Establishment of a Livestock & Forage Centre of Excellence Consultation Report

1. Executive Summary:

The livestock industries are significant drivers of the Saskatchewan and Canadian economies. If the

industry is to remain viable, and indeed grow in the face of international competition and increased

public concern for environmental impact, food safety, animal welfare and public health, then innovative

and transformative research and development is required to ensure that our producers remain

economically competitive on a global scale.

In April, 2014, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture consulted with senior leadership within the

livestock and forage industries and the University of Saskatchewan on the future of research and

training in the province in support of industry and the provincial economy. Subsequently, a Livestock

and Forage Steering Committee (LFSC) was struck, with a mandate to review research, training, and

outreach capacity and needs within the province, to identify gaps, and to provide recommendations to

the Minister on courses of action that would enhance research productivity and training capacity in a

meaningful and cost-effective manner. These recommendations should represent the means to

collaboratively attain the vision for a Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence of national and

international prominence, and in so doing assist the Province of Saskatchewan to achieve its Growth

Plan targets for the livestock and forage sectors.

Current infrastructure includes principally four facilities: Western Beef Development Centre (WBDC);

Goodale Farm; University of Saskatchewan campus lands; and the Clavet lands intended to host the new

Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Unit (BCRTU). Other lands, owned or leased, currently support

research, training and outreach programs, but were not the subject of this report.

The LFSC noted that lack of integration of activities has limited opportunities for collaboration and

limited the full potential of the existing capacity. The LFSC recommends that the existing strengths at

the U of S in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and the Western College of Veterinary

Medicine, the Government of Saskatchewan in the Ministry of Agriculture and the Western Beef

Development Centre, and the capacity of an engaged industry, be integrated to form the Livestock and

Forage Centre of Excellence. Such an integrated infrastructure will significantly increase capacity for

industry-relevant research, training and knowledge transfer, a multidisciplinary approach to livestock

health, reproduction and food safety, a strong livestock and forage network, and national and

international leadership.

To achieve this vision it is recommended that the WBDC facilities and research program at Termuende

Farm be relocated to the Goodale Farm and integrated with U of S programs in veterinary and

agricultural sciences, and that the Goodale facilities be enhanced to accommodate these programs. The

BCRTU facilities at Clavet are critical and a high priority, and must be developed as soon as possible. The

BCRTU design will be modified where appropriate for the creation of the LFCE. The effective integration

of activities requires a new, collaborative governance model supported by an effective and collaborative

management structure that oversees and unifies all operational planning, compliance, implementation

and reporting.

The consolidation of research infrastructure and programs creates a host of benefits to researchers,

students, the province and industry. Increased efficiencies in management of facilities are made

possible by co-location and integration. Opportunities for collaboration are created, including cross-

disciplinary and innovative programs that more effectively link basic and applied research. This creates

greater capacity for translational research that has a direct benefit to producers and to socio-economic

impact provincially, nationally and internationally.

2. Vision:

To be a Livestock & Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) as a collaborative initiative, integrating livestock

and forage research and development of resources for efficient and effective facilitation of

internationally recognized education, research, and extension. The LFCE will be a global leader in

innovation, promoting increased profitability and sustainability for the livestock and forage industry.

3. Mission:

The Livestock & Forage Centre of Excellence will integrate facilities and research programs supporting

the livestock and forage sectors in Saskatchewan to increase intellectual and physical capacity and

strengthen collaboration to address stakeholders’ priorities while maintaining a commitment to training

and extension/technology transfer driven by researcher and industry cooperation.

4. Background:

The beef industry is an important economic driver for the Saskatchewan and Canadian economies, with

more than 68,500 beef farms nationwide. The economic significance of this industry is clear: in 2012,

farm cash receipts from beef cattle totaled more than $6.5 billion, surpassing all other livestock sectors.

Using a 4:1 multiplier effect (source: Canadian Cattlemen’s Association), the industry and its associated

sectors contribute in excess of $33 billion annually to the Canadian economy. The last 20 years has seen

significant growth in the beef industry, but today it stands at a crossroads. Buffeted by adverse business

conditions such as the volatile Canadian dollar, restricted access to export markets, high input prices,

poor profitability and lack of slaughter capacity, the national beef cow herd has contracted 22% since

2008 (source: Statistics Canada). Moreover, the cattle industry is facing increasing public scrutiny

because of concerns about its impacts on the environment, food safety, animal welfare and public

health.

