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< Back 2018-099: Butyrate as a novel functional ingredient for feedlot cattle. Researcher: Greg Penner Funding: $34,500 Butyrate has shown to better control microbes which create methane and improve growth performance. However, these improvements have only been shown in younger animals. Dr. Penner and his fellow researchers believe that as an animal gets larger, the stomach (or rumen) might eliminate the affects of butyrate. Therefore, Penner will conduct a trial to determine if a rumen-proof dose could reach the small intestine, which could then allow better nutrient uptake, among other possibilities. Results: Waiting for research results.

< Back 2017-094: Development of a novel vaccine for protection against Mycoplasma bovis infections in feedlot cattle Researcher: Jose Perez-Casal Funding: $149,788 Mycoplasma bovis is a pathogen causing respiratory disease and arthritis, among other problems. It is increasingly recognized as having an important impact on the health, welfare, and productivity of dairy and beef cattle. M. bovis diseases can be difficult to diagnose and control because of inconsistent disease expression and response to treatments and vaccines. Dr. Perez-Casal will test novel vaccine candidates against an M. Bovis challenge. This approach has already been successful in Sub-Sahara Africa against Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia. Results This project resulted in the identification of novel antigens that could be used in the development of a vaccine to control M. bovis disease in feedlots. However, this vaccine wasn't administered orally, and had less opportunity to affect the lungs - a key obstacle that could significantly improve the immune response. The scientists at VIDO (Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization) in Saskatoon, SK are now working on oral and intranasal routes for immunizations. However, the vaccines need to be formulated to reach the deepest sections of the lungs, which could include encapsulations and biodegradable polymers.

< Back 2017-003: Addressing Livestock Water Security Through Sulphate Removal Using Bio-adsorbent Materials and Modified Forms Researcher: Lee Wilson Funding: $20,000 While the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines recommend a maximum sulphate concentration of 1,000 mg/L, many livestock producers in Saskatchewan have reported high levels of sulphates in their water. This has led to a deficiency of copper, zinc, iron, and manganese that in turn causes lower growth rates, infertility, a depressed immune response, and even death in very high concentrations. Some sulphate management practices, like adding copper to feed, can be a cost effective. However, these solutions are more adequate for feedlot cattle. Dr. Wilson’s team will create a prototype of a sulphate removal system that could also ultimately also remove phosphate as well. Results: Dr. Lee Wilson and his research team found more improvements on the modular design for removing sulfate from water in a manner that would not depend on high infrastructure and operational costs, and limited membrane fouling that would necessitate constant monitoring. Using chitosan-based materials, as well as other materials including flax seed gum, this column-based system is still at the laboratory scale. These researchers, which also include Dr. Lope Tabil and Mehdi Nemati, have tested their system in various conditions within their lab, and plan to have field tests on a farm in their next year of research.

< Back 2018-101: Proof of concept study for the delivery of a respiratory probiotic to feedlot cattle via the feed. Researcher: Dr Murray Jelinski Funding: $36,783 Methods to reduce the need for antibiotics are not only desired by consumers but are cost effective for producers. Probiotics have been useful in human health to reduce upper respiratory tract infections. This research will investigate if probiotics could also be top-dressed into feed so that cattle could inhale them nasally, to combat respiratory illnesses in feedlot calves. Results: Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis), the bacteria, has been known to cause or significantly contribute to infections such as mastitis, arthritis, and pneumonia in cattle. It usually affects feedlot cattle later in the feeding period, compared to others that occur shortly after they arrive in the feedlot after weaning. Treating infections caused by Mycoplasma bovis are difficult because they are inherently resistant to multiple different classes of antibiotics. In addition, they are very adept at evading the immune system, allowing them cause chronic pneumonia. There are also no commercially available effective vaccines to prevent disease. Therefore, preventing or inhibiting this bacterium is essential to reducing infections. Dr. Murry Jelinski and his team from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine is investigating the use of probiotics as a method to reduce the prevalence or severity of M. bovis infections. There are several research questions that will need investigation before probiotics can become part of a veterinarian and producer toolbox, including whether they can colonize (or grow) in the same location as the M. bovis bacteria, and inhibit its growth. Also, whether there is an easy way to administer the probiotic. To ensure that the probiotic can easily be provided, Dr. Jelinski’s team screened 64 potential probiotic candidates, and found four that could potentially inhibit M. bovis, with one that had exceptional potential and was therefore used in the next part of the study. Using 60 calves (half as a control), the probiotic was added to the daily ration for 21 days. They found that the feeding method may be a viable method for providing the probiotics to target the nasal cavities. This is significant because M. bovis colonizes the nasal cavities, where it has direct access to the lungs. Inhibiting the nasal growth could lead to a reduction in pneumonia.

