RESEARCH IN PROGRESS AND COMPLETED

The following research projects were funded in 2007: Modifying and controlling the trans fatty acid profile of beef, Dr. Dugan; The effect of the ethanol industry on the cost of feeding cattle in Canada, Dr. Fox; Evaluation of distillers’ grains from ethanol plants for feedlot cattle, Dr. McKinnon; Influence of corn distillers grains and corn processing on performance, feeding behavior and diet selection in feedlot cattle, Dr. Swanson; Measuring and breeding for fibre digestibility in cereals, Dr. Juskiw; The early detection of disease in receiver calves, Dr. Schaefer; Does bovine respiratory disease treatment strategy influence the expression of chronic pneumonia and polyarthritis syndrome?, Dr. Hendrick: Over the last five years BCRC has funded research projects in the following areas:

• Epidemiology, rapid diagnosis, surveillance, and prevention of mycobacterium paratuberculosis (Johne’s Disease)
• Prevalence, transmission, and management of E.coli O157:H7
• The effects of antibiotics used in the beef cattle industry and antimicrobial resistance
• The Bovine Genome Project and the development of gene markers for trait selection
• Beef quality, tenderness, consistency, and the utilization of undervalued cuts
• Prevalence and/or treatment methods for chronic pneumonia, polyarthritis, bovine respiratory disease, mycoplasma bovis pneumonia, bovine viral diarrhea, and other production limiting diseases
• Risk of blue-tongue infection in western Canada following the importation of US feeders
• Seasonal activity of wood ticks, a vector of bovine anaplasmosis
• Environmental stewardship – manure management, water quality and safety
• Feeding of wheat and corn distillers grains to cattle
• Effects of exposure to oil field emissions on immune system health in beef cattle
• Market power in the Canadian red meat packing industry

RESEARCH PRIORITIES

The key priorities emerging from the November 2007 BCRC priority-setting meeting and areas of greatest interest for the 2008 Call for Proposals are highlighted below:

A. Improved Feed Grain Productivity, Feed Efficiency, and the Development of Low-Cost Feeding Strategies Utilizing Alternative Feed Resources and Forages

The cost of feeding cattle in Canada is being impacted by both the change in relative feed costs in Canada as compared to the US and the rapid expansion in the production of biofuels in North America. Research is required to enhance feed grain productivity through enhanced yields, quality, and/or nutrient quality identification to benefit the livestock sectors. Research is also required to examine opportunities to enhance feed efficiency and develop lowcost feeding strategies that utilize alternative feed resources.

B. Management and Disposal of Specified Risk Materials (SRMs)

Enhanced regulations for the disposal of SRMs from cattle after slaughter and from animal mortalities on farms and feedlots have resulted in increased costs being incurred by the Canadian beef cattle industry. Research is needed to address this challenge through the identification of value-added opportunities and viable solutions to dispose and utilize SRMs, while ensuring safe handling practices and environmental safeguards. The following are the overarching priorities and their respective goals for the BCRC, as set out in the 2005 five-year research strategy:

Advance and Improve Industry and Public Interactions

• Epidemiology, rapid diagnosis, surveillance, transmission, and prevention of zoonotic diseases and other diseases
• Environmental stewardship
• Ruminant (microbe) utilization, focusing on opportunities for the creation of bio-products and enhanced nutritional attributes of beef

Enhance Consumer Confidence and Demand for Canadian Beef

• Food safety assurance throughout the food continuum
• Production of high quality and consistent beef products Improve Competitiveness of the Canadian Beef Industry
• Reduce production and transaction costs along the supply chain
• Develop differentiated production systems and product attributes
• Enhance production efficiency with a focus on animal health, genetic improvements and technologies, feed efficiency, and the utilization of alternative feed resources