If the beef industry is to remain viable and indeed grow, and serve as an economic engine that drives

the rural economy of Saskatchewan, innovative and transformative solutions must be developed to

solve the various environmental, food safety, animal welfare and public health issues facing the

industry. Integration of research, training and outreach efforts will increase the capacity and effective

usage of existing and future resources. Ongoing research, training, and transfer of new knowledge to

producers will also be required to continue to ensure that Saskatchewan and Canadian producers

remain economically competitive on a global scale in the production of high quality beef.

In April, 2014, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture consulted with senior leadership within the

livestock and forage industries and the University of Saskatchewan on the future of research and

training in the province in support of industry and the provincial economy. Subsequently, a Livestock

and Forage Steering Committee (LFSC) was struck, with a mandate to review research, training, and

outreach capacity of facilities within the province relevant to the livestock and forage sectors. The

committee was also asked to review needs of industry, institutions, and researchers, and identify gaps

that need to be addressed to further grow the livestock and forage sectors, and to achieve the vision for

a ruminant livestock and forage centre of excellence. In addition to resolving gaps, it is clear that a

collaborative centre of excellence provides a tremendous opportunity to grow and enhance research

productivity and training capacity in a meaningful and cost-effective manner.

The membership of the Steering Committee represents key leadership within the livestock and forage

sectors, as well as the University of Saskatchewan and the SK Ministry of Agriculture. The

recommendations presented here represent the consensus of all members of the Steering Committee,

and in our unanimous perspective represent the most effective and efficient means by which we can,

collaboratively, attain our goal of establishing a Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence of national

and international prominence, and in so doing assist the Province of Saskatchewan achieve its Growth

Plan targets for the livestock and forages sectors.

Current infrastructure that supports the many facets of livestock and forage research and training

includes principally four facilities:

1. The Western Beef Development Centre (WBDC), housed principally on land owned by the

University of Saskatchewan (Termuende Farm), and funded mainly by the SK Ministry of

Agriculture. WBDC’s mission focuses on “collaboratively linking lab and land for the

competitiveness and sustainability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan.” In pursuit of

its mission, WBDC conducts applied research on nutrition, management, economics, forage

production, and sustainability.

2. The Goodale Farm, owned by the University of Saskatchewan and primarily managed by the

Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). Core research programs include cattle

reproduction and nutrition, and health and reproduction in horses, llamas, and native

hoofstock. The Goodale facilities also support both undergraduate and graduate student

teaching programs.

3. The University of Saskatchewan campus and other lands, managed by the College of Agriculture

and Bioresources and the WCVM. These support teaching, research and outreach in animal care,

forage nutrition, rangeland management and sustainability, and forage crop development.

4. The University of Saskatchewan’s recently purchased land south of Clavet, intended for the

relocation of intensive livestock facilities from campus to a facility to be called the Beef Cattle

Research and Teaching Unit (BCRTU). Plans for the BCRTU are well advanced, and efforts are

underway to secure funding for this new facility where teaching, research and outreach will

encompass: nutrition and metabolism, management and productivity; animal health and

welfare; genetics; disease mitigation; and environmental impact.

These separate facilities have been traditionally operated independently, creating inefficiencies

and impediments to collaboration. Furthermore, the integration of activities of the WBDC into

programs at the U of S is hindered by the distance that must be travelled by researchers and

students. These impediments to collaborative research and training must be addressed if the

full capacity of these facilities and the research and training programs they support are to be

realized.

It is understood that other lands, owned or leased by the University of Saskatchewan or the

WBDC, and lands and facilities owned by industry partners, are also utilized in research,

teaching and outreach programs. These represent considerable capacity and opportunity for

research, teaching and outreach; however, these are not considered within the scope of this

current infrastructure analysis.

5. Addressing Challenges and Creating Opportunities:

While considerable capacity exists within these facilities, impediments to integration of activities

has limited the scope of research and training, and will prevent realization of the goal for a

livestock and forage centre of excellence if they are not addressed. Each of these four facilities

is managed largely independently, such that research on animal health, nutrition, reproduction,

genetics, welfare, management, environmental impact, rangeland management, and forage

occurs commonly at different facilities under independent leadership, which does not

encourage collaboration.

Logistical challenges have constrained utilization of the WBDC facilities by faculty and students

at the University of Saskatchewan. Distance between the campus and the WBDC has limited

opportunities for students to visit the facility, for graduate students to make use of the WBDC

herd and lands, and for WBDC staff and researchers to engage with potential colleagues at the

campus, including in particular those at the WCVM.

Siloed management and program implementation is further reflected in governance structures

and operational funding. A consequence of this has been inconsistent engagement with

industry in the setting of research priorities and translation of research to the benefit of the

producer. The lack of a collective voice may also have hampered opportunities for support from

national and international agencies.