< Back 2018-135: Comparison of immune response & respiratory disease sparing effect of homologous & heterologous vaccine programs in neonatal calves Researcher: Nathan Erickson Funding: $17,250 Respiratory disease control research is a major priority for the SCA Board and Research Committee. This project will investigate the best vaccination protocol, based on the vaccines that are already commercially available. It will also note if different forms of vaccines (intranasal priming vaccines with injectable booster vaccines) would be more effective than either intranasal or injectable vaccine protocols alone. Results Waiting for research results.

< Back 2020-111: Enhancing diagnostic methods for rapid and accurate detection of macrolide resistance in Mannheimia haemolytica Researcher: Janelt Hill Funding: $20,000 Antimicrobial resistance is already an issue for beef cattle, and there is evidence of new mechanisms in the Mannheimia bacteria indicating creating additional new resistance. As Mannheimia haemolytica is resistant to the most commonly used antibitoics within the Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex, more analysis to curtail this problem is essential. Dr. Janet Hill and her team will sample 800 calves on arrival into the LFCE feedlot for two years, so that they can sequence the bacteria shown to have resistance. While the application of this research is long-term, understanding antimicrobial resistance in a large scale will generate a much more comprehensive understanding of this problem Results Waiting for research results.

< Back 20211036 - 4R nitrogen use in mixed forage stands part 3 Account: Saskatchewan Forage Council Total Funds Requested: $28,035 Funded: Yes. Continue to support in kind as well. Amount: $5,600 Objectives: 1) Develop BMPs for 4R on forage 2) Demo use of nitrogen loss inhibitors 3) Include Gastec passive dosimeter tube to measure nitrogen gas losses to compare relative env impact Why is this Important? 1) 4R principles have been slow to catch on with forages. 2) Nitrogen loss inhibitor products are well regarded in crop production, but limited uptake in forages 3) This project will add another inhibitor, as well as dositubes to better validate results 4) Results in spring of 2020 had good results with inhibitors, with some sites also seeing forage crude protein increase. 5) Extreme drought last year didn't allow for results to shine. Nothing grows, even with fertilizer, if it doesn't rain. 6) Additional sites will be added. 7) These methods can showcase how to grow more forages on the same or less land. 8) Producers are reluctant to use traditional nitrogen as they have significant nitrogen losses. Methodology: 1) Test soils to note needed fertilizer application 2) Broadcast fertilizer in late April/early May depending on sites (Saskatoon, Swift, Weyburn, Yorkton, and North Battleford 3) Measure nitrogen loss with Dositube 4) Calculate forage yield, forage quality, 5) Compare weather conditions 6) Provide economic analysis Questions to consider: Notes: We are actively putting together videos and other material to showcase the results from Part 2 - However, due to the drought, they aren't as significant as Part 1. Hence, Part 3 ​Summary: Forage producers are reluctant to use traditional nitrogen as they have significant nitrogen losses. Nitrogen loss inhibitor products are well regarded in crop production, but there has been limited uptake in forages. However, previous demonstrations in years with adequate moisture showcased good results, as forage crude protein increased. This project will add an additional inhibitor, and provide an additional year of data with (hopefully) more precipitation. Previous Next

< Back 2019-121: Strategies to address mineral nutrition in the face of poor water quality Researcher: Gregory Penner Funding: $40,000 Sulfate toxicity is one of the most common forms of water toxicity in Western Canada. Ideally, sulfate levels should be kept below 1,000 parts per million, though recent research from the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence have noted that the affects of sulfates in water are not clearly understood. In order to manage beef cattle health with sulfates in water, Dr. Penner and his team from across Saskatchewan and North America will evaluate an appropriate level of bismuth subsalicylate in a ration with various levels of sulfates in water in addition to other hydroxy trace minerals and injectable minerals. The costs and associated economic data will also be collected to help producers determine best practices moving forward. Results: Waiting for research results.

