From Pasture To Progress: Lakeland College Leads The Way in Livestock Research

On October 30, a chilly morning set the stage for research projects focused on precision ranching, cattle nutrition, and livestock wellness at Lakeland College’s Vermilion campus during Research for the Ranch: Livestock Field Day.

The event brought together livestock producers, industry representatives, students, and fellow researchers to explore the valuable work conducted by Lakeland’s applied research team and its impact on the future of agriculture.

“Our research team focuses on advancing real-world agricultural productivity and sustainability in the crop and livestock sectors,” said Dr. François Paradis, Dean of Applied Research at Lakeland. “Our projects are geared toward making a measurable impact on the daily lives and work of agricultural producers. Ensuring they have easy access to the information we gather is a critical part of that. Livestock Field Day is all about providing the ag community with an opportunity to learn about our latest findings, connect with our researchers, and share input on the opportunities and challenges they face.”

Lakeland’s three livestock researchers, Dr. Obioha Durunna, Dr. Susan Markus, and Dr. Brenda Ralston, each presented results from their recent projects. Durunna discussed his work on cattle nutrition, Ralston shared insights on animal wellness and welfare, and Markus presented research focused on precision ranching technologies.

The event featured Lakeland’s new cannulated Black Angus heifers, recently acquired from the University of Saskatchewan. Attendees learned about their role in ruminant research projects and how they are being incorporated into the college’s Animal Science Technology courses.

Kyleigh Magotiaux, Lakeland’s applied research social media contact, led a session on effectively developing and sharing stories through social media. In the afternoon, participants joined roundtable discussions, where the focus shifted to gathering feedback from producers and industry representatives about the opportunities and challenges they face, and how Lakeland’s research team can best support their goals.

Earlier this year, Lakeland also hosted Alberta Crop Diagnostic Day in July, partnering with other organizations to share the latest insights and advances in crop management.

With more than 3,700 acres of farmland and multiple facilities supporting student learning and applied research, Lakeland College continues to expand its contributions to the agriculture industry. Its Vermilion campus houses beef, bison, dairy, and equine herds, along with the Agriculture Technology Centre, Crop Research and Bioenergy Building, Dairy Learning Centre, and G.N. Sweet Livestock Research Facility. Lakeland scientists also conduct projects across Alberta and Western Canada, including on-farm collaborations with producers.