Lakeland College Canada - Applied Research

09/02/2026

Over the last several months, we have shared 6 posts talking about swath-grazing and the results of a 2023 survey of Canadian beef producers. But why conduct this awareness campaign in the first place?

Despite the seemingly “low-tech” nature of swath-grazing, little is known about the benefits of polycrop swath-grazing as a winter-feeding method. Over the past few years, Dr. Obioha Durunna has conducted a side-by-side research comparison of both the conventional monocrop and the increasingly popular polycrop swath-grazing systems, shedding light on this under-researched area.

This polycrop research will be both published and shared (like we’ve done here with the survey findings) in the coming months. The goal of Lakeland College Applied Research is not just to do impactful research from an academic perspective, but to also ensure that the research matters to farmers and producers. We’ve aimed to provide Canadian beef producers with the information they need about swath-grazing to make informed decisions for themselves about how best to run their operations.

🔗Check out all the swath-grazing infographics here: https://lakelandcollege.ca/applied-research/centre-applied-research-learning/livestock-research/index.html

08/31/2026

We would like to thank Westman Farms for partnering with us on the Westman Heifer Project and supporting our heifer development trial!

Dr. Susan Markus and her team are using the Opti-Weigh remote weigh scale on first-calf heifers to monitor weights as we track reproduction and performance throughout the project.

08/28/2026

08/21/2026

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

08/19/2026

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! 💬👇

08/14/2026

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!

08/13/2026

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

08/11/2026

Research for the Ranch is back!

Join us in Vermilion, Alberta, on October 22, 2026 for a day of research, learning, and connecting with fellow producers and industry members.

👀Watch the video to see what made last year’s event so great and get a glimpse of what’s to come!

08/10/2026

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.

08/07/2026

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!