The collective research capacity represented by the University of Saskatchewan, the Province of

Saskatchewan (WBDC), and a highly engaged industry creates an opportunity to establish the

province as a major centre for innovation and training in the livestock and forage sectors.

The University of Saskatchewan is exceptionally well suited to meeting the future research and

development needs of the beef industry. The U of S is Canada’s leading institution in depth and

breadth of faculty who work on issues related to the beef industry, and leads the country in

effective industry collaboration. Researchers from across the campus have national and

international reputations for excellence in their field, and maintain strong industry contacts in

order that their research is grounded in practical problems relevant to the needs of industry.

Indeed, “Food and Bioproducts for a Sustainable Future” has been identified by the U of S as

one of its six internationally pre-eminent signature areas of exceptional research and

scholarship activity.

Within Saskatchewan, the beef, forage, and dairy industries have demonstrated a commitment

to innovation within their sectors, and through partnership with researchers and students at the

U of S have been a key factor in the success of the research community of the U of S. The

shared vision for an integration of beef and forage research and development, held passionately

by both the academy and industry, creates an opportunity for international leadership that

exists nowhere else in Canada.

The Steering Committee recommends that the existing strengths at the U of S in the College of

Agriculture and Bioresources and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, the Government

of Saskatchewan in the Ministry of Agriculture and the Western Beef Development Centre, and

the capacity of an engaged industry, be integrated to form the Livestock and Forage Centre of

Excellence. We already have a regional presence in this area, and with consolidation,

integration, and enhancement, the establishment of a national and international centre of

excellence is an achievable goal.

6. Building Research & Training Capacity:

The vision for the LFCE will significantly enhance the capacity of the U of S, with the support of

its partners in the Provincial Government and industry, to deliver industry-relevant research,

training, and knowledge transfer in support of the province’s and the nation’s livestock sectors

across a number of broad themes, as discussed below. Within these theme areas, the U of S

already has strength, and in some areas the U of S is uniquely positioned to take a national and

international leadership role.

Facilitate an integrated beef and forage research network: To establish the nucleus of a research

network that has access to state-of-the-art-facilities and provides an environment that fosters a

collaborative multi-disciplinary approach to research, the training of highly qualified personnel,

and technology development and engagement that supports the growth and sustainability of

the Saskatchewan and national beef and forage industries.

To serve the needs of the expanding and thriving beef and forage industries through:

a) Training of highly qualified personnel to ensure that our undergraduate and graduate

students continue to meet the needs of the beef industry, regionally, nationally and

internationally.

b) Innovative research that provides economic and sustainability advantages to our industry

requires a synergistic combination of cutting edge facilities, the capacity of our innovative

researchers, and close collaboration with industry.

c) Outreach, service and technology transfer to the broader community, such that the U of S and

the Province of Saskatchewan will be the national resource for evidence-based information for

industry, policy makers, scientists and educators.

Through an integrated multi-disciplinary approach to basic and applied science, we will strive to

be the preeminent national leader, with global outreach in beef cattle research in the following

key areas:

a) Forage breeding and management/utilization; beef cattle physiology, genomics and nutrition,

with emphasis on advances in winter feeding strategies, novel grazing management strategies,

forage varietal development, and precision nutrigenetic feeding approaches for growing and

finishing cattle.

b) Herd Health, Disease Prevention and Animal Welfare, through development of best

management practices that incorporate novel nutritional, immunological and therapeutic

approaches, and innovation in animal welfare issues such as weaning management and pain

management and control.

c) Reproduction and Genetics, through advanced reproductive technologies, reproductive

toxicology, genetic selection tools and in the interaction of genomics and nutrition.

d) Public health and food safety, such as the issue of development of antimicrobial resistance, a

crucial public health concern that requires multidisciplinary teamwork.

e) Environmental sustainability, to be explored at the Clavet site through a long-term monitoring

program, (including baseline soil, water and air quality data from a greenfield site), and at forage

management/grazing sites (including a focus on native rangelands).

f) Economics and production efficiency, whereby all research innovations need to be put under

the lens of economic viability and production efficiency, to help the cattle industry produce safe,

high quality, affordable beef for Canada and the world.

7. Recommendations for an Integrated Infrastructure:

To achieve the vision for enhanced capacity for innovation in research, training, and outreach to

support the needs of industry, government and consumers regionally, nationally and

internationally, it is necessary to integrate programs, to build and upgrade facilities, and to

preserve, enhance, and expand expertise engaged in research and development. Following are

recommendations proposed unanimously by the steering committee that would provide for the

environment that would enable us to achieve this vision.

