Livestock Innovation

Sector-specific innovation highlights*

Poultry: Rapid tests for Avian Influenza?

Researchers in the Netherlands have launched two pilot projects to study the performance of rapid tests for Avian Influenza in the field. Preliminary work had shown that rapid tests, although not as accurate as the industry gold standard PCR test, could help quickly identify the presence of AI – which could shorten response times and minimize spread. 

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Swine: Slow-growth diet before breeding boosts long term sow health

Slowing down weight gain for gilts and sows before breeding means better health and longevity as well as more piglets over the course of four breeding cycles. Currently, female breeding pigs are often overweight at breeding age because they’re fed a rapid growth ration. A study at the University of Arkansas found that gilts on a low nutrient diet before breeding  lost less body weight during lactation and greater backfat thickness. On average, low nutrient gilts produced 4.5 more piglets at birth, 4.6 more piglets born alive and 4.2 more pigs weaned than sows on a normal diet. 

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Beef: Predicting sweatiness for greater heat tolerance

Breeding sweatier cattle could help beef producers manage the impacts of heat stress on their herds. Heat stress can reduce feed intake and reduce production, costing the global industry an estimated $370 million USD in losses annually. That’s why researchers at University of Florida and North Carolina State University are looking at how genetic selection could help boost heat tolerance in cattle – by focusing on their sweat gland traits. Sweating is critical for regulating internal heat; cows that sweat more can be selected using genetic markers.

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Dairy: Next steps in an Avian Influenza vaccine for dairy cattle

Animal health company Elanco and Medgene, a U.S. based vaccine laboratory, have teamed up to commercialize the world’s first Avian Influenza vaccine for dairy cattle. The vaccine is already in the final stages of receiving a conditional license for market from the United States Department of Agriculture and is built on an existing USDA-approved multi-species platform. A 100-cow study is currently underway in California using the vaccine. 

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Small ruminants: Training artificial intelligence to detect goat pain

Researchers at the University of Florida are using artificial intelligence to build solutions that can help detect pain in goats. The current system, trained and tested on 40 goats to date, was anywhere form 62% to 80% accurate at identifying faces showing pain. The goal is to help clinicians treat pain effectively in animals who have no other way of communicating.  

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Cross-sector innovation highlights*

Gene editing: Gene-edited crops a step closer to reality in the UK

Regulators in the United Kingdom have come a step closer to allowing gene edited crops in the country. Once approved, genetically edited crops could help boost food security through greater resilience to climate change, floods and drought, and pests and diseases. It will also provide greater stability for sources of livestock feed ingredients, such as soy. 

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Cellular meat: What’s next for the struggling sector? 

Cellular meat is at a cross roads, noted speakers at the recent cellular agriculture innovation day at Tufts University in Massachusetts. Private sector investment has plummeted even as the science continues to advance. Partnerships with large conventional meat companies may be the answer to help the technology gain the critical traction it needs to get off the ground for good. 

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On the horizon*

On a mission to change meat consumption – but does that benefit livestock producers? 

The Good Meat Project is on a mission to change how people consume meat by providing transparency and educating consumers about eating meat. One area the project’s efforts are focused on is using the entire animal, including under used cuts and pieces that often go into waste in mainstream meat production. And although the project is pro-meat, it’s important to note that a portion of their funding comes from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Fund to End Factory Farming – so are their efforts really benefitting livestock producers? 

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*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. 

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The Livestock Research Innovation Corporation is funded in part by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a 5-year, federal-provincial-territorial initiative.