennial Dairy Symosium, Toronto, ON

Mar 6, 2019:  Veal Farm ers of Ontario General Meeting, Stratford, ON

Mar 19 - 20, 2019:  Ontario Pork Annual Meeting
Mar 26, 2019: London Swine Conference, London, ON,

Apr 3 - 4, 2019:  Canadian Dairy XPO, Stratford, ON, 

Apr 3 - 4, 2019: National Poultry Show, London, ON,

May 15 - 16, 2019: Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada, Niagara Falls, ON,

Jun 19 - 20, 2019 : Pork Congress, Stratford, ON, 

Oct 5 - 9, 2019: Anuga 2019 - Taste the Future, Cologne, Germany,

Oct 8 - 11, 2019: Process Expo, Chicago, IL,


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  Research and Innovation Driving Livestock Sector Success

Research Snapshots 

Alternate Proteins: Lab-grown Meat Could Address Future Food Shortages

With predictions for the global population to approach 10 billion by 2050, the world's food supply is expected to fall short by about 40%. Farm animal production is unlikely to be able to provide enough protein, and researchers are predicting that consumers will need to consider non-traditional technologies, like cultured meat.


Alternative Protein: Startup Food Company Creates First Lab-grown Steak

A new Israeli startup claims to have made the first lab-grown steak - turning animal cells into the delicate and sinewy tissue of steak. The thin, but steak-like cut appears to be a major milestone towards making meat without processing live animals.

Alternative Protein: The Impossible Burger Wouldn't be Possible Without Genetic Engineering

The Impossible Burger has had a charmed honeymoon period.   Now the backlash is here.
activist organizations have dug up documents which they claim show that Impossible Foods "ignored FDA warnings about safety"

Environment and Climate Change: Field Sensors Could Help Reduce Algae Bloom

Researchers at Iowa State University and University of Florida have developed a new sensor that could address excessive fertilizer runoff, and resulting toxic algae bloom. The disposable sensors are buried at various field locations, continuously measuring nitrogen concentrations and feeding the information back to farmers to help make fertilizer application decisions.
   Full Article

Poultry: Heritage Breeds Preserved in Living Museum

A University of Alberta professor is ensuring heritage chicken breeds live on as part of a vintage breeding program. More than 1,600 heritage birds are alive and well - representing breeds that have become rare because of commercial farming, and some that might be extinct without this program
   Full Article


Poultry: Testing the Value of High-oleic Peanuts in Hen Diets

US researchers have discovered that feeding high-oleic peanuts to laying hens enhances egg yolks and oleic fatty acid content in shell eggs. This work suggests high-oleic peanuts could support local markets in the southeast US and provide a potential health benefit to consumers.

Poultry: No-kill Eggs Now on Sale in Germany

Now that German scientists can determine a chick's sex before it hatches - eliminating the need to cull male chicks - the world's first "no-kill" eggs are now available to consumers in Berlin.

Swine: By-products Used on Dutch Hog Farms

A review of how farmers in the Netherlands are using by-products from processing potatoes, wheat and dairy to fuel pork production.

Swine: Evaluating Hybrid Rye in Hog Rations

Researchers at the University of Illinois are investigating whether hybrid rye can be added to pig rations as an alternative to corn. Rye has not historically been fed to pigs in the U.S., but the introduction of hybrid rye that has greater yields and less susceptibility to fungal contaminations has researchers looking at the digestibility of the grain in pig diets.

Beef: Tenderness Tops Steak Satisfaction

A retail beef study with Canadian consumers, ranking the importance of three traits of beef steaks, continues to put tenderness at the top of list, followed by juiciness and flavour. The study was part of a four-year beef quality audit to track consumer satisfaction with retail beef in Canada.

Dairy: New Genetic Tool Measures Hoof Health

Canadian researchers have developed a new genetic evaluation tool for the Holstein breed to help producers increase resistance to eight key foot lesions. The Hoof Health Index measures the frequency, heritability and correlation of each lesion included in the index.

Dairy: Genetic Variations Linked to Improving Performance

Researchers at the University of Guelph have developed a way to accurately detect variations in dairy cattle DNA and are using the information to find genetic variance in the genome of animals with high feed efficiency. These genetic clues will help apply genomics in breeding dairy cattle that are more feed efficient and produce less methane.
 
Veal: New funding for Meloxicam Study

Veal Farmers of Ontario and the University of Guelph are partnering on a new study to establish a withdrawal interval for meloxicam in veal production in Canada. There is currently no data on meloxicam - and the study is looking at the safe use of this pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication with dairy calves for grain-fed veal production.
 
 
Whatever Next?!? 

Bucking the Meat-free Zone at Work

If you are stuck in a "meat denied" workplace - where the consumption of animal protein is frowned on - the North American Meat Institute has developed some creative ways to sneak meat in your lunch bag at its IChooseMeat.com site.