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DAIRY RESEARCH CLUSTER COMMUNICATIONS AND CONSULTATION WORKSHOP Report 2011

| Montreal November 16-17, 2011

Shaping a Dairy Research Agenda for 2013 – 2018

Dairy Farmers of Canada

Les Producteurs laitiers du Canada

Canadian DairyCommission

Commissioncanadienne du lait

SPONSORS:

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Dairy Farmers of Canada, December 2011

Extracts from this document may be reproduced for individual use without permission provided the source is fully acknowledged.

© Dairy Farmers of Canada, 2011

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1 Introduction 1

PART 2 Participant Feedback and Observations on the Existing Research Agenda 3

PART 3 Building Our Dairy Research Agenda: Participant Feedback and Recommendations 4

� Key Research Area 1: Animal health, animal welfare and reproduction 6 � Key Research Area 2: Environmental and socio-economic sustainability 8 � Key Research Area 3: Food Safety 10 � Key Research Area 4: Biosynthesis of milk and milk composition 11 � Key Research Area 5: Genetic improvement and genomics 13 � Key Research Area 6: Nutrition and “nutrigenomics” 15 � Key Research Area 7: Positioning of milk as an optimum source of nutrients 17 � Key Research Area 8: Macroeconomics aspects of supply management 18 � Additional considerations: Barriers to adoption of new practices 18

PART 4 Next Steps 19

DAIRY RESEARCH CLUSTER COMMUNICATIONS AND CONSULTATION WORKSHOP – Report 2011 Montreal November 16-17, 2011

Shaping a Dairy Research Agenda for 2013 – 2018

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INTRODUCTION

The Dairy Research Cluster is part of the Canadian Agri-Science Clusters Initiative of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Growing Forward Policy Framework. Funding for the Dairy Research Cluster comes from the Government of Canada, the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC).

The Dairy Research Cluster’s research focuses on creation of knowledge related to the health bene!ts associated with milk and dairy products, animal health and welfare, dairy cattle longevity, sustainable agro-management practices and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation strategies, and other research to support and maintain a viable, healthy and pro!table dairy sector in Canada. The program funding of the !rst Dairy Research Cluster, which was launched 2010, will end in March 2013.

The Dairy Research Cluster Communications and Consultation Workshop was held in Montreal, Quebec, on November 16 and 17, 2011, to review progress on research projects underway and identify key research areas for the next funding period (2013 to 2018).

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Following presentations on the exciting and important research projects that have been initiated under the !rst tranche of the Dairy Research Cluster, participants had the opportunity to provide their observations on the existing research agenda.

The key strengths of the program were considered to be the high quality of the researchers and the research results that are emerging; the high level of collaboration and networking across disciplines and regions that is reducing duplication of e"orts and maximizing knowledge exchange; and that there is an appropriate balance among the research areas as well as a good mixture of long-horizon and short-turnaround projects. Participants also noted that, as the research topics are driven by producers, the emerging results are applicable and meaningful to the industry. Signi!cant emerging results include indications that improved production practices/e#ciencies and environmental bene!ts are mutually achievable.

Key gaps and challenges noted by participants included knowledge translation/transfer that moves results from the lab to the farm; communication of results to stakeholders and consumers; and speci!c research areas such as surface water practices and protection, genetics, reproduction/fertility challenges, farm structures and feed e#ciency.

Participants identi!ed a number of emerging opportunities, including:

application.

Suggestions related to the “next generation” of research included:

within the cluster.

transfer strategies and research, for example how to apply lifecycle assessment recommendations.

disease, environmental management, etc.).

Participant Feedback and Observations on the Existing Research Agenda

PART 2

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Building Our Dairy Research Agenda: Participant Feedback and Recommendations

PART 3

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Seven key research areas for the next Dairy Research Cluster (2013 to 2018) were proposed for the consideration of participants. To inform development of the research agenda, participants identi!ed research topics and strategies for each research area.

Participants generally supported the proposed key research areas as presented, with a few exceptions that are noted within each key research area, and suggested the addition of two new key research areas.

Participants noted a number of overarching issues that are applicable to all proposed research areas. These include:

� All research undertaken through the Dairy Research Cluster must bene!t dairy producers in some way.

