Past Events

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.

Sows’ milk as a sole source of nutrients limits growth of piglets and fails to habituate piglets to pellet-ed, plant-based post-weaning diets. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate pre- and post-weaning nu-tritional strategies on piglet growth performance, gut development, and immune response. First, with respect to creep feed composition and form, piglets provided liquid milk replacer had the greatest body weight at weaning. Between weaning and one-week post-weaning, pigs provided commercial creep feed had the greatest reduction in specific activity of maltase.

The gut microbiota is a key regulator of the neuroimmune and neuroendocrine communication pathways of the brain-gut-microbiota axis. Disruption of the microbiome can lead to deterioration in gastrointestinal, neuroendocrine, immune functioning and may even contribute to the etiology and course of some psychiatric disorders. Some enteric gut bacteria, such as Lactobacillus species, have demonstrable beneficial effects on health and disease. Consequently, these organisms are used as probiotic supple-ments.

This thesis investigated the use of low-complexity, corn- and soybean meal-based diets in the nursery and as-sessed the effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination and the effects of supplementation with immunomodulatory feed additives, such as a commercial anti-mycotoxin feed additive or fish oil on pig growth performance, gastrointestinal tract morphology, and immune system robustness. In the first week after weaning, both low and high DON-contaminated low-complexity diets resulted in reduced average daily gain and feed intake compared to pigs fed a high-complexity diet.