< Back 2016-084: A field comparison of intranasal versus injectible BRD vaccination on beef calf titres, ADG, morbidity and mortality Researcher: Nathan Erickson Funding: $15,000 Beef producers have several vaccination choices when ensuring the health of their animals. However, concerns about efficacy have been raised, which is further complicated by various protocols recommended for each type of vaccine. Given new information available on the Bovine Viral Disease, these researchers wanted to compare live modified, nasal injectable protocols to traditional injectable vaccines and their protocols. Results This study shows that vaccination with injectable/parental Bovine Viral Diarrhea vaccines in the face of high maternal antibodies does not result in a priming immune response and therefore, mucosal vaccination options should be pursued in the future. Mucosal vaccination of neonatal calves with BVD antigens will bypass the interference that maternal antibodies and will be more likely to prime calf immunity to BVD. There was no notable difference in weight gain for cow-calf producers, but it was assumed that there would more likely to be a difference in weight for the feedlot. At this time intranasal vaccines have a greater cost, though these costs might be worth it for a producer.

< Back 2017-146: Enhanced Vaccine Adjuvant Platform for Nasal Administration in Livestock Researcher: Ellen Wasan Funding: $50,000 Currently, nasal vaccines are not effective for newborn calves, as the maternal antibodies normally counteract its effectiveness. This adjuvant (or a substance that enhances a body's immune system to an antigen) would make these vaccines suitable for maternal immunization, and highly effective in newborn calves. Trials will start in the lab, and then move on to mice, pigs, and then cattle for this. Results Waiting for research results.

< Back 2021-093: Exploring the potential of including chicory in pasture for beef cattle Researcher: Aklilu Alemu Funded: $78,700 Chicory is a perennial, drought-tolerant (deep-rooting), herbaceous, high-yielding, multi-purpose crop found in natural grasslands of Europe, Australia, and North America. Winter-hardiness has been noted in parts of the US and Atlantic Canada, though little information collected in this part of North America and Canada for livestock industry. Considering that chicory also has been noted for its own NDF and high crude protein, good weight gain, nitrogen efficiency use, milk production, low methane and low parasite load compared to conventional grass-legume pasture, the SCA Board thought it was worth further investigating this forage. Dr. Aklilu Alemu from the Agriculture and Agri-Foods Research Station in Swift Current will note the yield and nutritional quality of forage chicory as fresh biomass and as hay at AAFC Swift Current and LFCE over the course of 3 years. He and his team will also study the grazing behavior of livestock on pasture, and their associated performance and nutrient use, as well as their parasite load and methane emissions. Plant survival is also quite important, so it will be assessed over four years, as well as chicory's association with soil health. An economic analysis will also be included, coupling forage establishment costs with animal performance and yield data over time. Results: Waiting for research results.

< Back 2020-106: Sulfate removal from agricultural ponds for improved cattle health: evaluating regional and local controls Researcher: Kerri Finlay Funding: $30,000 Previous research projects studying dugouts in Saskatchewan found that 1/ 4 had poor quality, while another 10% were unsuitable for livestock. This result could be show increasingly poor quality due to drought conditions. Past work, however, also noted that recharge ponds have lower sulfate levels, and respond differently to climate changes. Dr. Kerri Finlay and her research team will investigate how sulfates enter agriculture ponds and dugouts. This includes understanding how riparian and floating plants can mitigate or bioremediate water contaminants, as well as whether they can be planted for this purpose. Dugout dredging will also be evaluated. Finally, the team will conduct an economic evaluation to provide comprehensive recommendations for Saskatchewan producers. Results: Waiting for research results.