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Christoph WandPosition/Title: OMAFA Livestock Sustainability Specialist; Adjunct Professor email: cwand@uoguelph.ca Phone: (519) 820 3150 Office: ANNU 253
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Livestock Sustainability Specialist – Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
Christoph was raised on a farm near Powassan, and received his Bachelor of Science (Nutritional Sciences) and Master of Science (Animal Science - Ruminant Nutrition) from the University of Guelph. He joined OMAFA in 1998 as the Beef Cattle and Sheep Nutritionist.
He has been part of OMAFA’s efforts toward sustainability through his involvement in the Environmental Farm Plan, and other funding and policy programs. His previous technical work in nutrition was focused on economic sustainability including labour reduction, feed and nutrient use efficiency, alternative forages, GHG mitigation and most recently value chains.
Christoph has represented OMAFA on several national and industry-led committees, including both the national beef and sheep value chain roundtables (VCRT), several research review and funding committees including those under the OMAFA/University of Guelph agreement and those led by producer organizations.
In 2014, he was appointed as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science recognizing his efforts in agroecology education at the Ontario Agriculture College and his activities in the Department. He began his most recent work assignment as Livestock Sustainability Specialist in August of 2014, and is based out of the Elora OMAFA office.
Christoph is the author of well over 100 Factsheets, press articles and infosheets to keep producers and industry up to date. The following is a partial list of various articles authored by Christoph regarding beef cattle and sheep previously, sustainability and other topics more recently. There are more available on the Ontario.ca website for your reference.
Christoph can be contacted via email: christoph.wand@ontario.ca or you can follow him on social media including LinkedIn to stay informed concerning news and updates that are occurring daily in the agricultural sector.
Livestock and Cropping Systems
Ontario Corn Fed Beef - Webinar Series: Sustainable Corn Production for Ontario’s Farmer/Feeder - 2022
https://ontariocornfedbeef.com/news-feed-live-webinar-series-4/
The ‘Long Game’ of creating More Forage After Row Crops - Fall Rye- Sept 2018
https://beefguelph.ca/uploads/assets/files/vbn0718%20Eng.pdf
Alternative Forages and Sample Wintering Rations for Beef Cows - October 2016
https://www.ontario.ca/page/alternative-forages-and-sample-wintering-rations-beef-cows
New & Improved Recipe for Extra Forage After Winter Wheat - July 2016
https://beefguelph.ca/uploads/assets/files/vbn0716rev.pdf
Meeting Mineral Requirements on Ontario Pastures - July 2009
https://beefguelph.ca/uploads/assets/files/vbn0709.pdf
Beef on Dairy Crosses
Beef prices soar as do prices even for dairy bull calves - 2025
https://farmersforum.com/beef-prices-soar-as-do-prices-even-for-dairy-bull-calves/
BEEF-ON-DAIRY CROSS-BREEDING: Fastest-growing new trend that this ag specialist has ever seen - Nelson Zandbergen 2025
Ontario Corn Fed Beef - Webinar Series: Beef on Dairy X’s – A Discussion on Production Management - 2022
https://ontariocornfedbeef.com/news-feed-live-webinar-series-2/
Sustainability
Silvopasture for Ontario - December 2023
https://www.ontario.ca/page/silvopasture-ontario
Regenerative Agriculture - December 2021
#12 - Regenerative Agriculture 1080p on Vimeo
Best practices for Keeping Your Livestock Contained - April 2021
https://www.ontario.ca/page/best-practices-keeping-your-livestock-contained
Dealing with Escaped Livestock in Your Community - April 2021
https://www.ontario.ca/page/dealing-escaped-livestock-your-community
Eastern Ontario Crop Conference - February 2017: Sustainable Livestock Need Sustainable Crops
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/sustainable-agriculture-christoph-wand-21/72199614
Renting Your Land Sustainably - January 2017
https://www.ontario.ca/page/renting-your-land-sustainably
New & Improved Recipe for Extra Forage After Winter Wheat - July 2016
