Calf welfare and livestock sustainability research part of $13.5M NSERC award to U of G-industry research partnerships

U of G researchers Dr. Michael Steele, a professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences, and Dr. David Renaud, a professor in the Department of Population Medicine, aim to enhance calf welfare and increase the sustainability of the Canadian dairy, beef, and veal industries.

“Early life events — breeding, nutrition, disease and stress — affect the long-term health and performance of surplus dairy calves,” said Steele. “This funding provides us an opportunity to showcase how to improve their welfare while also increasing the sustainability of Canadian dairy farms and producing a better product for market.”

Over five years, the researchers will focus on identifying the best management practices for dairy calves crossbred for beef production in areas such as genetics, nutrition and reducing stress and disease. 

The research team received $1.79 million from the NSERC Alliance program and an additional $1.47 million in funding and in-kind support from five farm trade and advocacy organizations — Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Beef Farmers of Ontario, Veal Farmers of Ontario, Alberta Milk and BC Dairy Association — as well as Semex, a livestock genetics company, and Trouw, a manufacturer of animal nutrition products.

The funding is part of more than $347 million announced in March to support more than 882 researchers nationwide through the NSERC Alliance program.

Read the full story on the U of G News site: NSERC Awards More Than $ 13.5M to U of G-Industry Research Partnerships