Agriculture & Agri-food

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) causes significant economic losses in both the beef and dairy industries. Although there are many factors contributing to BRD, the bacteria that are largely responsible for the disease share a common feature that is our target for developing effective vaccines.  This project is focused on developing effective preventative measures using novel […]

The health of honey bees has been declining over the past decade, with Canadian beekeepers losing more than a quarter of their colonies each winter since 2006-07. The high colony losses, coupled with the possible loss of access to replacement sources, pose a serious threat to the productivity of major Canadian agri-food industries and jeopardize

To keep pace with increased global demand for wheat, new technologies must be developed and deployed to accelerate and improve the efficiency of selection. The wheat DNA sequence holds the key to genetic improvements that will allow growers to meet the increasing demands for high quality food and feed produced in an environmentally sensitive, sustainable,

Bees play a major role in agriculture yet have been under decline. Major colony losses are largely attributed to bee-specific infectious diseases and even though some diseases can be controlled using chemical pesticides, many of the bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mites responsible are finding ways to resist these. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the combination

The two most common and costly diseases in commercial pig production in Canada are Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases (PCVAD) and Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS). Together, they cost the Canadian pig industry $100 million in losses every year. This project seeks to provide new diagnostic tools to select for pigs that are genetically less

Genetic improvement can help cattle producers meet growing production demand through the revolutionary advances made possible by completion of the bovine genome sequence. This project aims to deliver genomic technology to Canada’s beef breeders that will enable them to substantially increase their rates of genetic improvement, a key determinant of producer profitability and product quality.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a major food borne human pathogen causing disease worldwide. Cattle have been recognized as the primary reservoir for this pathogen. Healthy cattle (non-shedders) transiently host E. coli O157:H7 in their gastrointestinal tract, with the bacteria mainly residing in the rectum of the large intestine. Transmission of this pathogen among cattle and

Comminuted meat products such as ground beef can contain meat from many animals making it difficult to identify the specific origin of products through the production chain. This project seeks to utilize the power of genomics to employ DNA verification mechanisms to trace animal origination in comminuted meat products. Project success could result in a

Sow longevity (lifetime production) and efficiency are two of the most important economic drivers of profitability for pork producers. Genetic improvement of sow feed intake, efficiency and longevity is possible due to the development of genomic tools like the 60K Porcine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) chip, opening new opportunities to examine the underlying genetics for

Traditional genetic approaches have been effectively used by the swine industry to enhance traits such as meat production, leanness, and reproductive traits. However, little progress has been made on improving animal health by selective breeding despite susceptibility to specific pathogens having a significant genetic component. Genomics offers the potential to identify new tools that can