� Look at other sources/programs for research funds, including processors, rather than using funds from the Dairy Research Cluster (thereby maximizing our available research funds). For example, there are other funders working on antimicrobial resistance.

� Ensure coordination with other agricultural research clusters that have a dairy component or shared issues, such as the Organic Research Cluster

� Continue to support the research areas/progress made over the past !ve years.

Nutrition and “nutrigenomics”

Positioning milk as a sustainable source of nutrients

Environmental & socio-economic sustainability

Animal health, animal

welfare & reproduction

Food Safety

Biosynthesis of milk and milk composition

Genetic improvement and genomics


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� Solutions need to be in the Canadian context (e.g., GHG emission solutions should not reduce fat content). However, it is also important to review research results of other jurisdictions to reduce duplication.

� Ensure holistic and integrated approaches and coordination when topics and issues cross research areas of the Dairy Research Cluster (e.g., lameness is part of animal health and welfare and also within genetic improvement and genomics; there are animal health and welfare implications related to GHG reduction practices; genetics and animal behaviour are a"ected by diet changes, etc.).

� Knowledge translation/transfer and communication: � Need to get the knowledge from the research lab to the farmyard. � Each research project under the Dairy Research Cluster should have

a portion of its funding dedicated to knowledge translation and/or communication.

� Coordination, management and translation of research and emerging knowledge are needed.

� A funded communication strategy should be developed as part of the Dairy Research Cluster; research may also be needed to identify e"ective communication vehicles and messages.

� There are various publics/audiences with di"erent expectations and needs that should be considered.

� Create research chairs to attract expertise in speci!c areas (e.g., animal housing design).

� The wealth of data being generated through the project of the Dairy Research Cluster will need to be managed to ensure e"ective control, availability and access.

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Key Research Area 1: Animal health, animal welfare and reproduction

Topics and issues for investigation: � Continue to address ongoing issues related to incidence of mastitis,

lameness and reproductive issues (use of Ovsync programs, heat detection).

� Focus on optimizing lifetime productivity per cow (health, longevity, reproduction).

� Expand research focus from only the milking cow to also include the heifer from birth to calving, including long-term impacts on fetus of certain stressors.

� Decision-making criteria related to culling of animals from the herd, as well as market, transport, and slaughter issues.

� New and emerging technologies (e.g., robotic milking) and their impact on milk quantity and quality and behaviour and welfare implications.

� Determining optimal production per cow.

� Integrated, holistic approaches to managing nutrition, fertility and production.

� Housing alternatives – involve engineers in design of new buildings and/or conversions to existing structures.

� Antimicrobial resistance/antimicrobial use: Develop better understanding of alternative treatments to reduce reliance on antibiotics.

� Development of indicators of the health and welfare of animals to be able to measure those elements and their economic impacts (e.g., improved health and welfare leads to increased animal longevity).


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� Consumer research:Identify the range of public concerns related to animal health and welfare, to support development of a proactive strategy to anticipate and address issues. Investigate whether consumers are willing to pay more for products in support of improved animal welfare and environmental practices.

� Genetics:Genetic evolution of the cow.Nutrition.Genetic tools to support all areas, in particular health and reproduction.Cross-breeding for low input maintenance cow.Matching environment and management practices to genetic makeup of cow.

Additional/general observations and advice related to this research area: � Research needs to provide answers to help producers stay sustainable

and pro!table.

� Align practices to improve animal welfare with practices to improve production: will lead to better uptake by producers.

� Animal health and welfare issues are important from both production e#ciency and public perception perspectives. Need to identify what is currently being done (where improvements have already been made) and what/how new knowledge is being applied.

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Key Research Area 2: Environmental and socio-economic sustainability

Topics and issues for investigation: � Continue focus on lifecycle assessment, life-time productivity and

longevity.Cow productivity appears to be the best GHG emission mitigation strategy.

� Examine challenge of simultaneously addressing environmental priorities while ensuring producer pro!tability and maintaining dairy product quality.

carbon footprint, improving energy conservation, protecting surface water, etc. Role of automation (milking, calf feeders, etc.) in increasing production e#ciency.

� Identi!cation of best practices to ensure safe working conditions and operations on the farm. (However, see note below in additional/general observations section.)