• Co-location of facilities and personnel facilitates collaboration and program integration. The

distance between the WBDC and the U of S has been a continuing impediment.

Furthermore, operation and maintenance of two separate facilities is inherently more

costly. It is the Steering Committee’s recommendation that the WBDC facilities and

research program at the Termuende Farm, including the existing herd and research staff, be

relocated to Goodale Farm, where activities will be integrated with WCVM and Agriculture

& Bioresources research and training.

• Effective integration of the activities currently located at Termuende and Goodale can occur

only if current operational funding directed to those two separate facilities are committed

to the consolidated facilities. Therefore, the Steering Committee recommends that both the

Province and the U of S maintain their commitments of funding in support of WBDC and

WCVM programs, respectively, at the consolidated Goodale location.

• The Goodale Farm currently houses a small livestock herd, with relatively small, and aging,

research and holding facilities. With relocation of the WBDC program to Goodale, there will

be need for upgraded facilities to be constructed at Goodale. The Steering Committee

recommends that sufficient budget be allocated by the Province and other partners to

support both the relocation of the activities to Goodale, as well as the renewal and

enhancement of infrastructure at Goodale to accommodate consolidated activities.

• The Goodale Farm currently houses animals and facilities that serve the needs of the

WCVM. Consolidation of WBDC and Goodale operations must not reduce capacity, and

therefore there may be some functions currently carried out at Goodale or WBDC that will

need to be relocated to other facilities. The Steering Committee recommends that

infrastructure proposed for the new Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Unit (BCRTU)

facilities at Clavet be enhanced or adapted where possible and appropriate to accommodate

some capacity currently located at Goodale or WBDC.

• The Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Unit becomes an essential and integral component

of the consolidated Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence. Furthermore, the relocation

of the beef feedlot from the campus core is becoming urgent, as facilities deteriorate and

the location of such an operation within a growing urban environment becomes increasingly

untenable. It is understood that significant funding will be required in the development of

the BCRTU. It is recommended that the Province, through the Ministry of Agriculture,

ensure that sufficient funding is made available for the timely completion of the BCRTU.

• With consolidation of WBDC, Goodale, and BCRTU activities and facilities, it is expected that

the land base at Goodale and Clavet must be optimized, but may be limiting. To

accommodate projected growth in research programs, it is recommended that partnerships

be explored with the private sector, or with government for utilization of crown lands, in

order that capacity for research may be increased.

7.1 Budget:

Investment is required at all sites, even if the status quo were to be maintained. Goodale is in

need of significant refurbishment, as is the infrastructure at Termuende. The LFCE facilities at

Goodale will accommodate the needs and activities identified above, and consider future

directions. The detailed design will be developed by the partners after public and expert

stakeholder consultation. In decommissioning the Termuende site, and renewing the Goodale

site, there will be considerable savings in capital costs, and there will be great benefits to

operation and maintenance.

The BCRTU infrastructure at Clavet has been subject to preliminary design in order that cost

estimates can be incorporated into application for support through the Canada Foundation for

Innovation IF-2015 national competition. This application, with a total project cost of $16.7M,

was submitted in June, 2014 with announcement of successful proposals expected March, 2015,

and represents an institutional priority. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the success rate

for this competition is low, and even if successful CFI will fund no more than 40% of the total

project costs. Alternate sources of support will be required.

It should be noted that resources to support research and training consist of several distinct

envelopes. The U of S contributes significant operating funds in support of Goodale, BCRTU

(when it is completed), and its campus and other lands and facilities. Likewise, the Ministry of

Agriculture contributes funding in direct support of operation of the WBDC. Research

personnel, including faculty, staff, and students, are employed primarily through funding

provided to the U of S and WBDC directly, or indirectly, by the Province. Project funding is

provided by external federal and provincial agencies and industry partners. Capacity for

research requires sustained investment in personnel by the U of S and the Province, and pursuit

of new resources to support enhanced capacity. It is essential that consolidation of resources

not result in withdrawal of resources by any of the partners, but rather presents an opportunity

for enhanced investment. It also represents an opportunity for more efficient use of funds,

resulting in enhanced productivity, and ultimately, greater impact on the livestock and forage

industries.

8. Working Together for a Shared Vision:

The consolidation and integration of facilities and programs requires a new model for

governance and facility management, research strategic planning, and project implementation.

