The Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence is a meeting place for interactive outreach programs — field days, demonstrations, industry presentations and seminars — to help introduce new techniques and technologies to producers. The centre is a hub for public awareness, helping to bridge the communications gap between the agriculture industry and consumers, by offering tours and participating in community events.

Field Days

lfce-field-day

Click here to register for the LFCE Summer Field Day presented by Canadian Western Agribition. 



KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Sponsored by Bullseye Feeds

"Key factors driving the cattle market and economic indicators to improve your bottom line." 
Brian Perillat, MSc, PAg
Agribusiness Specialist, More Than Just Feed, Inc.

BRIAN PERILLAT, MSc, PAg, grew up on a mixed farming operation near Duck Lake, Sask., and has 20-plus years of experience in agricultural economics and market analysis. As an agribusiness specialist at More Than Just Feed Inc., Brian supports the Bullseye Feeds team and their customers by offering management tools, market analysis and risk management expertise.

8:15-9 a.m. Registration Forage and Cow-Calf Research and Teaching Unit, LFCE
9 a.m.-1 p.m

Pens, plots and paddocks tours
See below for detailed information

Buses available for tours 1 and 2

1-1:30 p.m. Complimentary lunch Forage and Cow-Calf Research and Teaching Unit, LFCE
1:30-2:30 p.m.

Presentations
• Keynote speaker: Brian Perillat


Forage and Cow-Calf Research and Teaching Unit, LFCE

2:30-3:45 p.m. • Facilities tour
• Graduate student research posters
• Networking

• Forage and Cow-Calf Research and Teaching Unit, LFCE
• Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Unit, LFCE

3:45-4 p.m. Wrap-up

PENS, PLOTS AND PADDOCKS TOURS (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Tour 1: Forage/water/drought management
Soil moisture dynamics in annual and perennial grazing systems Jourdyn Sammons (graduate student), USask
Forage varieties for water use efficiency and saline tolerance Dr. Bill Biligetu, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, USask
Development of economical salinity remediation strategies for agricultural water using innovative desalination minerals Won Jae Chang, College of Engineering/Global Institute for Water Security, USask
Understanding the current agriculture-water situation from a water balance perspective Dr. Phillip Harder, Global Institute for Water Security, USask

Water in relation to pasture systems

Dr. Bart Lardner, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, USask
Tour 2: Beef cattle feedlot health and nutrition
Making the best use of antibiotics for treating respiratory disease in calves Dr. Cheryl Waldner, WCVM, USask
Investigating the role of serotonin in feedlot AIP (acute interstitial pneumonia) Dr. Emily Snyder, WCVM, USask
Maximizing wheat straw use in the diet of backgrounding and finishing cattle with canola or flax screenings supplementation Beatriz Montenegro Gonzalez (graduate student), USask
Tour 3: Genetics and genomics (at FCCRTU site)
Introduction to genetics Dr. Mika Asai-Coakwell, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, USask
Gene candidate in fat deposition Ezrie Scott (graduate student), USask
The producer perspective on genetics and genomics Lance Leachman, livestock producer
Nanopore sequencing and new opportunities for on-site decision making Dr. Matthew Links, College of Agriculture and Bioresources; Dr. Anatoliy Trokhymchuk (graduate student), USask

 

Thank you to our generous sponsors! 

PRESENTING SPONSOR Canadian Western Agribition
LUNCH SPONSOR Termuende Trust Fund
KEYNOTE SPEAKER SPONSOR Bullseye Feeds
GOLD SPONSORS Brett Young Seeds
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Merck Animal Health
DSV-North Star
Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association
CJWW/The Bull
Golden West
KWS Seeds Canada
The Western Producer
SILVER SPONSORS Elanco Animal Health
Federated Co-operatives Ltd.
Lallemand Animal Nutrition
Saskatchewan Angus Association
Saskatchewan Forage Council
FP Genetics
BRONZE SPONSORS Farm Credit Canada
Saskatchewan Charolais Association
Saskatchewan Simmental Association
Verified Beef Production

To read about the 2023 LFCE Summer Field Day presented by Canadian Western Agribition, click here.

9:30 a.m. - Registration
10:00 a.m. - Welcome, introductions
10:30 a.m. - Coffee, graduate student posters, tradeshow
11:15 a.m. - Pens, plots and paddocks tour (first stop)
Lunch
1:30 p.m. - Pens, plots and paddocks tour (two more stops)
3:30 p.m. - Closing remarks, snack

The Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) will host its annual Field Day on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. The event's presenting sponsor is the Canadian Western Agribition (CWA). 

