By Jeanine Moyer for AgInnovation Ontario
Source: AgInnovationOntario
Guelph – Natural selection has enabled all kinds of life forms to adapt to changing environments. Most recently, a University of Guelph professor has harnessed natural variation within the immune system to identify and breed immunity traits to find the healthiest animals.
Years of research has led Dr. Bonnie Mallard, professor and inventor of the High Immune Response (HIR) Technology and the Immunity+ Technology, to develop a testing method to identify animals with natural immunity and enhanced disease resistance.
Her methods have been tested, proven and patented for use in dairy cattle and now Dr. Mallard is applying her research to help solve one of the most harmful diseases in beef cattle – Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD).
“Breeding for naturally-occurring genetic immunity means we are selecting animals for their health,” says Dr. Mallard. “Healthier animals are happier animals, but our general research goal is to reduce the overall use of antibiotics associated with disease treatment.”
Dr. Mallard and her research team have been applying previously developed Immunity+ Technology, now available for the dairy cattle from Semex, to beef cattle. The research focuses on identifying animals with high immune response traits and breeding to enhance the desired immunity.
“While the animal’s overall health will improve, we’re targeting BRD, the most costly disease in Canada’s beef industry today,” says Dr. Mallard, explaining that an improved immune system will not only help animals ward off and naturally fight the disease, but animals will also respond better to vaccines, another boost for fighting BRD.
Extensive genetic and immunity testing continues and Dr. Mallard expects the HIR Technology testing method to be commercially available to beef farmers in a few years.
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