Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence celebrates grand opening

On Oct. 9, the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and its partners launched the $38-million Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE), a world-class complex of field and science laboratories that will be a powerhouse for innovative research, teaching and industry engagement in all aspects of livestock and forage production.

A partnership of the U of S, the livestock and forage industries, and the Saskatchewan and federal governments, the LFCE is the largest and most comprehensive centre of its kind in Canada. The LFCE will enable Canadian and international scientists to focus on emerging issues related to beef cattle health, reproduction, nutrition, genetics, and public safety, as well as plant breeding for forage crops, grazing management and environmental issues facing the livestock and forage industries.

“This unique centre will research and model all aspects of raising livestock on the Prairies, helping to meet the needs of producers and consumers in Canada, while also helping to sustainably produce food for a growing world population,” said U of S President Peter Stoicheff. “It will break down barriers between academics and livestock and forage producers and bring scientists from across disciplines together to promote an integrated approach to solving industry issues.”

Until work began to renovate or construct facilities to fulfil the LFCE vision, Saskatchewan livestock and forage research had been conducted in separate, independently operated and far-flung facilities. The new consolidated approach is expected to improve the transfer of research results and novel technology to livestock and forage producers, veterinarians, economists, environmental engineers, and consumers.

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Image via University of Saskatchewan.