Published on Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance (https://www.uoguelph.ca/alliance)

Home > Research Facilities > Research Centres > Animal Research Centres > Ontario Sheep Research Centre

Ontario Sheep Research Centre

Image of Sheep at Ponsonby Sheep research Station

The Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) status of the sheep flock at the Ontario Sheep Research Centre  (formerly known as the Ponsonby Sheep Facility) makes it unique. It is one of the highest-level of pathogen-free sheep flocks in North America. The facility is closed to any animals coming in, and once an animal leaves, it cannot return. The flock is routinely tested to maintain this superior health status.

This facility has an average of 250 ewes and replacements, 20 rams, and an annual production of more than 300 lambs. The breeding flock is managed under the Cornell Star system resulting in a birth cycle producing lambs five times throughout the year.

The sheep facility includes a high perimeter security fence around the buildings, and four fenced paddocks with field shelters. The main facility has five indoor pens, an isolation facility, a basic procedure room, a dormitory and a laboratory for sample processing.

Research areas and outcomes

The Ontario Sheep Research Centre maintains a unique high-health breeding flock used for important research such as reproductive technologies, immune response, disease resistance, animal health and production. See current research at the Ontario Sheep Research Centre [1].

Contact Us

 

Ponsonby Technical Agriculture Assistant: Pam Hasson

phasson@uoguelph.ca [2]

 

Ponsonby Facility Foreman: Jeff McFarlane

jemcfarl@uoguelph.ca [3]

 

Manager: Joe Parkinson

joe.parkinson@uoguelph.ca [4]

Connect

  Questions or comments about our website? Please submit them using our web feedback form.

Contact us

1 Stone Road West, 2NW
Guelph ON N1G 4Y2

Office of Research, Agri-Food Partnership staff

Our vision

Our renewed vision: To invest in the knowledge, data and innovation necessary to:

  • Achieve assurance in food safety;
  • Protect animal, plant and public health and the environment;
  • Grow Ontario's capacity to produce food; and
  • Support a globally and domestically competitive agri-food sector

In partnership with

 

 

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs logo

 

 


Source URL:https://www.uoguelph.ca/alliance/research-facilities/research-centres/animal-research-centres/ontario-sheep-research-centre

Links
[1] https://www.uoguelph.ca/alliance/projects/ponsonby-sheep-projects [2] mailto:phasson@uoguelph.ca [3] mailto:jemcfarl@uoguelph.ca [4] mailto:joe.parkinson@uoguelph.ca