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$25 doesn’t get you a lot these days. But it got Thomasina Orr a wild mustang.

In 2019, Thomasina had settled into a job she loved, working for Pfera Inc., a tech company that provides software for horse breeders. She had graduated from the equine management major in 2016 of the Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management degree. 

“I was doing less travelling and felt more stable and good in my career, so I wanted a project, one where I could see the rewards,” she says.

Her job was a perfect fit, but Thomasina could find herself falling into a rut.

“She’s just a girl, and she’s on fire… Oh, we got our feet on the ground… And we’re burning it down... This girl is on fire.” These are lyrics from a popular 2012 Alicia Keys song, but they’re also a clever analogy used by Big Mike to represent the current state of the planet for their 2020 Science is a Drag lip sync performance.

The pet food aisle can be an overwhelming experience for pet owners. Scanning labels, you can make decisions based on health benefits, sourcing practices, cost, ingredients, breed and more.

Behind each pet food formulation, there is a team of scientists providing you (and your pets) these options. And more than likely, one of those scientists is an OAC grad.

Goats are barnyard animals known for their playful nature and comical attitudes. In North America, they are a favourite at petting zoos, star in funny YouTube videos and are farmed for both meat and dairy. Dairy goats provide products like milk, cheese – and even ice cream. The idea of goat’s milk ice cream may seem ridiculous to some, but what started off as an “udderly” ridiculous idea has turned into a successful food business. Udderly Ridiculous is a gourmet goat milk ice cream company owned and operated by OAC ’92A alumnus

Over the course of the last nine months, COVID-19 has proved to be challenging for everyone. People in the equine industry have faced significant hardship, isolation and financial impacts. These unforeseen circumstances provided an opportunity for horse enthusiasts to come together and discuss how to best support each other during these unprecedented times.

With the winter chill settling in, University of Guelph food science students are getting set to offer for sale a spicy organic hot sauce that they grew, perfected and bottled on campus. The sauce results from a nearly year-long volunteer project designed to give students the chance to bring to market a fully student-created food product. A blend of jalapenos, habaneros and other spicy peppers, the new hot sauce has been dubbed Cannon Fire, a name that offers a nod to a beloved U of G landmark: the naval gun on campus known as Old Jeremiah.

Dr. Trevor DeVries' Tier 2 prestigious Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Dairy Cattle Behaviour and Welfare was recently renewed. He has held this role since 2015. By understanding the behaviour of dairy cattle, he aims to recommend optimal feeding, housing and management strategies. Those recommendations are intended to improve animal welfare, enhance production and ensure quality milk products for consumers. He will receive $100,000 a year for five years.

Caleigh Copelin is a third year Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management (BBRM)- Equine Management student. Her interest in horses started when she was nine, but her equine knowledge has grown drastically since starting her studies. She was drawn to the program because it's a one-of-a-kind in Canada, plus "the amazing campus and opportunities provided by the University were an added bonus".

Improved human, animal and environmental health is the goal of a $12-million, University of Guelph-led international genomics project expected to revolutionize breeding in Canada’s multibillion-dollar dairy farming industry. The four-year project will be the first large-scale project integrating novel genetic traits for fertility, health and feed efficiency into a national database to help farmers and breeders, said U of G animal biosciences professor Christine Baes, who is leading the project.

Matthew Smit is a recent graduate from the Associate Diploma in Turfgrass Management program. He now works as an assistant superintendent at the Bayview Golf & Country Club in Markham, Ontario. We recently chatted with him to learn more about his University of Guelph experience.