The purpose of the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is to determine research and development priorities for the beef cattle industry, and to administrate the research funding allocation of the National Checkoff. The BCRC sponsors research and technology development and adoption, in support of the vision of the Canadian beef industry to have high quality Canadian beef products recognized as the most outstanding by Canadian and world customers.

2002	2003	2004
• Foragebeef.ca Web site • Establishing Temperature and Time Aging Constants for Sub-primal Cuts of Boxed Beef • The Occurrence, Fate and Ecotoxicological • Effects of Veterinary Antibiotics used in the Beef Cattle Industry • Effect of L-Carnitine and Fatty Acids on Content of Functional Lipids in Meat • Carbon Sequestration, Methane Production and Nitrous Oxide Emission from Cattle Grazing Native Prairie • Effects of Exposure to Oil Field Emissions on Immune System Health in Beef Cattle • Investigation of Chronic Pneumonia and Polyarthritis Syndrome in Beef Feedlots • Nutrient and Pathogen Transport through Agricultural Land Drainage Systems	• Characterization of Antibiotic Resistant Generic Escherichia coli as Indicators of Resistant Pathogens in Beef Cattle • Rearing, release and distribution of insects for biological control of pasture weeds • Post mortem Intervention Strategies to Enhance Tenderness of Underutilized Beef Cuts • How does stress affect lung defenses and predispose calves to bacterial pneumonia? • Best Management Practices to Improve Environmental Sustainability and Productivity of Grassland Systems Using Hog Manure	• Interaction of Escherichia coli 0157.H7 with different sections of the beef cattle digestive system in vitro • Validation of a genetic marker for beef tenderness • Use of Glycolytic Inhibitors to Improve Beef Tenderness • An investigation of the etiological role of Mycoplasma sp. in infectious respiratory disease of feedlot cattle

2005 Projects

• Development of a Challenge Model for Mycoplasma bovis and Vaccine Testing of Chimeric Proteins

• DNA-Based, Needle-Free Vaccination Methods against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Newborn Calves

• Environmental Issues of Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis (Johne’s Disease) Infections of Cow-Calf Herds:
  Environmental and Wildlife Reservoirs of Infection

• Bacteriophage Therapy for Control of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Cattle

The BCRC has also contributed funds to several additional projects and activities over the last year including:

• A study to examine the impact of the border closure on the market power of Canadian packers

• Sponsorship of the Centre of Innovation in Meat Science and Technology taskforce

• Contribution to the Canadian Agri-Food Research Council to assist in developing a new business plan and structure to nationally coordinate agriculture and food research.