$6.6M boost for USask’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence

Jun 28, 2023

Saskatchewan’s minister of agriculture, the Honourable David Marit, announced funding today on behalf of the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan of $6.6 million over five years for the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE).

The investment demonstrates the federal and provincial governments’ strong commitment to advancing the livestock and forage industries across Saskatchewan and beyond, said centre director Dr. Scott Wright (PhD).

“We are grateful to both levels of government for providing this critical funding,” said Wright.

“It will enable us to do our part and further leverage this funding to grow capacity in these sectors through the dynamic and innovative integrated research, education, and outreach conducted at our centre by students and university faculty scientists. In addition, we are building a solid, science-based staff to enhance research, teaching, and industry engagement.”

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Video: 2026 T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science - Dan Weary

T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science: "Using science to assess and improve the welfare of dairy cattle"

Dan Weary is a Professor at the University of British Columbia. Dan did his BSc and MSc at McGill and Doctorate at Oxford before co-founding UBC’s Animal Welfare Program where he now co-directs this active research group. His research focuses on understanding the perspectives of animals and applying these insights to develop methods of assessing animal welfare and improving the lives of animals. His work has helped drive changes in practices (including the adoption of higher milk rations for calves and pain management for disbudding) and housing methods (including the adoption of social housing for pre-weaned calves). He also studies cow comfort and lameness, social interactions among cows, and interactions between cows, human handlers and technologies like automated millking systems that are increasingly used on farms. His presentation will outline key questions in cattle welfare, highlight recent UBC research addressing them, and showcase innovative methods for improving the lives of cattle and their caretakers.