Livestock Innovation

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LRIC in the news 

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https://livestockresearch.ca/article/research_innovation_key_to_successful_future_for_canadian_livestock_industry_report_says

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https://livestockresearch.ca/article/path_forward_for_deadstock

Funding opportunities

• Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative: Agricultural Adaptation Council, deadline March 28, 2024

• Honey Bee Health Initiative: Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association, ongoing

• Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, ongoing

• Rapid Response for Business Development: Grand River Agricultural Society, ongoing

Please visit LRIC's website for more information on the funding opportunities:
https://livestockresearch.ca/call_for_research_proposals 

Sector-specific innovation highlights*

Poultry: Exploring seaweed in poultry rations

Researchers at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are exploring the viability of using red seaweed as a substitute for soybean meal in UK poultry feed. The Novel Seaweed Chicken Feed Feasibility of using tank or sea-cultivated dulse, a protein-rich red seaweed, as a practical and cost-effective alternative ingredient for poultry producers. Trials will take place at the SRUC poultry research facility near Edinburgh.

Read more: https://www.sruc.ac.uk/all-news/500k-project-explores-use-of-seaweed-in-chicken-feed/

Swine: Natural alternatives to zinc oxide for piglets

Research in the UK has found that oregano essential oil and purple garlic can offer the same or better results than zinc oxide in preventing or reducing digestive problems in weaning piglets. Zinc oxide, a contributor to antimicrobial resistance, is in the process of being phased out in many pork producing countries.   

Read more: https://www.sruc.ac.uk/all-news/oregano-oil-and-purple-garlic-prove-perfect-tonic-for-piglets/

Beef: New prediction models could eliminate over or under-feeding

A team of scientists from Texas A&M University and the United States Department of Agriculture have developed new prediction models that will help meet cattle requirements for metabolizable or usable protein without over- or underfeeding. This will allow for more strategic decision-making around protein nutrition, including formulating rations, buying ingredients or making decisions around feed supplements. 

Read more: https://www.feednavigator.com/Article/2024/02/01/texas-a-m-revolutionizing-protein-nutrition-for-beef-cows  

Dairy: Using artificial intelligence to find new market opportunities

The U.S. dairy checkoff board Dairy Management Inc. is teaming up with an artificial intelligence service provider to help discover novel health benefits and applications for milk. The company’s platform gives researchers new insights into health and nutrition of milk and which molecules provide which health benefits, which will support science-backed health claims and speed up development of functional products. 

Read more: https://www.dairyreporter.com/Article/2024/02/13/dairy-management-inc.-to-leverage-ai-for-milk-r-d    

Cross-sector innovation highlights*

Hoof health: Smart tool detects lameness before it’s visible

A new tool being tested by researchers in the UK hopes to detect signs of lameness in cattle before the animals display visible signs. The cattle hoof monitor by Winson Agriculture detects subtle temperature changes in a cow’s feet or legs; elevated temperature is an early sign of infection before disease symptoms are visible. 

Read more: https://www.dairyreporter.com/Article/2024/02/27/AI-powered-hoof-monitor-can-detect-early-signs-of-lameness-in-cows 

Emissions: Tests yield first successful methane sensor

Researchers at Wageningen University in the Netherlands have identified, tested and validated the first methane sensor for dairy barns that is able to measure low levels of emissions accurately at a reasonable price. There are currently many different sensors available commercially but very few can measure the low levels of methane concentrations found in dairy barns at a price that would be acceptable to the industry. 

Read more: https://www.wur.nl/en/research-results/research-institutes/livestock-research/show-wlr/tests-yield-first-successful-methane-sensor.htm

Food waste: Recognizing the value of rendering

The North American Renderers Association is urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to recognize the pivotal role that the rendering industry plays in curbing food loss and waste, and minimizing the overall environmental footprint of food production. This is in response to the recently released draft U.S. national strategy for reducing food loss and waste that excluded rendering from its activities. 

Read more: https://www.feednavigator.com/Article/2024/02/15/NARA-challenges-exclusion-from-US-food-waste-strategy 

On the horizon*

Agriculture needs solutions, not restrictions, to drought

Spain is dealing with a national drought that has led to water use restrictions for farmers, and long term, there is not enough water for the scale of food production across the country, the producer of one quarter of Europe’s fruits and vegetables. Restrictions are just a short-term measure, and long-term solutions are needed to looming water shortages, such as innovations that will require less water use. 

Read more: https://www.agtechnavigator.com/Article/2024/02/28/we-need-solutions-not-restrictions-in-water-crisis-warns-agricultural-entrepreneur

*Articles in this newsletter are selected for relevance and interest to the livestock sector. LRIC does not verify claims made by the article authors and we recognize that not all data is specific to Ontario. The intent is to select articles that will expose readers to issues, perceptions and developments that have the potential to impact livestock production. 

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.

The Livestock Innovation Corporation is funded in part by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial initiative.