Why is this research important for Alberta ag?
Dairy cows are unique in their ability to utilize the digestible nutrients from low-quality forages and convert them into high-quality milk for human consumption. The rate and extent of forage digestibility in the dairy cow are lower than those of concentrates which limits feed intake and performance of dairy cows. Forage intake also helps avoid concentrate related metabolic dysfunctions and thus is important for maintaining dairy cow health. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance forage digestibility for improved milk production and composition.
This project will use microbiome-based methods to target the efficient digestion of forages. It will lead to the development of new technologies and practices for optimizing farm productivity by improved dairy cattle nutrition and will have a high potential to naturally modulate milk composition and improve its quality and value, including increasing the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids to soften butter.
What benefits can producers expect from this research?
The development of this technology will have a substantial beneficial impact on the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of milk production by reducing feed costs, addressing animal health issues associated with high grain use in dairy production, generating milk with a healthier fatty acid profile, increasing demand and value of underutilized forages, enhancing carbon sequestration, and reducing manure production in cattle operations.
How will these research findings reach producers on-farm?
Findings will be shared with industry through industrial and research events like dairy conferences, Dairy Farmers of Canada annual general meetings, Western Canadian Dairy seminars, Canadian Nutrition Society Conference, Canadian Society of Microbiology, and the American Society of Microbiology.
Results will also be shared in industry magazines, popular press, or newsletters like Progressive Dairy, Dairy Farmers of Canada, and American Dairymen magazine.
Findings will be published to scientific journals like Journal of Animal Science, PLOS One, Microbiome, Bioresource Technology, and Animal Feed Science Technology.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.