Past Events

Poor efficiency of dietary fibre utilization limits pork production profit margins and environmental sus-tainability. This thesis research was to investigate stability of two processive endoglucanases, referred to as GH5-tCel5A1 and GH5-p4818Cel5_2A and overexpressed in the ClearColi® BL21 (DE3) cell. Three-dimensional models predicted presence of cysteine residues on the cellulases’ catalytic sites; and results of in vitro time course experiments further shown these cellulases were susceptible to auto-oxidation by air-borne O2 and were unstable.

The objective of the study was to identify body dimensions that correspond to body weight and create a model to estimate calf body weight using linear body measurements, determine if geometric equations to estimate volumes improves model fit, and if early linear body measurements can predict weaning weight. 103 Angus-cross calves were measured weekly from the ages of 2-8 weeks of age using 19 linear body measurements.  Models were developed using machine learning approaches and multiple linear regression.

In this month's CNM talk, Dr. Katie Wood and her team will guide you through the amazing innovations and research underway in their lab. This talk will showcase cutting edge research on beef nutrition innovations sure to improve the lives of cattle (and farmers) across Canada.

The objectives for this study included: (1) determining the optimum dose of biochar to reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions from beef cows (EXP1) and (2) determining whether biochar (Oregon Biochar Solution, White City, OR) supplementation can reduce CH4 emissions from cows on pasture (EXP2). In EXP1, pregnant beef cows (n=8) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square study with biochar supplemented at 0, 1, 2, or 3% of dry matter intake (DMI).

The growth performance of broiler chickens has increased tremendously over the past 60 years due to improvements in nutrition, management strategies, and intense genetic selection. However, this increase in performance has been linked to undesirable conse-quences that affect the welfare and meat quality of fast-growing broiler chickens. Thus, there has been increasing interest in the use of slower-growing (SG) strains to mitigate problems associated with fast growth.

The sustainability and profitability of the dairy industry are at the forefront of current research. This is, in large part, due to increases in the costs of production and growing concern for the environmental impact of the dairy industry. Historically, traits related to improving feed efficiency have not been included in selection programs due to the high cost of phenotyping. With advancements in genomic selection and international collaboration including feed efficiency into selection, programs have become more feasible.