Determining methods to improve nutrient utilization in pigs is critical to improving the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of pork production in Canada. The objective of this project is to examine the use of an alternative source of dietary nitrogen and its impact on amino acid requirements and utilization in growing pigs. In disseminating results of this project, Gowans will achieve its mandate of providing novel nutrition information its client base for the benefit of the commercial swine operations.

Dairy calves are generally fed whole milk or milk replacer during the first weeks of life. Compared with whole milk, milk replacer containing vegetable oils has a higher polyunsaturated fat content. More specifically, it is high in omega-6 and low in omega-3 fatty acids, making the omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio ten times higher in milk replacer compared with whole milk.

Within the Canadian context, poultry farmers are constrained by regulations that predetermine chicken prices and market supply. As a result, they are limited in the approaches they can take to improve the profitability of their operations. Within this regulatory framework, farmers must rely on measures that can be applied on their farms to improve chicken’s growth performance while reducing production costs. In this project, we aim to find the effective approach to utilizing remote sensing and machine learning to improve poultry farm productivity.

Detailed assessments of water and nutrient dynamics in grasslands and its relationship to land management are scarce in the Canadian Prairies. The impact of climate change on these dynamics is even more uncertain. The purpose of this project is to address this knowledge gap by estimating the impact of climate change on water cycling, nutrient dynamics, and management practices in pasture landscapes in Manitoba. The intern in this project will use desktop custom models and state-of-the-art hydrological models to address this research question.

In mammals, the sperm determines the sex of the resulting offspring. Semen sexing is a process whereby sperm are sorted into Y- (male) or X-chromosome (female) bearing gametes. Sexed semen may be used for artificial insemination or in vitro embryo production to create offspring of a desired sex. In a zoo setting, fewer males are required because of their ability to breed multiple females.

The estimated value of honey bee pollination in the form of increased crop yields in Canada is $2 - $4 billion. In recent years, beekeepers pollinating blueberries have reported an increased incidence of European foulbrood (EFB). EFB is a bacterial disease of honey bee larvae which can lead to larval starvation and death.

The beekeeping industry in Canada has endured often unsustainable high colony losses during the past two decades which, if it continues, could have negative consequences for the entire Canadian agriculture industry. Increasing evidence indicates that infectious diseases, including Nosemosis, play a significant role in high colony mortality.

This project will result in the generation of mathematical models that will predict the quality and sustainability of protein-based ingredients that are commonly used in dog diets. With the projected growth of human and pet populations, and increases in food production necessary to meet growing demands, providing Canadian pet food companies (such as our industry partner, Champion Petfoods) with the ability to rapidly identify ideal protein-based ingredients to select for dog diets based on environmental, financial, and biological sustainability is a top priority.

The spread of endemic and emerging infectious diseases continues to plague the dairy industry. The convergence of human, animal, and ecosystem interactions results in emergence and re-emergence of diseases in dairy cattle such as salmonellosis and anaplasmosis. Adding to the mix, frequent buying of cattle contributes to rapid dissemination of infectious diseases in dairy cattle. The University of Guelph is exceptionally well-positioned to lead the development and implementation of a surveillance network based on bulk tank milk.

Insects are a high protein feed ingredient that can be grown sustainably. Insects need less food input, use less water, and grow well indoors making them more sustainable than traditional pet feed ingredients such as soybeans and animal proteins. Some aspects of the nutritional profile of insects can be manipulated by growing them on different feed ingredients. In this study we hope to improve the vitamin E, manganese, and iron content of insects for use in pet foods. We will feed insects sunflower seeds to crickets for various lengths of time.