Livestock Innovation

May 17, 2022

Training coming down the track

The colour of the train

CEO Commentary by Mike McMorris, May 2022: I recently read an article questioning whether or not you can trust a “pro-beef” professor. The author asks, can you trust him to provide unbiased research results?

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LRIC in the news

Canadian Poultry, May 2022: Industry needs to "look sideways" for solutions to big issues

Coming events

February 23 - June 22: International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare (virtual)

June 13: LRIC annual meeting, The Grandway, Elora

June 16:  LRIC Horizon Series webinar "Data. Simple answer, but what's the question?"

Funding opportunities

Please visit LRIC's website for more information on currently open funding opportunities.

Sector-specific innovation highlights

Poultry: "Reverse genetics" could offer new poultry vaccine options

Researchers at the Pirbright Institute suggest that understanding the genome of infections bronchitis virus (IBV) could lead to safer, more effective vaccines. Vaccines created by using mutations in the genetic code for non-structural proteins could also be used for vaccinating eggs instead of waiting until birds are hatched.

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Swine: Leftover cookies and pasta suitable for pig diets

Italian research has found that pig rations could be a new market for leftover confectionary products - chocolates, biscuits and sweet snacks - and bakery items like bread, pasta and salty snacks that currently end up in waste streams. Pigs who consumed rations where 30% of standard ingredients were replaced with these food waste items had body weights, average daily feed intakes, average daily gains and feed conversion rates similar to pigs who received a standard ration.

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Beef: Proper body condition scoring of pregnant cows could result in healthier calves

A newly completed study from Scotland's Rural College shows that avoiding both obesity and excessive leanness in pregnant cows can reduce winter feed requirements and lead to healthier, faster-growing calves. The best tool to assess leanness or obesity in cattle is body condition scoring, which researchers noted requires minimal time, no additional equipment and can be performed during routine animal handling.

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Dairy: Start-up competition targets innovations for Gen Z

New York State's 2022 MilkLaunch start-up competition focuses on accelerating dairy product innovations targeted at Generation Z, the cohort of young consumers born between 1997 and 2012. The competition is supported by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the New York Dairy Promotion Order Advisory Board and VentureFuel.

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Small ruminants: Meeting climate targets mean reducing sheep, cattle numbers

In order for Northern Ireland to meet its new mandated climate emissions targets, the region of the United Kingdom will need to decrease its sheep and cattle populations by more than one million head. Analysis by consulting firm KPMG estimates that translates into 700,000 fewer sheep and 500,000 less cattle, affecting Northern Ireland's food production levels.

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Cross-sector innovation highlights

Cattle: Methane-reducing feed supplement approved in California

A feed supplement that has been proved to reduce enteric methane production in cattle has been approved for commercial use in California by the state's Department of Food and Agriculture. Brominata is a variety of red seaweed that encourages higher energy yield from the digestion of hay and grasses and to reduce methane emissions by 80% or more.

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Antimicrobials: Dealing with pathogens without antibiotics

A four-year "Healthy Livestock" project is evaluating early interventions and prevention strategies that could help farmers reduce the need for antimicrobials in poultry and pigs. Project coordinator Dr. Hans Spoolder of Wageningen University is focusing on China and the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, France, Poland, the UK, Cyprus and Germany; examples include an app to assess risk factors for African Swine Fever, and using cameras to detect health issues in poultry.

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On the horizon

What motivates people to eat less meat?

Researchers at the University of Bonn have found that it's not only environmental concerns that motivate German consumers to replace meat products with plant-based alternatives. Animal welfare concerns, the perception that meat alternatives are healthier and the attitudes of friends and family all contribute to meat decision-making.

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Lion burger, anyone?

The advent of cellular agriculture will make it easier for consumers to eat so-called exotic meats. A UK-based start-up is working on creating cultured zebra, tiger, lion, panther and leopard meat. The company suggests wild animal meats could offer health benefits not found in meat from traditional domesticated livestock.

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Thanks for reading. We'd love to hear your feedback about LRIC - both about what we're doing and what you think we should be doing! Please contact us at info@livestockresearch.ca with any questions or comments.

 

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