Past Events

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.

Get ready for the APRIL 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.  In April we bring you: Tentative title: Integrating breeder and early life nutrition for enhanced poultry production  

Reasons that wildlife are brought to wildlife rehabilitation centres across Canada has not been documented from coast to coast. However, it is well-known that humans have a direct or indirect impact on wildlife. But just how pervasive are human impacts on wildlife across Canada? How have hunting and fishing activities affected wild birds in Ontario, specifically Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator)? And how can we diagnose some health issues in wild birds, specifically lead toxicity, given constraints of laboratory testing parameters?

The departmental meeting is open to all staff, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants/associates/technicians, students and visitors. Please join us to catch up on everything going on in ABSc!