OVC faculty awarded funding from the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance

Developing a vaccination for avian influenza, exploring biosecurity awareness and practices on Ontario sheep and goat farms and understanding trends and risk factors affecting sow longevity are among the 44 University of Guelph agri-food research projects receiving more than $7 million in new funding from the Government of Ontario. Four of those projects are from faculty at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC).

This funding will support U of G research that delivers solutions for Ontario’s farmers, agribusinesses and rural communities.

The Alliance leverages U of G’s leadership in agriculture and veterinary sciences to deliver practical innovations for farmers, agribusinesses and rural communities. Every year, more than 240 academic experts are directly involved in research projects supported by the Alliance.

“The University of Guelph brings unparalleled expertise to deliver solutions for Ontario’s agri-food sector,” said Dr. Rene Van Acker, vice-president of research and innovation at U of G. “With this investment, we will continue to train the next generation of agri-food leaders while supporting a safe and healthy food supply for Ontarians.”

Research projects are funded by the Government of Ontario, part of the province’s commitment to support Ontario’s $48.8-billion agri-food sector.

“We have a number of ambitious goals for our industry, and this funding will play a key role in converting our world-class research and innovation into practical solutions to drive economic success,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “In helping farmers and agri-food businesses leverage the latest research advancements, products, and innovations to strengthen their operations, we are positioning the entire agriculture and food industry for long-term sustainability and growth.”

Projects will take place in labs and fields across the province, including Ontario’s agri-food research centres, a network of 13 U of G-managed sites that provide a state-of-the-art testing ground for agri-food research and innovators.

“Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario is pleased to be a partner in the development of the high-impact research that comes from the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance,” said Lorne Hepworth, chair of ARIO. “It is innovative research like this that positions the agri-food industry to stay on the cutting edge of best production practices and implement new technologies and techniques that will increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the agri-food sector.”

OVC-funded agri-food innovation research

Vaccine development for Avian Influenza by Dr. Shayan Sherif

Dr. Shayan Sherif, professor in the Department of Pathobiology, has received funding to develop and test a vaccination to fight avian influenza viruses. Since 2021, avian influenza has threated the Canadian poultry industry. The zoonotic nature of the virus means other food animal industries and human health are at risk. Vaccine development is key to preventing the wide, global spread of the virus.

Exploring biosecurity knowledge, attitudes and practices among Ontario sheep and goat producers by Drs. Kelsey Spence and Charlotte Winder

Biosecurity practices on sheep and goat farms vary from farm to farm, leaving many farms vulnerable to infectious diseases. Dr. Kelsey Spence, assistant professor, and Dr. Charlotte Winder, associate professor, both in the Department of Population Medicine, have been awarded funding to explore current best management practices for sheep and goat farms and what’s preventing farmers from implementing them.

Removing barriers to the use of non-antimicrobial strategies to prevent infections during the dry period for dairy cows by Dr. Rita Couto Serrenho

Dairy cows have a dry period between milking and calving where they’re at risk for developing infections that can carry over into the next milking cycle. One of the options to prevent infection is to use an internal teat sealant, which is material injected into the teat, to minimize the risk of infection during the dry period. Using other methods to preventing infections before using antimicrobials benefits milk production and cow health and welfare. Dr. Rita Couto Serrenho, assistant professor in the Department of Population Medicine, will explore why the uptake of this preventive option is lower in robotic milking herds.

Trends and risk factors affecting sow longevity by Drs. Terri O’Sullivan and Zvonimir Poljak

The Canadian pig industry is constantly positioning itself as a global leader in swine health. Canada, along with the rest of the world, has been improving animal management practices such as transitioning away from individual stalls to group housing of sows. Along with this housing transition, and other industry advancements, comes a need to further understand factors affecting sow longevity. Drs. Terri O’Sullivan and Zvonimir Poljak, professors in the Department of Population Medicine, along with industry partners, will be investigating trends and risk factors influencing sow longevity on Ontario pig farms.