Resources
These information tools promote practical use of research findings and inspired thinking about the sector's environmental challenges and opportunities. We are committed to the exchange of ideas and knowledge, both within the industry and with the larger community.
Materials include videos, podcasts, articles, fact sheets, and infographics.
For producers
Find science-based tips and practical tools for adopting Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) in food production.
4R fertilizer management for GHG mitigation
| Selecting the Right Placement of Fertilizer N in Manitoba Smart placement of fertilizer delivers more nutrients to plants so fewer GHGs escape into the atmosphere. Learn what research has shown about the efficiency of different placement practices on the most common Manitoba soil types. |
| Selecting the Right Source of Fertilizer N in Manitoba This fact sheet explains the factors growers should consider when determining the best fertilizer type for individual conditions. |
| Reduction of Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Emissions in Irrigated Potato in Manitoba Learn how growers can optimize N use and reduce environmental impact, and what research says about the benefits and impacts for potato crops. |
Additives and alternatives for gut health
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Optimizing gut health for swine in antibiotic free production |
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Alternatives for poultry gut health |
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Essential oils as alternatives to antibiotics in swine production |
Better Pork
Canadian Hog Journal
Cattle Country
Grazing practices can increase bee abundances- methods for maintaining bee populations
Sustainable Agriculture - Indigenous perspectives, water management and precision technologies
Bringing it all together - Is there a place for cattle on Canada’s annual crop land?
Research Round-up for 2023 - U of M Research Addressing Current Beef Industry Priorities
Common ticks and why they can be a problem
Cattle production: A crucial element in regenerative agriculture and the circular bio-economy
Science supports productivity-enhancing technologies' effects on the environment
One Health: Understanding the connection between farmer, animal, and environmental health
Sustainable Agriculture - Exploring Net Zero, Indigenous Agriculture, Biodiversity
Manitoba's Agricultural Crown Grazing Lands - Assessing Potential for Growing the Beef Industry
Growing a more complete winter ration: corn intercropping in western Canada
Closing the loop: The role of food waste in a circular bioeconomy
University of Manitoba researchers investigate bacterial biofilms in the food industry
Beef production supports the preservation of prairie wetlands
Manitoba beef producers sought for study on farmer mental health in the Canadian beef industry
Researchers, producers and industry discuss farming for sustainable food systems
Composting and using manure
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Composting Manure and Other Organic Materials This fact sheet explains the composting process and what you will need to get started. Find basic guidelines for success, including tips to troubleshoot common composting problems. |
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This guide provides the how-tos for calculating and monitoring moisture content, bulk density and compost stability. Use with the Composting Calculator Tool and Recording Sheets. |
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Use this Excel workbook to determine the right ratios for mixing starting materials. You can use pre-set values for more than 50 different feedstocks, based on historical averages – or you can manually input your own custom values. |
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Use these recording sheets to track moisture and temperature as you monitor windrows through the composting process. |
Disease prevention in beef cattle
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Cattle biosecurity: Management of new and returning cattle onto your farm This fact sheet focuses on the importance of biosecurity on cattle operations and includes strategies for introducing new and returning livestock. Fact sheet |
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Needle-free vaccination systems for cattle proven effective by research
In this producer-focused podcast, Dr. Kim Ominski explores the use of needle-free injection systems on cow-calf operations. Podcast |
Feed ingredients, feeding strategies
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Canola meal and swine nutrition This fact sheet showcases research using canola meal as a protein source for in swine diets. |
Land and crop rotation management for ecosystem health
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Preservation of Perennial Forage Lands in the Eastern Prairies One recent study estimates a hectare of forage land can sequester up to 1 tonne of carbon every year. This fact sheet outlines where forage preservation makes the most sense and provides BMPs based on research findings. |
Reducing the carbon footprint of cattle herds
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Decreasing Emissions and Increasing Production Efficiency of Beef Cattle Releasing enteric methane into the atmosphere is like throwing money into the wind. This fact sheet explains how to increase productivity while reducing a farm’s GHG emissions, and how a whole-farm modelling program called Holos can be used to choose good management practices. |
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Optimizing Feed and Forage Quality Research shows that cow-calf producers can control environmental impacts with high-quality forage and properly balanced diets. This fact sheet explains how to get the most out of well-managed forage and grasslands. |
Sow group housing
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National Group Sow Housing Conversion Project This website provides fact sheets, newsletters and other information based on the latest expertise in successful barn conversations. |
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Options for Successful Group-Housing of Sows This guidebook examines the many components that must be considered when housing sows in groups. |
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Filling gaps in knowledge about group sow housing This article summarizes more than a decade of research, featuring guidelines, tools and scientific publications. Article |
Trending topics
Expand your awareness and thinking about the potential for livestock to improve the sustainability of farming and our overall food system in a climate of change.
Prairie Livestock Expo
- Swine health: A year in review - Jenelle Hamblin, Manitoba Pork
- Burlap and buddies: Enrichment options to reduce weaning stress in piglets – Ashlyn Scott, University of Manitoba
- Connecting farmer well being to animal health and welfare in agriculture – Meagan King, University of Manitoba and Briana Hagen, University of Guelph
- Critical swine production traits improved in offspring finisher pigs by feed efficiency selection of parents - Dr. Argenis Rodas-Gonzalez, University of Manitoba
- Aerosol (airborne) transmission of animal diseases – Dr. Qiang Zhang, University of Manitoba
- Avian influenza update – Cory Rybuck, Manitoba Egg Farmers
- Nutrient management of livestock manure – Dr. Xiaopeng Gao, University of Manitoba
- Using innovative digital tools to address current issues in animal agriculture - Dr. Marcos Cunha Cordeiro, University of Manitoba
- Building public trust: Why does it matter to you? – Kristen Matwychuk, Manitoba Pork
Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture Conference
Co-hosted by the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, this conference provides practical information and considers the future of our agricultural production systems as we strive to further develop sustainable food systems.
