New federal funding for dairy research
The federal government has promised $1.2 million for five veterinary schools across Canada to measure antimicrobial use and resistance in animal health. The Atlantic Veterinary College will lead the project that's studying antibiotic use on farms, antibiotic resistance and the impact on the health of dairy cattle.
Elora Beef Research Centre officially open
The new state-of-the-art facility will give researchers modern facilities to study everything from feed efficiency to reproduction and genomics. The centre's 165,000 square foot space is the result of a partnership between Beef Farmers of Ontario, the provincial government, Agriculture Research Institute of Ontario and the University of Guelph.
AgSights announces new GM
Betty-Jo Almond is the new general manager of AgSights, having been the business development manager at the organization for the past seven years.
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Cargill opens Innovation Lab at University of Illinois
Students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus will help solve some of the world's greatest challenges across the global food and agriculture systems at the new Cargill Innovation Lab. Led by Cargill's digital team of data scientists, the facility offers students and staff the opportunity to work with Cargill business leaders and customers to test new digital ideas that will help modernize the ag supply chain and food systems.
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Sept 23, 2019: Science in the Pub,
Guelph, ON
Sept 27, 2019: Ontario Beef Research Centre Open House,
Guelph, ON
Sept 27-29, 2019:
Annual World Beef Expo,
Milwaukee, WI
Oct 1-5, 2019: World Dairy Expo,
Madison, WI
Oct 5 - 9, 2019: Anuga 2019 - Taste the Future, Cologne, Germany,
Oct 7- 9, 2019: PAACO, Guelph, ON
Oct 8 - 11, 2019: Process Expo, Chicago, IL,
Oct 24, 2019: Poultry Industry Council AGM, Guelph, ON
Oct 24 - 25, 2019: Ontario Sheep Farmers, AGM and Conference, Allison, ON,
Nov 1 - 10, 2019: Royal Winter Fair, Toronto ON,
Details Here
Nov 7, 2019: PHRN Research Day, Guelph, ON
Nov 17 - 19, 2019
: Ontario Federation of Agriculture Annual Meeting, Hamilton ON,
Nov 21-22, 2019
: Poultry Industry Council Innovations Conference, London ON,
Nov 27, 2019:
Eastern Ontario Poultry Conference, St Isidore, ON
March 31 - April 1, 2020: 20th London Swine Conference, London ON
April 8-9, 2020
- National Poultry Show,
London ON
Details Here
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Survey on Social Impacts of Digital Agricultural Technologies
A grad student is collecting data on farmers' use of precision agriculture, and any responses would be appreciated. The objective of this study is to understand farmers' perspectives on precision agriculture and how the technologies are being used as well as examine perceptions and use of agricultural data.
Call for Letters of Intent Open for Ontario Pork and Ontario Poultry Industries
LRIC is currently accepting applications for research proposals for the Ontario Pork and Ontario Poultry Industries. Details and access to the applications for Letters of Intent are available on the website.
Details Here
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Quick Links to Our Members,
Partners & Friends
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Research and Innovation Driving Livestock Sector Success
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Feed: Scientists successfully grow crops in salt-damaged soils
Researchers at Brigham Young University may have found a way to reverse falling crop yields cause by salty farmland. Using bacteria found in the roots of salt-tolerant plants, they have successfully inoculated alfalfa plants against overly salty soil.
Environment and climate change: Following phosphorus through the food system
A U.S. environmental engineer has created a model to predict how different conservation approaches could reduce the demand for phosphorus. While phosphorus is an essential mineral to grow food, it's a non-renewable resource. Research suggests it is being mined unsustainably and if reserves run low there will be serious implications for food production.
Full Article
Antimicrobial use: Global partnership to combat antimicrobial resistance
An international consortium is joining forces to fight against antimicrobial resistance. Led by North Carolina State University researchers, the group aims to develop new research projects and training programs worldwide and includes scientists from a range of academic fields including sociology, economics, human and veterinary medicine and engineering.
Animal health: E. coli adaptation causes harm in humans
Japanese researchers have found that
E. coli
from cattle is similar to
E. coli
that causes food poisoning in humans. They studied the genetic differences and similarities among
E. coli
in cattle and humans, and found the ability of the bacteria to adapt in cattle may be leading to harmful features in humans.
