The United Nations has declared 2024 as the International Year of the Camelid in recognition of the animals’ contributions to maintaining healthy ecosystems around the world.
Raising a healthy cattle herd involves providing healthy and abundant plants for cattle to eat, a process called forage production.
By exploring novel treatments to existing agricultural byproducts, University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers are working to establish environmentally sustainable and economically feasible feed alternatives to benefit Saskatchewan producers and consumers alike.
Precision technological advancements such as the use of cameras in livestock production could provide beef cattle feedlot employees a “bird’s eye view,” allowing them to monitor and flag any cattle showing signs of illnesses such as bovine respiratory disease.
A veterinarian, beef cattle specialist and cow-calf producer from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) is leading a nationwide cow-calf surveillance initiative with the support of other researchers on campus and across Canada.
Dr. Emily Snyder’s curiosity over the years has led her to a place where improving the health of beef cattle is of utmost importance.
Dr. Antonio Facciuolo (PhD) from the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has new support to develop a vaccine against Johne’s disease — a chronic intestinal disease of cattle that's significant to the beef and dairy industry.
A group of graduate students from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) introduced their research to attendees at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) Summer Field Day on June 20.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) professor and researcher Dr. John Campbell is the 2023 recipient of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Merck Veterinary Award.
The Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence progress report covering May 1, 2021, to April 30, 2023, is now available online and in print.
Researchers with the University of Saskatchewan (USask) forage breeding team are looking to provide growers with better methods for managing saline areas.
More than 250 people gathered at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) for its 2023 Summer Field Day on June 20.
Saskatchewan’s minister of agriculture, the Honourable David Marit, announced funding today on behalf of the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan of $6.6 million over five years for the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.
A University of Saskatchewan veterinarian is exploring how research into the reproductive health of dairy cows as well as emerging technologies can be applied to beef cattle
How can a bison cow have a calf sired by a bull from the opposite side of North America? The collection, disinfection and freezing of semen using novel technologies can make this former pipe dream a reality, and it may be our best chance of saving the North American bison species.
Researchers at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) are investigating antimicrobial resistance by establishing relationships between antimicrobial resistance genes in beef cattle and examining the impact of various exposure events on patterns of antimicrobial resistance.
We are excited to host our annual summer field day on June 20 at the University of Saskatchewan's Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.
A study conducted by a team of University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers confirms that bulls can eat feed contaminated with ergot alkaloids — toxic compounds produced by a plant fungus — for multiple weeks without affecting breeding soundness.
A team of researchers from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are gearing up to explore the impact of starch concentration in the finishing diets of bison — a specialized livestock species in Canada.
Dr. Breeanna Kelln (PhD) loves to connect the dots, even when the dots are scattered and seemingly unrelated.
As researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) and Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) study the impact of stocking density and feed bunk space allowance on the health of beef cattle, they’re pondering the age-old question: “Is less really more?”
The new chair of the Strategic Advisory Board of the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence is eager to ensure the voice of producers continues to be heard.
Livestock and forage scientists at the University of Saskatchewan seeking to refine their research met with producers and industry leaders at the sixth annual Beef and Forage Research Forum.
The University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) has joined the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network.
Researchers’ aim of developing the world’s first bison genome biobank at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) received a critical boost on July 14 with Genome Canada’s funding announcement of $5.1 million for the Bison Integrated Genomics (BIG) project.
A new University of Saskatchewan (USask) research chair position at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) will focus on the health of pollinators that play an integral role in global food production and agricultural sustainability.
In an environment where the complexity of agriculture-related technology is ever increasing, producers face the challenge of interpreting and selecting data that are most useful to improving their operations.
A multidisciplinary research team is working to develop rapid genomic testing methods that will change the way feedlots make decisions about antimicrobial use and ultimately improve antimicrobial stewardship.
Two University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have been awarded $322,000 in total by a federal agency for developing drought and salinity-tolerant forage crops, and reducing heat stress in dairy cattle.
Bree Kelln has been selected as the new Beef Industry Integrated Forage Management and Utilization (IFMU) Chair for the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
A Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) study co-led by Drs. Nathan Erickson and John Ellis is investigating whether different vaccine prime-boost approaches can help calves develop a better immune response against pathogens associated with bovine respiratory disease.
