Lakeland College Canada - Applied Research

Our livestock research team had a great time at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference!

We had the opportunity to connect with industry, learn, share ideas, and showcase the work happening at Lakeland College. We’re especially proud of our students, who had the opportunity to present posters highlighting the research they’re involved in through the Lakeland College Applied Research team.

Our students absolutely knocked it out of the park, taking home first, second, and third place!

Meghan Lees: Water-Use Efficiency of Polycrop and Oat Monocrop Forage Systems for Winter Swath-Grazing Cow-Calf Pairs in Alberta

Grace Burton: Don’t Throw Your Profits out With Pasture Water

Hannah Ames: Enhancing Cattle Health and Performance Through Targeted Mineral and Vitamin Supplement Evaluation

In our final post detailing the results of the 2023 Western Canadian Swath-Grazing Survey, we outline several producer/operational attributes that were found to be positively associated with uptake and use of swath-grazing.

Are any of these associations surprising to you? Let us know in the comments section! 💬👇

It's hard to believe that in just a few weeks, some of our summer students will be wrapping up their placements.

Yesterday, they shared presentations highlighting everything they accomplished this summer, and we couldn't be more proud of their hard work and dedication. Their contributions have made a meaningful impact on our team.

Each year, our goal is to provide students with hands-on research experience while helping them build skills, grow professionally, and gain confidence for the future. To support this goal, several of our students will be presenting their projects at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference from August 18–20 in Winnipeg.

Thank you to our amazing summer students for an incredible summer - we're excited to see where your journey takes you next!

Join us for an upcoming Zoom webinar on Swath Grazing Strategies for Livestock Producers!

Lakeland College Applied Research’s Dr. Obioha Durunna will be presenting alongside Dr. Vern Baron, sharing research and insights on swath grazing, grazing management, production costs, and more.

📅 August 17, 2026
⏰ 10 AM MDT
💻 Online via Zoom

A collaborative research project at Lakeland College between Dr. Obioha Durunna and Dr. Huston Block from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is exploring the potential of malate (malic acid) to help reduce methane emissions in beef cattle.

Malate is a naturally occurring organic acid found in forages like alfalfa and clover. It can influence rumen fermentation by encouraging pathways that produce less methane while improving energy efficiency and helping protect against acidosis. While synthetic malate is costly, some forage varieties may naturally contain biologically meaningful levels, making this a promising, cost-effective option for producers.

Our research is evaluating six alfalfa and two clover varieties at different stages of maturity to better understand how malate levels vary and how they relate to forage yield and quality. These findings could help develop practical feeding strategies that are easy for cow-calf producers to adopt.

By identifying forage varieties with higher natural malate levels, we're taking an important step toward reducing methane emissions and supporting a more sustainable future for beef production, particularly in the cow-calf sector.

Last week, our crop research team travelled to Lacombe, AB, to attend the Alberta Crop Diagnostic Days at the WCI Field Day! 🌾

It was a great opportunity to learn from industry experts, explore the latest research in crop production, and to strengthen connections with Western Crop Innovations. We're excited to bring new knowledge back to our applied research program!

Join Dr. Susan Markus and student research assistant Grace Burton for water screening at the CARA Forage Field Day on Thursday, August 6 in Sibbald, AB.

Bring a water sample from your farm to have it screened for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) using our three handheld testing devices. If TDS levels are elevated, we'll also test for sulphates and nitrates using test strips.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Today, we're sharing more producer insights from the 2023 Western Canada Swath-Grazing Survey, this time focusing on animal management practices. 🐄🌾

Alongside the survey results, we've included research-backed recommendations to help inform and support on-farm decision-making.

Which practice or recommendation stood out to you the most? We'd love to hear your thoughts - share them in the comments below! ⬇️

🗓️Save the Date!

Mark your calendars for Research for the Ranch on October 22, 2026.

Join us for a full day of learning designed for livestock producers, industry representatives, students, and fellow researchers. Registration and event details coming soon!