Workshops and panel discussions with producers, researchers, and industry specialists representing both crop and livestock sectors attract a diverse audience with a range of perspectives, ideas and experiences about how to improve agricultural sustainability in Canada.
Scientific review papers
- Utilization of by-products and food waste in livestock production systems: a Canadian perspective
- Invited review: The role of livestock in sustainable food production systems in Canada
- Review: Enhancing gastrointestinal health in dairy cows
- Review: Essential oils as alternatives to antibiotics in swine production
Moving Toward Prairie Agriculture 2050
This 54-page green paper was presented at the Alberta Institute of Agrologists annual conference in Banff, Alberta in 2014 to highlight the climate change challenges for agriculture. In a series of essays, 23 scientists address the question of "Climate and Food: Is there a Future?". Topics span crops, livestock, entomology, technology, transportation, trade, risk and more. In the final section of the paper, experts discuss how the agri-food sector can strengthen its capacity to adapt and thrive. A revisit in 2019 reflects on how well these predictions hit the mark – where we got it right, and where we went off course.
Download - The complete green paper
Download individual sections:
- Introduction: Moving Toward the Year 2050
- Climate change impacts on crop selection and rotation in 2050 - Bruce Burnett, CWB Market Research
- What does a warmer winter mean? - Brian Amiro and Paul Bullock, University of Manitoba
- Severe weather and crop-atmosphere interactions - John Hanesiak, University of Manitoba
- Demand for water - Water retention and storage in the eastern Prairies - Selena Randall, University of Manitoba
- Will crop breeding keep up with the requirements for change? - Ron Depauw, AAFC - SPARC
- Pollinating insects - Native and managed pollinators - Rob Currie, University of Manitoba
- What will happen to the weeds? - Rob Gulden, University of Manitoba
- Effect of climate change on mycotoxins produced by plant pathogens affecting our field crops - Dilantha Fernando, University of Manitoba
- Global worming - Mario Tenuta, University of Manitoba
- Beef cattle production: What have you herd about 2050? - Kim Ominski, University of Manitoba
- How will climate change affect my Big Mac Meal®? - Martin Scanlon, University of Manitoba
- Climate change and transportation - Paul Earl and Barry Prentice, University of Manitoba
- Regional trade agreements will shape the future of international food and agricultural trade - Ryan Cardwell, University of Manitoba
- Can insurance keep up with catastrophic weather losses? - Charles Grant, University of Manitoba
- Preparedness - Strengthening the Agri-Food Sector’s Capacity to Adapt and Thrive
- What metrics should we use for successful adaptation? - Henry Janzen, AAFC
- What kinds of government policies will help us adapt in 2050? - Sheilah Nolan and John Zylstra, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
- How will technical innovation help us to deal with climate change risk? - Don Flaten, University of Manitoba
- Educational systems for 2050 - Lessons from history - Michael Trevan, University of Manitoba
Special seminars
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Role of cattle in preserving carbon stocks and biodiversity A presentation with Dr. Tim McAllister - Principal Research Scientist, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Principal Research Scientist, University of Calgary, Chair, Livestock Environmental Partnership, United Nations A special seminar co-presented by the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment (NCLE) and the Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba. |
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Incorporating variation into diet formulation for dairy cows Dr. Bill Weiss, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Animal Sciences, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Centre at the Ohio State University |
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Nutritional importance of animal protein in the diet Dr. Teresa Davis, USDA/Agriculture Research Service, Children’s Nutritional Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas |
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Handling cattle, pigs, and sheep at meat plants, 3rd edition Dr. Temple Grandin, Colorado State University |
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Sustainability as (re)organizing principle and moving target Dr. Nathan Pelletier, University of British Columbia - Okanagan |
NCLE Newsletters
Protein
Research summaries
Visit the NCLE signature research theme pages to learn more about our featured research, including links to additional resources. Content is updated regularly, so visit often!
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Livestock as an agroecosystem solution
Food production systems that include livestock can benefit soil, land use and greenhouse gas mitigation. NCLE researchers are exploring new strategies to enhance this positive impact.
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Leveraging data to improve food systems
Measurement and monitoring help us understand complex agroecosystems, while modelling transforms this data into useful decision-making tools.
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One Health approaches to animal management
Using a multidisciplinary approach, NCLE researchers are deepening our knowledge of the complex connections between feed, care, housing and health.
Other resources
Manitoba Agriculture and Food Knowledge Exchange
The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences outreach site MAKE - Manitoba Agriculture and Food Knowledge Exchange makemanitoba.ca - showcases the latest research that is shaping agriculture and food production in Manitoba and around the world, including NCLE research. Stream, download and share videos, podcasts, articles, infographics and more, including recipes!
Our research featured elsewhere
Do cattle have a role in regenerative agriculture?
Join Dr. Martin Entz of the University of Manitoba as he discusses the goals of regenerative agriculture and the benefits of integrated crop and livestock production.
Are cows wasting human food or eating food waste?
Join Dr. Kim Ominski as she discusses types of food wastes, opportunities and challenges for using food wastes as livestock feed, and the overlap between human food and cattle feed.