Research

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In Progress

Preventing and controlling foot rot

There is currently one vaccine available for foot rot in Canada. If successful, this project will provide both feedlot and cow-calf producers with an effective means to prevent foot rot in their herds.

Started: 2023

Animal Health and Welfare

IN PROGRESS

Corn intercropping strategies for extended winter grazing

Background There are many economic benefits to extending grazing season on cow calf operations. Swathgrazing, ...

Started: 2023

Feed Grains

IN PROGRESS

Can the rumen microbiome be manipulated to reduce methane?

This is relatively early-stage research, but if successful, would show proof of concept for rumen microbial manipulation to reduce methane emissions.

Started: 2022

Environment

IN PROGRESS

Quantifying production efficiency with precision grazing

Can cow/calf production efficiency be explained by maternal habitat selection and dietary composition in diverse pastures?

Started: 2022

Animal Health and Welfare Pasture Management

IN PROGRESS

How effective are current scours vaccines? Phase 1

This team will examine whether the pathogens that are causing scours in Western Canada are the same pathogens that the vaccines were designed to protect against.

Started: 2022

Animal Health and Welfare

IN PROGRESS

Evaluating antimicrobial peptides for animal pathogens and forecasting resistance

This project is early-stage research, which if successful, outlines a methodology to discover and optimize AMPs to specific bacteria or pathogens of concern to the beef industry.

Started: 2022

Animal Health and Welfare

IN PROGRESS

Scratching the Surface: What is making my cattle itchy?

This project will determine what factors are most likely contributing to itchy cattle in the absence of obvious parasite involvement.

Started: 2022

Animal Health and Welfare

IN PROGRESS

Diving deep into liver abscess development

The combination of genomic and metabolic data from both bacteria and animals will provide insights into how liver abscesses develop, help identify vaccine or drug development targets, and potentially contribute to better diagnostic techniques.

Started: 2022

Animal Health and Welfare

IN PROGRESS

Maximizing feed barley yield while minimizing lodging

This project will help to determine whether specific barley genetics respond more favourably to PGRs and whether PGR application can be streamlined to reduce sprayer passes.

Started: 2022

Feed Grains

IN PROGRESS

Long-term cost:benefit of including forages in cropping rotations

Integrating forages into crop rotations can have many benefits such as weed and disease control, increasing productivity, and improvements in soil quality; but the short-term loss of land used to produce more valuable crops can make this management practice seem uneconomical.

Started: 2022

Forage

IN PROGRESS

Investigating epigenetic effects of canola fat supplementation

This project builds on and further examines the previous research in this area of supplementation with fat from canola seed.

Started: 2021

Feed Grains Genetics and Breeding

IN PROGRESS

Revitalizing old pastures

This project will shed more light on pasture rejuvenation techniques and may result in lower risk solutions to improving the quality of forage stands.

Started: 2021

Pasture Management

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Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab

ABP is pleased to be leading a project that will benefit Alberta’s beef, forage, and cropping sectors through collaboration, innovation, and research.

In July 2022, The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Then Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced the expansion of Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program, including an initiative led by ABP.

Producer participants (beef, forage, cropping) in the AALL are working directly with researchers to co-develop beneficial management practices (BMPs) to improve productivity, profitability while having a positive impact on carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions.

Information from this project will help to ensure that climate focused policy solutions are practical and provide benefits for producers by providing data from real-world situations.

Key focus areas for BMP development include cropping systems and crop rotations, land use change/transitions, grazing management, livestock feeding, nutrient management, and optimizing carbon storage.
AALL is examining barriers and incentives to adoption, performing cost of production analyses, developing extension materials/events, facilitating peer to peer networking, learning and mentorship opportunities, and creating decision-making tools for producers.

Learn More - Visit agrisystemsll.ca

There’s lots of opportunity for producers if they’ve been thinking about trying something but are not sure where to start. That’s where our researchers and their expertise can really fine-tune that and set them up for success right out of the gate.

Karin Schmid, Beef Production and Extension Lead, Alberta Beef Producers

National Research Strategy

The Five-Year Canadian Beef Research and Technology Transfer Strategy aims to enhance national coordination of beef research priorities, funding, and technology transfer efforts. It focuses on increasing productivity, reducing production costs, and promoting sustainable practices to support industry competitiveness. The strategy also emphasizes improving beef quality and safety, while fostering innovation and environmental stewardship.

National Research Strategy

Beef Cattle Research Council

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is Canada’s national industry-led funding agency for beef, cattle and forage research. The BCRC’s mandate is to determine research and development priorities for the Canadian beef cattle industry and to administer Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off funds allocated to research.

The BCRC hosts an incredible resource library, including free interactive calculators, and the latest in production research.

Visit the BCRC

Agriculture Funding Consortium

Alberta Beef Producers participates in the Agriculture Funding Consortium (AFC), which is a collaborative body of agricultural organizations. AFC provides coordinated funding for research and innovation in Western Canada’s agriculture and food industry. It aims to support sustainability, diversification, and long-term growth by stimulating private and public sector participation. Each member organization within the AFC establishes its own research priorities and investment mandates.

Agriculture Funding Consortium

Research

ABP's Research Committee encourages practical, applied research - enhancing the competitiveness of Alberta beef producers.

Preventing and controlling foot rot

Corn intercropping strategies for extended winter grazing

Can the rumen microbiome be manipulated to reduce methane?

Quantifying production efficiency with precision grazing

How effective are current scours vaccines? Phase 1

Evaluating antimicrobial peptides for animal pathogens and forecasting resistance

Scratching the Surface: What is making my cattle itchy?

Diving deep into liver abscess development

Maximizing feed barley yield while minimizing lodging

Long-term cost:benefit of including forages in cropping rotations

Investigating epigenetic effects of canola fat supplementation

Revitalizing old pastures

Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab

National Research Strategy

Beef Cattle Research Council

Agriculture Funding Consortium