� Explore use of marginal lands for agricultural (e.g., for pasture) and implications of grazing for ensuring high quality feeding.

� Emerging contaminants, drug residues, etc., in water sources.

� Look at the various animal health, animal welfare, and environmental practices (e.g., housing, manure management, feeding, etc.) in use on a sampling of farms in order to develop a clear understanding of practices and GHG impacts.


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Additional/general observations and advice related to this research area: � The outcomes of the current lifecycle assessment research will point to

knowledge gaps and priority areas for further investigation.

� The economic implications of production practices and their ability to be applied at the farm level need to be considered:

Producers need to see the economic bene!t of applying recommended practices.Economic analysis should be included as part of all research projects. Priority should be given to research projects that will provide economic bene!t to producers.

� Inclusion of research related to dairy farm labour pool and worker health and safety may not be appropriate, as there are other resources available to address these issues.

Regarding future requirements and availability of labour, there may be opportunity to involve Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC).There are existing standards and workplace safety requirements.

� The lifecycle assessment may be more valuable to the industry as a whole than to individual producers; need to look at producing data applicable to the individual farm level.

� The responsibility of automation equipment manufacturers for funding research on equipment use needs to be explored.

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� Consistent messaging is important to explain lifecycle assessment and bene!ts of the approach for producers.

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Key Research Area 3: Food Safety

Topics and issues for investigation: � Improving traceability:

Of calves during transport.Of the tag system.Evaluating economic impact of traceability system (cost vs. bene!t).

� Reducing food safety risks related to hand-over from transport to plant (hand-over from farm to transport is accounted for).

� Antibiotic residues:Development of better and more rapid testing methods. However, it was noted that there is research in this area under other auspices.

� Drug use:

� Surveillance and management strategies for emerging pathogens.

�Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP); link between Johne’s and Crohn’s diseases.Shiga Toxin producing e.coli (STEC).Listeria monocytogenes.

Additional/general observations and advice related to this research area: � The Canadian Quality Milk (CQM) is a key strength of the industry; we should

increase promotion (awareness) of the program to consumers.

� Need increased participation of processors in the CQM program and dealing with consumer pressures.

� Science is critical to our ability to maintain credibility on food safety. Collaboration among dairy researchers and medical researchers is important.

� Food safety issues are closely linked to animal health issues and are for a large part

area, or should it be about promoting best management practices?


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Key Research Area 4: Biosynthesis of milk and milk composition

Topics and issues for investigation: �

� Consistent production (fat content, lactoferrin, minerals, etc.); the same product is produced on each farm as well as consistently within the same farm.

� Farm practices (e.g., feeding) that enhance (or are detrimental to) the nutritional value and processing characteristics of milk.

� The environmental and animal health e"ects of diets chosen to in$uence milk composition.

� Genetic applications to produce milk with desired attributes or for niche markets, such as milk with medical value and applications, higher fat content, etc.

� Identify the positive and negative environmental e"ects of altering milk composition to improve processing (e.g., cheese making) or products.

� Study the impact of managing the fat/protein ratio on the !nal product quality.

� Economic value and processes involved to extract components from surplus milk.

�mammary gland; would allow research project to evolve based on emerging results.

� Identi!cation and better understanding of bioactive components of milk.

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Additional/general observations and advice related to this research area: � A better understanding of biosynthesis would have production bene!ts and

nutritious and healthful; these attributes may be lost if we try to manipulate nature.

� Involve processors in the identi!cation of research priorities and develop joint funding arrangements.

� Changing milk composition is of international interest; Canadian research in this area needs to be linked with international research.

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Key Research Area 5: Genetic improvement and genomics

Topics and issues for investigation: � Genomics and proteomics related to:

Animal health: � Longevity and lifetime productivity. � Reproduction/fertility. � Resistance to production-limiting diseases. � Improved mobility/decreased lameness. � Conformation traits for pure breeds and any linkages to animal

health and welfare issues (lameness, mastitis). � Immune response. � Markers of good and poor health for animal selection.

Production: � Feed e#ciency. � Lactation persistency. �

Product: � Fat content of milk.

� Potential of crossbreeding for improving health and longevity.

� Increased genotyping to identify speci!c genes.

� Establish a gene databank.

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� Gene expression: Impact of stressors, feed, and production practices on how the gene is expressed.Impact of fetal programming on gene expression.

