Diverse USask livestock research projects receive government support

Twenty-one livestock-focused research projects have received a total of more than $5.18 million dollars in support from the provincial and federal governments through the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF). 

“USask researchers are exploring diverse areas of research with the support of government and industry partners,” said USask Vice-President Research Dr. Baljit Singh (PhD). “These projects are tremendous examples as to how USask is continuing to support Saskatchewan’s agri-food producers in a time where agricultural production is more important than ever for food security across the globe.” 

The ADF is supported through the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP), an investment of $3.5 billion over five years from federal, provincial and territorial governments with the goal of supporting the agri-food and agri-product sectors across Canada. The Sustainable CAP includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment for programs designed by provinces and territories that is cost-shared 60 per cent by the federal government and 40 per cent by provincial/territorial governments. 

For this part of the 2025 ADF, 30 projects from five institutions were awarded a total of $6,941,641 – which means USask’s 21 projects and more than $5 million in support account for more than two-thirds of the ADF support. 

From animal vaccines to genomic tools to feed strategies and more, the ADF supports a myriad of research across disciplines at USask.  

“USask researchers have a proven record of delivering on both the basic and applied science needed for a sustainable future,” said Dr. Angela Bedard-Haughn (PhD), dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at USask. “This important funding through the ADF supports the essential and interdisciplinary research that strengthens Saskatchewan’s agricultural leadership in Canada and around the world.” 

Projects that received funding through the 2025 livestock and forage ADF include research being conducted by USask faculty associated with the Colleges of Agriculture and Bioresources, Pharmacy and Nutrition, Engineering, and Medicine, as well as the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, and the Global Institute for Food Security.  

ADF projects can also receive funding through industry partners. Select USask projects received additional support from valuable industry partners in the agricultural and agri-food industries including Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission, BC Dairy, Alberta Milk, SaskMilk, and Dairy Farmers of Manitoba. 

The following University of Saskatchewan (USask) livestock and forage research projects received funding from the 2025 Agriculture Development Fund: 

• Dr. Meena Sakharkar (PhD), College of Pharmacy and Nutrition – Evaluation of hybrid drugs for resistant bacterial mastitis infections – $300,000 
• Dr. Cheryl Waldner (DVM, PhD), Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) – Impact of micronutrient supplementation on response to vaccination in feeder calves – $167,898 – Co-funded by Saskatchewan Cattleman’s Association 
• Dr. Vanessa Cowan (DVM, PhD), WCVM – Effect of isoflavone supplementation on hemodynamic responses of ergot-exposed cattle – $274,000 
• Dr. Sarah Wood (DVM, PhD), WCVM – Safety and efficacy of overwinter miticide treatments for honey bee colonies in Western Canada – $306,500 
• Dr. Martin Reaney (PhD), College of Agriculture and Bioresources – Enhancing Dairy and Egg Lipids: A Comparative Study on the Impact of Barley, Wheat, and Canola Phospholipids – $106,250 – Co-funded by BC Dairy, Alberta Milk, SaskMilk and Dairy Farmers of Manitoba 
• Tate Cao, College of Engineering – Increasing Livestock Operation Efficiency through automated Weight Estimation and Reporting via Computer Vision and Machine Learning – $60,000 
• Dr. Matheus Costa (DVM, PhD), WCVM – Towards controlling Ear-tip necrosis in pigs – $120,000 
• Dr. Matheus Costa (DVM, PhD), WCVM – Lab to farm: developing a Streptococcus zooepidemicus vaccine into a practical tool – $120,000 
• Dr. Eric Lamb (PhD), College of Agriculture and Bioresources – Closing Litter Gaps in Saskatchewan Rangeland Reference Data – $23,470 – Co-funded by Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association 
• Dr. Eric Lamb (PhD), College of Agriculture and Bioresources – Efficacy of fire and herbicide for woody plant control in rangelands – $125,300 
• Dr. Peiqiang Yu (PhD), College of Agriculture and Bioresources – Effects of Organic Acids on Mitigating Enteric Methane Emission by Improving Energy Efficiency in Lactating Dairy Cows – $250,500 
• Dr. Lynn Weber (PhD), WCVM – Experiential discovery and learning through research in food animal veterinary medicine – $375,000 
• Dr. Terry Fonstad (PhD), College of Engineering – Roller Compacted Concrete as a Liner of Livestock Pens to Protect Groundwater. Phase 2: Effect of Construction – $489,718 
• Dr. Bart Lardner (PhD), College of Agriculture and Bioresources – Application of Genomic Tools for Commercial Beef Cattle Producers – $326,000 
• Dr. Angela Bedard-Haughn (PhD), College of Agriculture and Bioresources – Advancing Research, Teaching and Outreach Capacity in Animal Agriculture – $600,000 
• Dr. Diego Moya (DVM, PhD), WCVM – Characterization of behaviour and physiology traits related to chronicity and recovery of feedlot cattle with induced BRD – $60,022 – Co-funded by Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association 
• Dr. Aaron White (PhD), Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) – Testing E. coli virulence in chickens and development of an anti-E. coli vaccine – $123,000 
• Dr. Natacha Hogan (PhD), College of Agriculture and Bioresources – Improving hen health, welfare and productivity through novel yeast prebiotics – $256,000 
• Dr. Andrew Sharpe (PhD), Global Institute for Food Security – Resource development for a sustainable Timothy forage crop in Western Canada – $478,155 – Co-funded by Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission 
• Dr. Gregory Penner (PhD), College of Agriculture and Bioresources – Changes in weaning management of dairy calves: Are there benefits of weaning with high-quality forage? – $227,987 – Co-funded by BC Dairy, Alberta Milk, SaskMilk and Dairy Farmers of Manitoba 
• Dr. Volker Gerdts (DVM, PhD), VIDO – Enhancing Emergency Preparedness Using Process Analytical Tools (PAT) for Vaccine Manufacturing – $392,517