Past Events

The objective of this dissertation was to identify different management and nutritional factors that help to im-prove weaning success of dairy calves fed higher levels of milk. The first study was focused on comparing the effects of two gradual weaning programs when calves were fed two levels of milk on feed consumption, growth, and health. In general, the two gradual weaning programs resulted in similar performance and health outcomes, while both milk level treatments resulted in similar feed intakes and performance postweaning.

The Animal Biosciences Graduate Student Council invites you to participate in a FREE Spring Hobbie Series. This event will consist of three guided workshops, each building off the last activity. However, you may choose to attend only the ones that interest you!  Spring Hobbie Series Line-up:  1st Event: June 2nd at 12:30 PM 

MAY Installment of the 2021 ‘Virtual’ Nutrition Seminar Series, hosted by the Centre for Nutrition Modelling (Animal Biosciences Department). Each month in 2021 a different lab within the Nutrition group will share their exciting new research in a dynamic virtual manner. Please feel free to forward these seminar invites to industry partners or others who may be interested. In May we bring you: Application of modelling to solve animal production system problems   Ellis Lab

The welfare of pigs during transport depends on many factors, but trailer design plays a key role in transport-related stress. Pot-belly trailers are commonly used for swine transportation in Canada but are criticized because of steep internal ramps causing difficulties during loading/unloading, and poor internal microclimate conditions. This results in a greater proportion of dead-on-arrivals and fatigued pigs compared to trailers using flat-deck designs.

The effects of individual amino acid infusions, formulated from each cow’s blood amino acid profile, on milk protein production were studied in twelve lactating Holstein cows fed a total mixed ration with 15.4% crude protein. Treatments were jugular infusions of either 0.9% saline (SAL), limiting amino acids according to the NRC (NRCT), or limiting amino acids according to the blood profile (BT) in a Latin square design for three, 10 d periods where milk and blood samples were collected. NRCT and BT reduced milk

This exciting virtual experience will highlight all The Arboretum at the University of Guelph has to offer. Did you know it isn't just a beautiful space to relax it is also used for teaching, conservation, and research? The event will include a short program presentation on environment related programs, a video tour of The Arboretum at the University of Guelph, and a live Q&A with an Arboretum Naturalist.

The overall objective of this thesis research was to determine if replacing switchgrass (SG) hay for wheat straw (WS) in moderate or high starch lactating dairy rations would affect feed intake, milk pro-duction, as well as feeding and sorting behavior. In the first study, mid-lactation cows were fed a mod-erately high starch diet with the direct substitution of either SG hay or WS. It was determined that SG hay depressed dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, and protein yield, but did not influence milk fat or protein percent.

This thesis is an investigation on the effects of replacing wheat straw with switchgrass in the ration of lactating Holstein cows on production and health. In two studies, mid-lactation Holstein cows were tested on various dietary rations, and yield, production components, and blood metabolites were measured. In study 1, n=24 cows were assigned a ration containing either switchgrass or straw for a 21-d period in a cross-over design.

Alkaline phosphatases (AP), a group of glycoproteins attached on the apical mucosal membrane of the gut, are crucial for maintaining gut microbiome, health, and whole-body homeostasis. The endogenous AP digestive capacity is contributed by intestinal-type AP (IAP) isoforms and/or tissue-nonspecific AP (TNAP) isoforms in the porcine intestine. This research was conducted to elucidate the effects of in-feed therapeutic antibiotic Aureomycin on growth performances, gut permeability, intestinal AP functionality and genomic determinants of the AP isoforms in weanling pigs.