Through the Agricultural Policy Framework, the federal and provincial governments agreed to provide “wedge funding” for the province’s companion programs. The Canada-Ontario Research and Development (CORD) IV Program is one program under the companion fund. The CORD IV program is intended to invest up to $35 million in research and development until March 31, 2008. The Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) administers the CORD IV program on behalf of the federal and provincial programs.

The Ontario beef industry allocation of the CORD IV program is $3.6 million, which must be spent by December, 2007. OCA is responsible for coordinating research and development priorities and projects on behalf of the Ontario beef industry. The ongoing CORD IV projects for the beef industry include:

Beef Industry Impact on the Ontario Economy

This project aims to remedy an existing information gap by assessing the impact of the cattle/beef/processing sectors on the Ontario economy. It will also analyze, in partnership with OCA, a number of economic policy alternatives. Data will be utilized in communication materials and incorporated into effective, informed policy dialogue.

Genomic and Proteomic Approaches to Vaccines

The short-term objective of this project is the development of tools to improve antibiotic efficacy and reduce treatment costs for respiratory disease in cattle. Long-term, it aims to reduce the use of antibiotics in food-processing animals and support alternative therapies to ensure meat safety and food quality.

Genetic Marker for Beef Tenderness

Previous research funded by OCA found that a genetic marker showed the promise of having a significant effect on beef tenderness. This project will continue that research in hopes of validating it enough to allow for confident industry use.

Quality Drinking Water and Animal Performance

This project will look at how water quality and water delivery impact the feed and water intake of beef animals in Ontario. It will provide an audit of supply, delivery, and amount of drinking water; as well as, show the relationship between the chemical quality of the water and quality of the diet and its effects on animal health and reproduction.

Bovine Adenovirus-3 for Oral Vaccination

This project will develop BAV-3 vectored vaccines which can be delivered orally. The project specifically aims to 1) Construct recombinant BAV-3 containing chimeric fiber, 2) Evaluate the efficiency of recombinant BAV-3 in targeting the bovine enteric mucosa using a gut-loop model, and 3) Evaluate the efficiency of recombinant BAV-3 expressing bovine coronavirus vaccine antigens to induce immune responses in calves.

Glycolytic Inhibitors to Improve Tenderness

The original objectives of the research proposal were to 1) Evaluate the process of hot boning combined with various injection solutions to decrease rates of muscle glycolysis and enhance eating quality of muscles from the round and chuck, 2) Determine how breed influences the enhancement process using meat from conventional beef breeds, and beef from a breed (Piedmontese) known for its inherent meat tenderness, and 3) Evaluate this procedure for enhancing the quality of cull cow beef. Based on recommendations of the OCA Research Committee, the project has been modified to conduct this work using only beef from cull cows.

Physiological Mechanism in Nutrient Control

This project is concerned with specific physiological mechanisms by which nutrition regulates nutrient utilization and efficiency in feedlot cattle. Knowledge gained will be used to devise nutrient efficient feeding strategies.

Immunomodulatory Properties

In this project, the biological properties of a fragment of C3 called C3d will be investigated as a means to improve vaccines. The ability of lymphocytes (white blood cells) of neonatal and mature cattle to bind to C3d and to respond to activation signals will be compared. The ability of C3d to overcome suppressive effects attributed to passive antibodies from the mother will be studied in a laboratory model. A vaccine containing C3d complexed with a target protein will be assessed in young calves.

Effects of Nutritional Treatment, Breed and Aging on Growth Performance

This project examines how nutritional regimen for feedlot cattle may impact enzyme systems responsible for post-mortem tenderization of beef and ultimate product quality. Three nutritional programs will be evaluated for weaned cattle entering the feedlot: 1) a high- grain diet (75% high-moisture corn) ad libitum, 2) limit feeding of the high grain diet for the first 84 days in the feedlot prior to placement on the high-grain diet ad libitum, and 3) restricted feeding of a haylage ration for 84 days prior to cattle placement on a high-grain diet, ad libitum.

Emergency Planning and Information Transfer

This project will develop the infrastructure at OCA to ensure that the membership is prepared and informed in the event of a Foreign Animal Disease or other disease outbreak.

Regional Marketing Initiative

This program was created in response to producers’ request for marketing support on a regional basis. Through a workshop initative, OCA highlighted several marketing opportunities available to local producers and stressed the need of product differentiation.

Ontario Calves for Market Access

This project, coordinated by Beef Improvement Ontario (BIO), will establish the infrastructure, prerequisites, and continued protocol for producer access to age verification systems and subsequently link the process to increased product quality and safety. Its approach will include both producer education and actual age verification tools.

Cattle Risk Management Workshops

This project was intended to educate producers on managing prices for optimal returns through the use of commodity futures exchange markets.

Future Opportunities for the Ontario Beef Industry

This project will determine where the Ontario beef industry will be in ten years and what role OCA can play as a catalyst in identifying and promoting future opportunities.

Ontario Carcass Improvement Project

This project aims to make the Ontario beef industry more competitive through the development of unique value-added beef products. It will explore carcass and beef quality attributes that can be changed by genetic or nutritional means (such as tenderness and healthfulness) and then try to develop tools that can be used by value chains to change these attributes.