Poultry: Infrared camera identifies feeding patterns
Researchers in Brazil are using thermography using infrared technology to identify poultry feeding behaviour. Measuring the animal's temperature using an infrared camera could help determine when birds are suffering from a fever and when they need to eat.
Poultry: Oregano oil complements vaccination
Trials with oregano essential oil in the diets of various poultry species, conducted at the US Southern Poultry Research, show the oil has antimicrobial action and supports birds during disease challenges such as coccidiosis. The oil can complement anticoccidial vaccination, helping reduce the severity of negative implications of vaccination on bird performance and enable birds to build disease immunity.
Full Article
Poultry: Sprinkler systems deliver dual benefit
Mississippi State Extension reports that sprinkler systems used with cool cells during hot weather can benefit animal welfare and dramatically reduce water use. Chickens cool by respiring, and can be cooled with sprinkling in a house temperature that is hot enough to evaporate water to keep litter dry.
Swine: Air filters reduce PRRS outbreaks
Nine years of data from the University of Minnesota show farms with an air-filtering system have fewer outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) than farms without filters. The filters, installed outside the barn, remove large dust particles and stop viral particles from attaching to the dust and entering the barn - preventing disease outbreaks from airborne transmission.
Full Article
Swine: Limiting chromosome abnormalities increases litter size
New technology developed at the University of Guelph can help increase litter size by three to four piglets. The test identifies boars with abnormal chromosomes that affect fertility. These abnormalities are naturally occurring, not breed specific and can't be easily fixed by gene editing.
Swine: Pork essentially free of drug residues
A survey of more than 1,000 pork kidneys found almost no veterinary drug residues, and no residues at levels that approach US regulatory limits. The findings indicate US pork producers are using veterinary compounds properly, and residues in pork do not pose a health concern for consumers.
Full Article
Beef: Scientists find surprise in gene-edited cattle DNA
FDA scientists have unexpectedly found non-bovine DNA bound to the genetic sequence of cattle. The discovery indicates that cow DNA was unintentionally cross contaminated with antibiotic resistant lab material, and that gene editing is capable of introducing foreign DNA to an animal. The accidental discovery is casting some doubt about gene editing.
Full Article
Beef: Researchers ID biological changes triggered by tick bites
University of Virginia researchers have identified key immunological changes in people who develop a sudden allergic reaction to meat, including beef and pork. The findings are an important step in developing a treatment for the strange allergy triggered by lone star tick bites.
Beef: Genomics provides assurance of meat source
The Genomic Meat Sourcing service enables full traceability and transparency of meat from the point of purchase to the farm or origin, providing assurance to consumers about the source of their meat. The service, offered by Eurofins, is mainly offered for premium beef and pork products, but can be considered for lamb and goat products too.
Dairy: New gut microbes could increase milk yields
Scottish researchers have discovered thousands of bacteria in the cow's rumen - microbes that help cattle digest and extract energy from their food and could help improve meat and dairy production. The novel genomes of microbial species in the rumen also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cattle.
Dairy: Consumption linked to lower mortality in consumer study
An international landmark study with multinational consumers found dairy consumption was associated with a lower risk of mortality and cardiovascular diseases. The study followed consumption of milk, yogurt and cheese of more than 138,000 individuals, aged 35-70, and tracked mortality and cardiovascular events to assess any association.
Dairy: Update on Industrial Research Chair
In 2016, a new Industrial Research Chair in the Sustainable Life of Dairy Cattle was launched at McGill University. Preliminary results of multiple studies show promise for new and innovative approached to cow comfort and longevity.
Aqua: Seaweed farming as a versatile tool in effort to mitigate climate change
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), addressing carbon emissions from our food sector is absolutely essential to combating climate change. While land and agriculture took center stage in the panel's most recent report, missing was how the oceans at large could help in that fight.
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Puffy pink, fart-free seaweed
A prolific Australian seaweed holds promise for reducing methane emissions from the country's cattle and is being primed for mass production by researchers. The puffy, pink Asparagopsis taxiformis grows prolifically off the Queensland coast and is the only species found to have the methane-reducing effect on cattle. Metabolites in the seaweed disrupt the enzymes responsible for methane production in cattle.
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