The largest cost of raising chickens is feed, therefore maintaining chickens in an environment that supports proper nutrition is essential for productivity and profitability. However, nutrient absorption and gut adaptation to luminal inflammatory stress is challenging production efficiency as a consequence of the restriction on the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) and anti-coccidial drugs. […]

An improved knowledge of the interaction between birth weight and early-life nutrition is necessary to improve growth performance and health status of piglets. Studies will be conducted that examine the physiological differences between low and normal birth weight piglets, the impact of early-life nutrition on nutrient use and growth performance, and the impact of nursery […]

Feed efficient finishing cattle with none or less severe cases of liver abscesses (LA) will improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the beef industry. The antimicrobial properties of garlic have not been evaluated towards mitigating the severity of LA. Studies evaluating the association between feed efficiency and LA and the integration of emerging feeding strategies […]

In Canada, alfalfa is a widely cultivated legume forage and the principal source of protein in the diets of ruminant animals. High quality alfalfa (i.e. nutrient composition and fiber digestibility) is vital for profitable dairy production because it can reduce requirements of high-cost concentrated feeds. High fiber digestibility is associated with higher cow’s intake and […]

The advent of genomic selection in the dairy industry has increased genetic progress; however, new challenges are emerging. Rapid population growth and associated demographic and economic changes are increasing global demand for dairy products. Moreover, the industry must address several societal and consumer issues such as human health, animal health and welfare, and the environmental […]

Mothers can influence the behaviour and physiology of their young even before hatch. In birds that occurs through the deposition of hormones and nutrients into the egg. Mother-hens can be housed in various systems that offer different challenges to the bird. Our project will investigate how housing a mother-hen can affect the resilience of their […]

The purpose of this project if to develop a Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Production (COP) Network including of 26 different focus group sessions across Canada, located in different eco-regions, to gather production and economic data following agribenchmark global agriculture network methodology. This data will also be used to assess greenhouse gas emissions associated with the […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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. In spite of the significant negative impact of […]

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. Risk factors […]