NCLE Research

NCLE research is based upon an "agricultural systems" approach - integrating livestock and crop production systems in a manner that complements the environmental resources and risks of the region.

NCLE Research Mandate
“To further the economic and environmental sustainability of integrated livestock and crop production through multidisciplinary whole system based research.”

Methane collection device

Research Focus Areas

Multidisciplinary Research Projects
Sustainable Agriculture Systems Modeling
Livestock and Poultry Management Systems
Soil and Crop Management Systems
Manure Management and Processing
Human and Animal Health
Economics and Policy Issues

NCLE Research Reports
Completed Projects
Current Projects

Research Focus Areas

Within this "whole system" framework, NCLE researchers investigate key issues such as:

• Farm productivity and viability
• Environmental stewardship
  • net greenhouse gas emission
  • environmental fate of pathogens
  • environmental fate of nutrients
  • air quality and odour
  • soil health
• Food quality and safety
• Animal health and welfare
• Efficient energy and water use

Specialty research teams collaborate to carry out broader-scale multidisciplinary research to address challenges, actualize opportunities and to achieve systems level solutions in integrated livestock production management. An outcome example of this type of research is the development of beneficial management strategies for use by producers and policy makers.

By adopting an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to research, researchers commonly investigate multiple issues within a single project, to see, for example, how the entire system is influenced by a certain management strategy.

NCLE Research Reports

Completed Projects:

• NEW!Manitoba Beef Producers solid cattle manure research project. Completed September 2011. Read the executive summary
• NEW! A regional dynamic assessment of emerging manure management in Manitoba. Collin Gyles MSc thesis (Derek Brewin, advisor). 2011.
• Dried distiller grains with soluble (DDGS) in poultry diets and manure phosphorus content - implications for feeding strategies to decrease phosphorus loading. Completed Jan 2011. Read the report
• Use of on-farm composting to dispose of Johne’s infected cattle. Completed fall 2010. Read the report
• Nutrient management planning for sow operations using extant and new feed consumption models and manure analysis. Completed 2010. Read the report
• Evaluation of the opportunity for manure treatment/processing technologies to achieve manure phosphorus balance. Completed 2010. Read the review
• Agricultural biofilters - Reflections on a decade of research. Completed 2010. Read the report
  
• Using satellite imagery in the development of models to quantify and monitor the spatiotemporal distribution of vegetation biomass in Manitoba grasslands/pastures using satellite imagery. Completed 2010. Read the report
• Modelling greenhouse gas emissions from stored manure: Evaluation of dietary manipulation effects. Completed 2010. Read the report
• Effects of manure and formulated N fertilizers on greenhouse gas emissions in the Red River Valley Read the report
  - Project leaders Mario Tenuta and Martin Entz
• A Report on Current Knowledge of Key Environmental Issues Related to Hog Production in Manitoba - commissioned by the Clean Environment Commission. Completed 2007. Read the report
• Forms of phosphorus in different manures and their impact on P runoff and leaching losses from manure amended soils Completed February 2009.
  Read the final report. Read the extension summary
• Environmental impacts of spreading hog manure on pasture: pathogens and antibiotic resistance in water. Completed 2007. Read the final report
• Economics: Farm level and regional impacts of forage based manure management in Manitoba. Completed 2008. Read the final report
  
• La Broquerie Research Project - Phase I
  This unique multidisciplinary project has brought together university researchers, three levels of government and numerous sectors of the industry to establish a research/demonstration site to explore the impact of hog manure on forage yield, forage quality, animal performance, soil and water quality, greenhouse gas production as well as energy use and economics implications. Completed 2007.
  Read the final report
  Read the extension summary
  Visit the La Broquerie Project website

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Current Projects:

• Use of high tannin forages to improve sustainability of integrated beef/forage production systems: - forage productivity and cattle productivity, nutrient dynamics, greenhouse gases, pathogens. Read the 2008 interim report
• Long term nutrient cycling and soil ecology under different livestock manure and crop management scenarios: Nutrient movement and crop uptake over time under annual and annual/perennial cropping rotations. Read the 2008 report

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