Past Projects

Project	Research Lead	Year Completed
How the calf's innate immune response affects the development of Mycoplasma bovis pneumonia in beef cattle	Dr. Jeff Caswell University of Guelph	2018
Dr. Benjamin Bohrer	Dr. Benjamin Bohrer University of Guelph	2018
Identification of transmission of ratio distortion regions on the beef cattle genome and their association to bull and cow fertility	Dr. Angela Canovas University of Guelph	2018
Stimulating innate immune reponse to prevent pneumonia in beef cattle	Dr. Jeff Caswell University of Guelph	2015
Impact of Stress on Tenderness in Red Branded Carcasses	Dr. Ira Mandell University of Guelph	2015
Evaluation of Parasite Control Programs for Beef Cow-Calf Operations	Dr. Jessica Gordon University of Guelph	2015
What bioactive components undergo passive transfer in beef cattle and is this influenced by pre-partum protein supplementation?	Dr. Katie Wood University of Guelph	2015
Johne's Beef Cattle Awareness Program	Dr. Ann Godkin Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food	2012
Exhaled breath condensate for the diagnosis of bovine respiratory disease	Dr. Joanne Hewson University of Guelph	2012
Evaluation of Alternative Selenium Supplementation Strategies for Cattle on Ontario Pastures	Christoph Wand Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food	2012
Mycoplasma bovis pneumonia and arthritis in feedlot cattle	Dr. Ken Bateman University of Guelph	2011
Use of antimicrobial peptides as adjuvants for vaccines against Mycoplasma bovis	Dr. Jose Perez-Casal University of Saskatchewan	2010
Influence of a rubber-topped feedlot slat on animal performance, welfare, and economic returns	Christoph Wand Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food	2010
Modulation of Fc gamma receptor II (CD32) expression of B lymphocytes to enhance antibody responses of young calves	Dr. Patricia Shewen University of Guelph	2009
Does BRD treatment strategy influence CPPS expression?	Dr. Steve Hendrick, Dr. Ken Bateman University of Saskatchewan, University of Guelph	2009
Improving the innate resistance of beef cattle to bacterial pneumonia	Dr. Jeff Caswell University of Guelph	2007
Development of an edible (needle-free) plant-based vaccine for bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis	Dr. Patricia Shewen University of Guelph	2007
CpG DNA-based, needle-free, vaccination methods against bovine viral diarrhoea virus in newborn calves	Dr. Sylvia van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk University of Saskatchewan	2007
Investigation of immunomodulatory properties of recombinant bovine complement component C3d	Dr. Patricia Shewen University of Guelph	2005
Incorporation of Complement C3d into Immune Stimulating Complexes as a Dual Adjuvant System for Early Calfhood Vaccination	Dr. Doug Hodgins University of Guelph	2004
Genomic and Proteomic Analysis of Stress and Disease Susceptibility	Dr. Philip Gribel University of Saskatchewan	2004
Engineered Bovine Adenovirus-3 for Oral Vaccination of Calves	Dr. Suresh Tikoo University of Saskatchewan	2004

Project	Research Lead	Year Completed
Cross Jurisdictional Scan of Options for Access to Crown Land for Agriculture in Canada with Implications for the Ontario Clay Belt	Dr. Predrag Rajsic University of Guelph	2017
Government Business Risk Management (BRM) Program Participation and the Threshold Effects of Repayment on Farm Survival	Dr. Alfons Weersink University of Guelph	2017
A Comparison of Cattle Health, Cost of Production and Carcass Characteristics of "Natural" and Conventionally Produced Beef	Paul and Robert Bechtel Advanced Agricultural Testing Inc.	2015
Comparative Analysis of Beef Traceability Capabilities and Practices in Australia and Ontario	Value Chain Management International Guelph, ON	2015
Measuring the Economic Impacts of the Ontario Risk Management Program	Dr. F Harry Cummings, Don Murray and David Lane Guelph, Ontario	2015
Blade Farming’s Revolutionary Beef and Veal Production System	Value Chain Management International Guelph, ON	2014
Australia's Traceability System - Case Study	Value Chain Management International Guelph, ON	2014
Demonstration of how management factors and DNA prediction tools can contribute to meat quality	VG Meats	2012
Getting under the hide for marketing decisions that maximize profitability	Mike McMorris Beef Improvement Opportunities	2012
Ontario Carcass Improvement Project	Dr. Steve Miller University of Guelph	2010
Developing the Means to Use New Data to Help Ontario Beef Farmers Compete	Mike McMorris AgSights	2010
Developing Key Performance Indicators for the Beef Sector	Dr. Maury Bredahl University of Guelph	2010
Use of Glycolytic inhibitors to Improve beef tenderness	Dr. Ira Mandell University of Guelph	2005
The effects of nutritional treatment, breed and postmortem ageing on growth performance, meat quality and the expression of proteolytic enzymes including the matrix metalloproteinases	Dr. Ira Mandell University of Guelph	2005
Beef Industry Impact on the Ontario Economy	Dr. Maury Bredahl University of Guelph	2005
DNA-based, Needle-Free Vaccination Methods against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Newborn Calves	Dr. Sylvia van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk University of Saskatchewan	2004