https://beefguelph.ca/uploads/assets/files/vbn0716rev.pdf
Managing Outdoor Confinement Areas and Livestock Yards - February 2011
https://www.ontario.ca/page/managing-outdoor-confinement-areas-and-livestock-yards
Beef Nutrition & Management
Automated Feed Pushers: A Bunk Management Tool - July 2022
https://beefguelph.ca/uploads/assets/files/vbn0722%20Eng.pdf
Ontario Corn Fed Beef - Webinar Series: Best Practices for Starting Cattle on Feed - 2022
https://ontariocornfedbeef.com/news-feed-live-webinar-series-1/
Ontario Corn Fed Beef -Webinar Series: Cattle Feeding Risk Management - 2022
https://ontariocornfedbeef.com/news-feed-live-webinar-series-5/
Becoming a Preferred Tenant for Grazing Rented Farms - January 2017
https://beefguelph.ca/uploads/assets/files/vbn0117.pdf
Fence-Line and TMR Feeding Systems for Beef Cows - May 2015
https://www.ontario.ca/page/fence-line-and-tmr-feeding-systems-beef-cows
Trace Mineral Supplementation at Pasture: Cattle Performance on Different TM Sources - Feb 2012
https://beefguelph.ca/uploads/assets/files/vbn0212.pdf
Evaluation of Alternative Selenium Supplementation Strategies for Cattle on Ontario Pastures - Research Lead- 2012
Cutting Cow Feed Costs - Feb 2011
https://beefguelph.ca/uploads/assets/files/vbn0211.pdf
Influence of a rubber-topped feedlot slat on animal performance, welfare, and economic returns - Research Lead- 2010
Replacing Water with Clean Snow for Ewes and Beef Cows - November 2009
https://www.ontario.ca/page/replacing-water-clean-snow-ewes-and-beef-cows
Cold Stress in Cows - January 2007
https://www.ontario.ca/page/cold-stress-cows
Coping with Hay Shortages in Beef Cow Wintering Rations - October 2007
https://www.ontario.ca/page/coping-hay-shortages-beef-cow-wintering-rations
Dairy Housing & Management
Field Crop News: Manure Monday More on Composting Bedded Pack Barns- 2023
https://www.manuremanager.com/manure-mondays-composting-bedded-pack-barns/
Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (Digital): Dairy Pack Barns by the Numbers- 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGRi3zXdhvU
Sheep Nutrition & Management
Ewe Lamb Nutrition - January 2023
https://files.ontario.ca/omafra-ewe-lamb-nutrition-23-009-en-2023-06-08.pdf
Livestock Guardian Dogs Care - March 2022
https://www.ontario.ca/document/livestock-guardian-dogs
Feeding Systems for Sheep - February 2022
https://www.ontario.ca/page/feeding-systems-sheep
Artificial Rearing of Lambs - August 2021
https://www.ontario.ca/page/artificial-rearing-lambs
Using Sheep Behaviour to Your Advantage When Designing Handling Facilities - September 2014
https://www.ontario.ca/page/using-sheep-behaviour-your-advantage-when-designing-handling-facilities
Nutrition and Feeding Systems for Market Lamb Finishing - August 2014
https://www.ontario.ca/page/nutrition-and-feeding-systems-market-lamb-finishing
Shearing Facility Design and Shearing in Ontario - August 2014
https://www.ontario.ca/page/shearing-facility-design-and-shearing-ontario
Low Labour Feeding Systems and Bunk Design for Sheep - July 2014
https://www.ontario.ca/page/low-labour-feeding-systems-and-bunk-design-sheep
Total Mixed Ration (TMR) Use in Ewe Flock - June 2014
https://www.ontario.ca/page/total-mixed-ration-use-ewe-flock
Feeding Corn Silage to Sheep - June 2014
https://www.ontario.ca/page/feeding-corn-silage-sheep
Great Lakes Dairy Sheep Symposium - November 2007
- Nutrient Recommendations for Ewe Lambs Based on National Research Council (NRC) Pg 29
- Dairy Sheep Nutrient Recommendations Based on National Research Council (NRC) Pg 31
- Mineral Recommendations for Sheep Based on National Research Council (NRC) Pg 34
Podcasts
Sheep Flock Talk - April 9th 2025
- Livestock Sustainability with Christoph Wand https://www.ontariosheep.org/communications/flock-talk-podcast/
We’ve got the beef! - February 4th 2023
- Bunk Management in the Feedlot https://www.buzzsprout.com/2094512
The Back 40 Podcast - July 26th 2022
- The Search for Sustainability with Christoph Wand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCi-TSWFsmM&list=PL2klRsEqb5UYX8VTXWrDROn9DrTMPq_Yl&index=62
RealAgriculture - September 10th 2021
- Sustainability of livestock agriculture under scrutiny https://www.realagriculture.com/2021/09/sustainability-of-livestock-agriculture-under-scrutiny/