A University of Saskatchewan (USask) research team is evaluating how a panel of drugs might affect Mycoplasma bovis — a bacterium that’s responsible for causing serious health issues among Canada’s cattle herds.
Two of Canada’s leaders in agriculture and agri-food education and applied research, Olds College and the University of Saskatchewan (USask), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate in joint activities related to automation and increased incorporation of digital data in agriculture.
Reducing or mitigating the pain of castration for male beef calves is one of the main animal welfare concerns in the beef cattle industry today.
Dr. Bart Lardner (PhD) has preliminary findings from his ongoing forage study: legumes in beef cattle forage bring benefits. Many of them.
After a one-year hiatus, the annual Summer Field Day at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) took place earlier this summer on July 20.
During the first ever calving rotation held at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) this spring, senior veterinary students were met with a challenging calving.
The wood and plains bison are majestic creatures weighing 1,200 pounds, but their conservation could depend on single-celled gametes (reproductive cells) that are measured in microns.
The Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence progress report covering May 1, 2018, to April 30, 2021, is now available online and in print.
A new Beef Industry Integrated Forage Management and Utilization Chair will be established at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) to connect the study of soils, plants, animals, economics, and ecosystems to tap into forage crops’ full range of benefits.
Planning for the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence Summer Field Day presented by Canadian Western Agribition on July 20 is in full swing.
Beef producers have been raising animals in feedlots for decades and they continue to ask an important question: how much forage do beef cattle need to both stay healthy and build its carcass?
For the first time, senior veterinary students at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) are participating in calving rotations at a University of Saskatchewan (USask) facility this spring.
Dr. Scott Wright (PhD) has been selected to lead the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence as director, effective May 19.
A multi-agency research team led by University of Saskatchewan (USask) veterinary reproductive biologist Dr. Gregg Adams (DVM, PhD) aims to make rapid strides in improving the productivity, efficiency and sustainability of Canada’s $18-billion beef sector by integrating advances from the field of omics into livestock production.
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are exploring new ways to extend the winter grazing season for cattle by using what’s left after farmers harvest corn.
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) has been awarded $6.76 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to help conserve bison and other threatened animal species and address challenges facing the beef cattle industry, including antimicrobial resistance which poses a global threat to animals and humans.
Beef and forage scientists connected with farmers and ranchers via a virtual platform this week to increase their understanding of how to improve the beef and forage industries using scientific discovery and innovation.
The University of Saskatchewan is seeking a Director for the LFCE to provide administration of LFCE research, teaching and outreach programs and oversight of financial and physical resources and non-academic human resources.
A University of Saskatchewan graduate student is combining her love of cattle and her keen interest in forages as she seeks to answer questions many producers are asking about new forage varieties.
Cattle producers looking for silage to rotate with barley may want to consider a newer variety of triticale, according to research conducted at the University of Saskatchewan.
The University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence is moving into its third year of operation with three new leaders eager to transition the centre into the next stage of its development.
SaskTel and the University of Saskatchewan (USask) announced today that they are partnering to launch a “living laboratory” at the university’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) to test, develop and demonstrate world-class agricultural technologies.
It’s a rare privilege to welcome newborn bison calves into the world. It’s even more rare when those calves are the fruit of your labour.
It may sound like a tall tale, but burglar honey bees raiding nearby hives is contributing to the spread of a disease called American foulbrood (AFB) in Saskatchewan.
Growing an annual polycrop for beef cattle isn’t a silver bullet to extend grazing, but producers may still see some benefits when the crop is managed properly, according to research conducted at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.
Calving at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence is close to hitting the half-way point after about three weeks of calving.
Scientists at the University of Saskatchewan are surprised that research they published today shows beef cattle can tolerate higher concentrations of sulphates in drinking water than previously believed.
The LFCE’s second annual summer field day for producers was scheduled for June 23. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have postponed the field day.
Scientists from the University of Saskatchewan and other institutions are gaining a better understanding of the priorities of those who fund beef cattle and forage research.
A Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) researcher and his team are looking into new options for pain management during castration of beef calves.
Eat less beef…save the planet! It’s a common theme on social media and among celebrities. Yet, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are working to show that beef cattle in Western Canada shouldn’t take the rap for climate change
With $2.35 million from the federal government and the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), University of Saskatchewan (USask) veterinary researcher Dr. Cheryl Waldner will undertake a major five-year research program to advance beef cattle health and productivity, helping to sustain the profitability and competitiveness of Canada’s $17-billion-a-year beef industry.