The field day's program includes presentations in the morning, a complimentary lunch, and field and paddock tours in the afternoon. Events begin at 10 a.m. 

9:30 a.m. Registration
10 a.m. Welcome and opening remarks
10:15 a.m. Featured speakers and additional activities
"The LFCE weather and climate story: unlocking the mystery of moisture." Phil Harder
"Feeder cattle traits that make a difference in price." Kathy Larson
Metabolism Unit and USask graduate student research posters 
11:45 a.m. Lunch
12:30 p.m. Concurrent tours: forage
"Sainfoin-grass mixture establishment: cross row, alternate row, and mixed row seedings. Which method to choose?" Bill Biligetu
"Plant breeding and forage agronomy: improving cicer milkvetch and meadow bromegrass for stockpile grazing." David McTaggart
"CMV seed treatment: enhancing germination." Karen Tanino
12:30 p.m. Concurrent tours: feedlot
"High moisture corn products for feedlot cattle and characterization of corn stover from low-heat unit corn." Rachel Carey
"Curbing liver abscesses in the feedlot." Tyen Paterson
12:30 p.m. Concurrent tours: Section 5
"Better diagnostics for animal health: tools, tests and data for healthier cattle." Anatoliy Trokhymchuk
"Project update: annual versus perennial forage systems." Bart Lardner and Megan Wasden
4 p.m. Return to tent
4:15 p.m. Closing remarks

Please note: we will be taking photos and videos for USask and LFCE promotions and social media. If you do not want to be included in photos/videos, please notify one of the field day organizers. Thank you for your co-operation.

We were thrilled to host our 2021 summer field day on July 20! To read about the day's events, including our Plots, Pens and Paddocks research tour, go to: https://lfce.usask.ca/news/lfce-summer-field-day-returns.php 

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. We are especially excited about this year’s event. Canadian Western Agribition is onboard as a major sponsor

A committee with representatives from the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture has held a couple of planning meetings and has already lined up speakers for the day. Once the restriction on large gatherings is lifted by the Government of Saskatchewan, the committee will continue with its plans and will reschedule the 2020 LFCE Summer Field Day presented by Canadian Western Agribition.

The field day might look different than originally planned, but we will still provide opportunities for producers as well as industry and government folks to learn about the latest research at the LFCE and to network with one another.

When social gatherings are allowed, the organizing committee will take precautions to ensure the safety of the everyone who attends the field day.

June 18, 2019 - Under One Roof: Summer Field Day for Producers
Story and video: Click here.
Program and research highlights: Click here.

Pens, Plots and Paddocks Tour

University of Saskatchewan faculty and graduate students presented more than a dozen research projects, ranging from environmental monitoring to forage varieties to feeding finishing cattle. To read about the research, click here.

Bovine tuberculosis and reproductive research in bison: Where we are and where we are going
Dr. Gregg P. Adams, Professor, Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Todd K. Shury, Adjunct Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Parks Canada wildlife veterinarian

Breeding to improve biomass yield and quality in forage barley and oat varieties
Dr. Aaron Beattie (PhD), Associate Professor, Department of Plant Sciences and Crop Development Centre, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, and Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Program (SRP) Chair in Barley and Oat Breeding and Genetics

The effects of sulphates in water on beef cattle performance and feed intake
Leah Clark (MSc, PAg), Provincial Cattle Specialist, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Colby Elford (BSc, PAg), Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist, Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

Evaluation of BRSV and BHV specific antibody responses between heterologous and homologous prime-boost vaccinated western Canadian beef calves
Dr. Nathan Erickson, Assistant Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine

Environmental monitoring at the LFCE
Dr. Terry Fonstad (PhD), Associate Dean Research and Partnerships, and Associate Professor, College of Engineering
Crystal Rinas (MSc, PEng), Research Engineer, Department of Civil and Geological Engineering, College of Engineering

Toe-tip necrosis: What we know and how to control the disease
Dr. Murray Jelinski, Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine

Forage systems: Managing soil, water, plant and animal interfaces
Dr. H. A. (Bart) Lardner (PhD), Professor, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, and Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Program (SRP) Chair in Cow-Calf and Forage Systems

Cow-calf management practice adoption in Western Canada and beyond
Kathy Larson (MSc, PAg), Extension Economist and Research Associate, Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics, College of Agriculture and Bioresources

Bart LardnerIntegrated management approach to optimize red clover seed production in Saskatchewan
Dan Malamura, Master of Science student, Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources (supervisor Dr. Sean Praeger (PhD))