Project	Research Lead	Year Completed
Environmental Value of Ontario Beef Production and Agricultural Grasslands	Dr. Jeremy Pittman University of Waterloo	2019
Evaluating the Impact of Water Quality for Finishing Beef Cattle	Dr. Ira Mandell University of Guelph	2017
Effects of Winter Grazing on Performance of Gestating Beef Cows in Northern Ontario	Dr. Ira Mandell and Dr. Carol Lafreniere University of Guelph and Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue	2016
Survival of pathogens during storage of livestock manure	Anne Huber Soil Resource Group	2007
The Relationship between Drinking Water Quality and Animal Performance on Ontario Beef Farms	Dr. Vern Osbourne University of Guelph	2005

Project	Research Lead	Year Completed
Using genomics, metagenomics and epigenetics to identify key regulator genes to improve feed efficiency and reduce methane emissions in beef cattle	Dr. Angela Canovas University of Guelph	2019
Feeding and metabolism trial to improve cattle performance	Dr. Katie Wood University of Guelph	2019
Effects of RFI classification and strategic supplementation of low quality diets to optimize beef cow performance	Dr. Ira Mandell University of Guelph	2017
The impact of genomic selection for feed efficiency on the cow-calf sector, performance parameters and underlying biology	Dr. Steve Miller University of Guelph	2016
Enhanced bull evaluation: desirable reproductive capacity and improved feed efficiency	Dr. John Cant University of Guelph	2016
Liver tissue measures for indirect assessment of feed efficiency in beef cattle	Dr. Steve Miller University of Guelph	2013
The Impact of RFI Classification & Management Regimen on Feedlot Growth Performance, Carcass Traits	Dr. Ira Mandell University of Guelph	2012
The impact of nutrition and RFI on tissue and molecular characterization of maintenance energy costs	Dr. Kendall Swanson University of Guelph	2012
Sequencing inophores in the feedlot: effects on performance	Robert Bechtel Advanced Agricultural Testing	2012
Improving Feed Efficiency in Beef Cows	Dr. Steve Miller University of Guelph	2012
Evaluation of the selection of beef cattle with distinct feed efficiency on minerals utilization	Dr. James France University of Guelph	2012
Building a beef cattle information resource to validate developed DNA technologies	Dr. Steve Miller University of Guelph	2012
Influence of feeding increasing levels of wet or dry corn distillers grains plus solubles	Dr. Kendall Swanson University of Guelph	2011
DNA panel development to predict genetic differences for feed efficiency and beef tenderness	Dr. Steve Miller University of Guelph	2011
Development of Feeding Strategies to Lower Cost of Production for finishing cattle	Dr. Kendall Swanson University of Guelph	2010
Validation of a Genetic Marker for Beef Tenderness	Dr. Steve Miller University of Guelph	2005
Physiological Mechanisms Regulating the Nutritional Control of Feed Utilization and Efficiency in Feedlot Cattle	Dr. Kendall Swanson University of Guelph	2004

Project	Research Lead	Year Completed
Pasture mixtures of grasses and legumes for the long-term sustainability of beef production	Dr. Carol Lafreniere Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue	2017
Rotational grazing impact on increasing pasture yields on Ontario Community Pastures	Jack Kyle Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food	2015
Improving utilization of forages by yearling beef cattle in Northern Ontario	Dr. Ira Mandell and Dr. Carol Lafreniere University of Guelph and Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue	2015
Determining the nutritional value of alternative forage crops for beef production in Ontario	Dr. Bill Deen University of Guelph	2015
Effects of Method of Forage Finishing and Cattle Breed	Dr. Ira Mandell University of Guelph	2012

Project	Research Lead	Year Completed
Tenderness Audit of Beef Available in Ontario Grocery Stores	Dr. Ira Mandell University of Guelph	2012
Market power in the Canadian red meat packing industry	Andrea Brocklebank Canadian Cattlemen's Association	2005