Establishment of a Livestock & Forage Centre of Excellence...
Transcript of Establishment of a Livestock & Forage Centre of Excellence...
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