Improving beef cattle health and welfare through the study of animal behaviour
Dr. Diego Moya, Assistant Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine

Barley grain processing: How important is the method and severity?
Coleman Nixdorff, Master of Science student, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources (supervisor: Dr. Greg Penner (PhD))

Evaluation of triticale varieties compared to barley as silage in beef backgrounding programs
Brittany Ross, Master of Science student, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources (supervisor: Dr. Bart Lardner (PhD))

Manure and soil management research at the LFCE
Dr. Jeff Schoenau (PhD, PAg), Professor, Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, and Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Program (SRP) Chair in Soil Nutrient Management

The economics of extended forage backgrounding in conventional and non-conventional beef production systems
Janelle Smith, Master of Science student, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources (supervisors: Dr. John McKinnon (PhD) and Dr. Bart Lardner (PhD))

For more information, contact Lana Haight at lana.haight@usask.ca

Industry Events

The Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence continues to build awareness among producers and others involved in the cattle and livestock industries. One of the ways we do this is to participate in tradeshows at industry events including: the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference, the Saskatchewan Stock Growers annual convention, the Canadian Beef Industry Conference, and Ag in Motion.

The Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence holds a corporate membership with Canadian Western Agribition. It is also an international partner at the annual fall Agribition event where it runs a tradeshow booth in the International Trade Centre.

In 2019, Canadian Western Agribition's announced its commitment to contribute $100,000 over 10 years to the centre.

On Dec. 10, 2019, Highline Manufacturing hosted its customer field day at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence. After a tour of the facilities, 44 people participated in workshops and demonstratons organized by Highline.

On Dec. 6, 2019, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Range Management Forum spent a full day at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence. The 46 people who attended the forum toured the faciliites and participated in presentations and demonstrations.

On Feb. 7, 2019, the Western Canadian Feedlot Management School was held at our Clavet facilities. Approximately 115 attendees toured the BCRTU and the FCCRTU in the morning. In the afternoon, they participated in hands-on demonstrations at various stations: nutrition and grain processing methods, implant and proper injection techniques, and live animal evaluation.

Hosted by the Saskatchewan Forage Council, the Agriculture Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) field day on Dec. 5, 2018, covered grain maturity for swath grazing and how to increase winter grazing days. After meeting at the Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Unit and listening to presentations by faculty members and a graduate student, the 40 participants including livestock producers as well as government and industry representatives travelled to Goodale Farm where a winter grazing trial is being conducted.

Community Events

Feb. 23, 2021, was Canada’s Agriculture Day!

Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan and Canadian Food Focus hosted a virtual event where people, young and old, learned more about cows and how scientists are studying how cattle are raised. We started with a video tour of the University of Saskatchewan's Livestock & Forage Centre of Excellence followed by a Q&A session with the centre's associate director Dr. Colin Palmer and its outreach and engagement specialist Lana Haight.

February 11, 2020
noon to 1 p.m.

Guardians of the Grasslands - documentary and panel discussion
Sometimes what you thought was the problem is really the solution!

Convocation Hall, University of Saskatchewan
11:30 - doors open
Free lunch for first 100 students
Noon - documentary followed by a panel discussion, Q&A

Panelists:
Jeremy Brown, Ducks Unlimited
Brandt Carter, Carter Cattle Company
Tamara Carter, Carter Cattle Company
Les Kroeger, Canadian Bison Association
Ryder Lee, Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association

Canada’s native grasslands are disappearing at an alarming rate – in fact, they are one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. A collaboration between The Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada, along with a collection of ranchers, the film seeks to showcase how cattle continue to create hope on what’s left of these iconic landscapes for the plant and animal species that call them home.

For more information about the USask event, contact Lana Haight at lana.haight@usask.ca 

To learn more about the documentary, go to https://guardiansofthegrasslands.ca/

Tours

We love to share the amazing research that scientists conduct at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence. And one of the ways we do that is by conducting tours.

In 2019, we hosted 63 tour groups, totalling 1,283 people. That's a lot of people! Graduate students who are involved in research at the centre are fantastic ambassadors and eager to share what they and others are learning in order to advance the livestock industry.

From 4-H club members to producers to government representatives, we have hosted people from far and wide. Our visitors have come from Finland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia, Cameroon, Japan, Vietnam, Mexico, Indonesia and, of course, Canada.

Tours were temporarily suspended during the pandemic, but we are excited that we can welcome tour groups once again.

If you are interested in booking a tour, email livestockandforage.tours@usask.ca.