Why is this research important for Alberta ag?
This project will acquire information necessary to support development of new tools to manage Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) across the beef production chain using genomics. Such tools will help reduce antimicrobial use and improve social license. BRD is one of the most significant health problems in the beef industry, and despite advances in antimicrobials and vaccines, it remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality, with significant economic losses.
Researchers believe that animals that show symptoms of BRD have "omic" profiles that can be used to develop tools to enhance BRD identification, treatment, and management.
What benefits can producers expect from this research?
The beef industry will benefit from this information since the results will support a future, larger effort to develop tools to screen for resilient and susceptible animals to support targeted treatment, reduce antimicrobial use, and identify resilient animals for breeding. This will enhance industry competitiveness and reduce the impact of limiting diseases, resulting in increased public confidence in Canadian beef.
How will these research findings reach producers on-farm?
Once results are available, presentations will be made at industry conferences, workshops and field days, as well as via industry journals. Factsheets will also be created and distributed, as well as peer-reviewed journal articles.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.