The Steering Committee recommends that a high-level livestock and forage oversight or steering

committee be struck that supports the ongoing collaborations among the province, industry,

Steering Commitee

General Manager

Goodale Manager

BCRTU Manager

On Campus Facility

Managers

and the university. This collaborative steering committee would provide a forum for discussion

of major issues facing industry and the research communities. The Steering Committee also

recommends that this livestock and forage steering committee be supported by a management

team that integrates and operates all of the facilities for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Governance: There are number of models/approaches available in the literature to govern non-

profit or for-profit organizations. These models provide basic concepts and frameworks, but are

not directly applicable to the proposed Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence. A review of

models available in the Saskatoon research cluster (VIDO, Prairie Swine Centre (PSC), Global

Institute for Food Security (GIFS) and Crop Development Centre (CDC)) was also conducted.

Governance for our purposes means “the process of interaction and decision making among

involved partners in a collective way that leads to the creation and existence of a stable and

functional organization - Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence”.

The proposed governance model for the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) is built on the

following principles:

• Strategic;

• Responsive;

• Accountable; and

• Participatory/partnership.

Organizational Structure: The LFCE is structured as a distinct entity (like a non-profit

organization without being legally incorporated) following the above principles.

The key functions of the LFCE will be managed by the steering committee.

Steering Committee: The steering committee is a group of high-level advisors with expertise in

various sectors with respect to the livestock and forage industry, who will be asked to provide

strategic direction and guidance.

Responsibilities of the Steering Committee include:

• Providing expertise and strategic research direction based on industry knowledge and

long-term goals;

• Encouraging a collaborative work environment;

• Supporting development of new partnerships; and

• Monitoring progress towards long-term strategic goals.

Membership of the steering committee includes equal representation from major stakeholder

groups (Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, the University of Saskatchewan, and industry).

The committee will be co-chaired by one industry and one University of Saskatchewan

representative, both selected among steering committee members by the members.

Responsibilities of Management:

Delivery of strategic initiatives, planning and implementation of all operational matters lies

solely with LFCE management overseen by the General Manager.

LFCE General Manager:

• a senior manager who unifies, leads and oversees all operational planning, compliance,

implementation and reporting for LFCE activities;

• an employee of the University of Saskatchewan reporting directly to the LFCE steering

committee;

• manages operation, maintenance and fiscal supervision of all livestock and forage research

facilities of the LFCE, including, but not limited to Goodale Farm including integrated

operations of Western Beef Development Centre, the Beef Cattle Research and Teaching

Centre, and additional livestock facilities located on the University of Saskatchewan lands

and affiliated LFCE lands as appropriate;

• oversees managers of individual facilities and works with researchers to coordinate research

projects and the integration of LFCE activities;

• is the main communication link between management and the steering committee built

upon clear and open dialogue with partners involved in all aspects of the LFCE.

Facility Managers:

• managers of each of the individual facilities report to the LFCE General Manager (GM);

• work closely with the GM to assist in design of research projects, identify requirements and

costs, and to direct activities of staff in support of LFCE activities (including research,

extension and teaching/training);

• maintain facilities in a “state of readiness” and work closely with the University Veterinarian

and Facility Veterinarians to ensure compliance with animal care standards set by the

Canadian Council for Animal Care.

9. Conclusion/Benefits:

The consolidation of research infrastructure and programs creates a host of benefits to

researchers, students, the province and industry. Increased efficiencies in management of

facilities are made possible by co-location and integration. Opportunities for collaboration are

created, including cross-disciplinary and innovative programs that more effectively link basic and

applied research. This leads to greater capacity for translational research that has a direct

benefit to producers.

A more effective collaboration between researchers and producers can sharpen the focus of

research, ensuring that applications are captured at every opportunity, and that the needs of

industry help to shape research strategies.

With increased prominence of livestock and forage research and training, an opportunity is

created for the attraction of national and international funding and collaborations that will lead

to new programs, and greater outreach and impact.

Achievement of the Province of Saskatchewan’s Livestock Strategy for increased productivity

and competitiveness of this sector, and the target of 25% increase in annual livestock farm

receipts, will only be possible through research and innovation, and the translation of research

to the benefit of producers through collaboration, training, and outreach. The LFCE will be a

vehicle by which the Province will achieve this strategy.

Respectfully Submitted by:

Aaron Ivey, Chairperson, Saskatchewan Forage Network (co-chair)

Jim Basinger, Associate Vice-President Research, U of S (co-chair)

Janice Bruynooghe, representing Saskatchewan Forage Network

Mary Buhr, Dean, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, U of S

Doug Freeman, Dean, Western College of Veterinary Medicine

Abdul Jalil, Director Research Branch, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

Murray McGillivray, representing the livestock and forage sector

Chad MacPherson, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association

Tim Oleksyn, Chair, Western Beef Development Centre, Advisory Committee