Grant: Technology Access Centre

The Olds College Centre for Feed Efficiency in Livestock is focused on meeting the needs of the Canadian livestock industry by providing access to new technologies that increase competitiveness. Industry is faced with increased pressure to minimize environmental impacts while improving animal health and welfare, and food safety. One of the best ways to improve Canadian livestock in a sustainable manner is by increasing feed efficiency which will also reduce the environmental footprint of agricultural production. The positive impact on land, feed, and water resources, as well as reducing costs to the producer would be substantial and cumulative over subsequent generations of feed efficient animals. The following research and innovation services will be provided in support of enhanced productivity focused on feed efficiency and animal health: 1) specialized feed efficiency testing, 2) data interpretation, 3) carcass analysis, 4) behavioral assessment, 5) early disease detection, 6) breed variation, 7) correlation of feed efficiency with other economically relevant traits, and 8) animal health and welfare. Olds College has been engaged with livestock producers since 2002 in feed efficiency testing using Growsafe technology. We have the opportunity to help producers understand the connections and interpret the data to make evidence based decisions and informed breeding goals through technology demonstration and knowledge dissemination. The connection of applied research and expertise, made accessible to producers and industry associations, enhances the ability of the industry as a whole to meet new challenges and greater environmental stewardship while remaining competitive and productive.