Twenty University of Saskatchewan (USask) projects have been awarded nearly $7 million through a joint federal-provincial government funding program to advance cattle, swine and poultry research.
The Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence is demonstrating its commitment to advancing the livestock industry by joining the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.
The members of the Strategic Advisory Board of the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence welcomed two new board members at their fall meeting.
The day begins beautifully. The sun is shining and the vivid blue sky stretches out over the never-ending prairies. I’m at the Specialized Livestock Research Centre — part of the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (Goodale Farm). Believe it or not, I’m helping to shift a sedated, 550-kilogram bison cow into a better position to collect her eggs (oocytes).
Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) announced today a contribution of $100,000 over the next decade to the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE), the largest and most comprehensive centre of its kind in Canada.
After a successful first year, the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) continues to provide unique research opportunities for livestock and forage studies.
Gabriel Ribeiro, the new Saskatchewan Beef Industry Chair at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), will be developing nutritional strategies to improve health, performance and profitability, while lessening the environmental impact of beef cattle production.
The 2019 calving season at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence began long before the first calf hit the ground this spring.
Dr. John Campbell, a leader in beef animal health and welfare, has been awarded the 2019 Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation. Campbell was honoured on August 14 during the 2019 Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Calgary, Alta.
The future of diagnostic testing for livestock disease could fit into the palm of your hand.
Facts, friends and food - and lots of each – combined for a hugely successful first annual summer field day for producers at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.
A Parks Canada scientist is conducting research on bovine tuberculosis in bison to improve diagnosis of the disease and to develop better vaccines. This research is conducted in collaboration with the University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Bison Association.
The University of Saskatchewan today announced details of a 10-year, $250,000 investment from Merck Animal Health for its Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) – a visionary research facility located southeast of Saskatoon.
Steamed or soaked? Mid-flake or coarse-flake? These are the questions that University of Saskatchewan researchers are exploring as they determine how best to process barley for cattle feed.
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are evaluating triticale silage as a potentially viable option for feeding steers compared to barley silage.
The Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence has received its first payment as part of the Canadian Beef Sustainability Acceleration pilot project.
It wasn’t quite the Dragon’s Den, but beef and forage scientists participated in a day-long pitch party with funding agencies this week.
The first scientific study in the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association Metabolism Barn at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence will identify how different levels of sulphates in water affect beef cattle.
The University of Saskatchewan has announced a five-year partnership and $250,000 contribution from research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. that will support advancements in innovation and leadership at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE).
Today the University of Saskatchewan and its partners launched the $38-million Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE), a world-class complex of field and science laboratories that will be a powerhouse for innovative research, teaching and industry engagement in all aspects of livestock and forage production.
The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) has appointed Kris Ringwall as the new director of its Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE), a powerhouse for innovative research, teaching and industry engagement in all aspects of livestock and forage production.
It’s possible you’ve never heard of leafy spurge. But if you live in the Prairies, you’ve likely seen its lanky stalks and mustard-yellow buds standing out amongst the endless fields of green along the highway.
Many of you may be aware of a recent donation of $5 million by A&W to the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has committed $100,000 towards the construction of the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) — a world-class facility that will unite livestock and forage research, and allow for enhanced teaching and outreach.
In January, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) will welcome its new beef cattle ethologist — Dr. Diego Moya — to the college’s team of large animal specialists.
The University of Saskatchewan is searching for the right person to lead the new Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.
A&W has made a substantial investment in the Canadian beef industry with a $5-million donation toward the University of Saskatchewan’s (U of S) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE).
Government of Canada invests $4.47 million for U of S Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence
Dr. Nathan Erickson wants to breathe new life into cattle disease control — literally.
You might not think it to look at them, but cows can provide an excellent parallel to a woman’s reproductive system.
With years of experience behind their names, Bart Lardner and Paul Jefferson are seasoned pros in their fields.
When Ryder Lee talks about the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE), what gets him most excited about the project is how it will affect the bottom line of cattlemen across Saskatchewan.
Joe Stookey loves talking to beef cattle producers – anywhere and any time. If there are beef cattle in the background, he loves it even more. And if he’s going to have coffee, he thinks there is nothing better than to have it with fellow cattle producers.
