Katie Wood
Current Research
The role of fibre digestibility in feed efficiency and methane emissions in beef heifers and cows
What is this project about?
With the growing concern around climate change and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, it is important for producers to work towards reducing their environmental footprint. Improving feed efficiency in the cow herd on forage and pasture-based systems is one strategy to reduce the emissions of methane, a GHG. Cows that are classified as efficient will be better at utilizing the nutrients they consume and will release less nutrient waste back into their environment. This project will evaluate individual cow growth, feed efficiency and digestibility, as well as gas emissions throughout the production lifecycle of the cow herd. Additionally, this project will also investigate the impact of improved forage quality on cows that are classified as inefficient. Identification and selection for feed efficient cows can be beneficial for the Ontario beef industry as this management tool can help to increase production efficiency, improve economic returns, and reduce environmental impact.
Graduate students:
Kortney Acton
Funding sources:
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, Beef Cattle Research Council, Beef Farmers of Ontario
Researchers