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Additional/general observations and advice related to this research area: � Genetic improvement is a critical and powerful tool to improve all of the

priority areas. Need to identify how this can be incorporated in areas of mutual interests to that duplication can be avoided and administrative e#ciencies gained.

� Need to involve stakeholders, such as the breed associations, as well as DairyGen Council, to help ensure uptake of research results.

�research and what genomics has to o"er for improving production, longevity, reducing disease, etc.

It was suggested that a research chair in dairy genomics be established.

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� Genetics research requires long-term commitment and results horizons, as well as capacity development and signi!cant data collection.

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Key Research Area 6: Nutrition and “nutrigenomics”

Topics and issues for investigation: � Feed harvest and storage practices and their impact on milk quality.

� Nutrient metabolism and ruminal fermentation.

� Increasing feed e#ciency by improving digestibility of dietary components.

� Impact of improved feed e#ciency on GHG emissions and other environmental considerations.

� Feeds that reduce GHG emissions.

� E"ects of nutrition on immunity and gut function.

� E"ects of nutrition on gene expression.

� Precision farming (feed preparations to suit the needs of individual animals).

� Guidelines for improved feed e#ciency.

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� How to capitalize on opportunity feeds; reducing the competition between feeds that could be used for human consumption and those that can be used for animal feed; alternative feeds/by-products.

� Experiential/anecdotal data collection on what works/what doesn’t work on the farm level.

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Additional/general observations and advice related to this research area: � Integrate the four suggested research topics under this research area into other

key research areas.

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� Expertise in this area tends to be narrow; so collaborative teams are essential. Opportunity for collaboration among rumen microbiologists, animal nutritionists and animal geneticists.

� Again, this type of research requires long-term commitment and recognition of long-term results horizons. Ke

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Key Research Area 7: Positioning of milk as an optimum source of nutrients

Topics and issues for investigation: � Use of by-products not consumable by humans.

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� Analysis of reasons why consumers are not drinking more milk.

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� Role of dairy in addressing major public health issues, such as obesity.

� E"ects of low fat milk on nutrient and other components of milk.

� Alternative feed sources, especially human feed by-products.

Additional/general observations and advice related to this research area: � The outcomes of the lifecycle assessment research should help direct

research needs of this area.

� This is marketing/advertising; but this message needs to be reinforced/supported by solid science.

� This may be a directive or a research outcome (for both the human health and sustainability pillars rather than a research priority.

� Communication of research results is critical; there is need for more e"ective communication about the value and nutrient density of dairy products.

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Key Research Area 8: Macroeconomics aspects of supply management

Topics and issues for investigation: � Research to demonstrate the economic performance and contribution of the

dairy sector within the supply management system.

� Look at farm business practices/models and how they di"er from other

� Market research on relative prices of milk.

� Understanding societal views of dairy farmers and dairy farming, such as animal welfare practices, environmental practices, etc.

Additional/general observations and advice related to this research area: � Use results of lifecycle assessment to enhance the evaluation of the socio-

economic impacts.

Participants also suggested the addition of another key research area:

Additional considerations: Barriers to adoption of new practices

Topics and issues for investigation: � Identi!cation of barriers to adoption of new practices by dairy producers.

Current system and its shortcomings.Producer pro!ling (assessing adaption patterns).How to engage dairy farm service providers, such as vets, feed companies, banks, agricultural colleges and other trainers.

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Additional/general observations and advice related to these considerations: � Research results will help improve knowledge transfer and uptake.


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The ideas, suggestions and comments that emerged over the course of the workshop will direct decisions on research priorities for the Dairy Research Cluster (2013 to 2018). The priorities will form the basis of a call for proposals for research and will support investment discussions with partners. Through the Dairy Research Cluster, investments in research on issues of concern to the dairy industry will contribute to maintaining sustainable and pro!table dairy farms today and into the future and to ensuring reasonably priced, high quality, nutritious and safe dairy products for the bene!t and enjoyment of all Canadians.

Next StepsPART 4

Dairy Farmers of Canada

Les Producteurs laitiers du Canada

Canadian DairyCommission

Commissioncanadienne du lait

SPONSORS:

dairy research cluster communications and … · dairy component or shared issues, such as the...

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