Livestock Research: Monogastric Feed Research Group

 
 
Subscribe to our free E-Newsletter, "Agri-News" (formerly RTW This Week)Agri-News
This Week
 
 
 
 




About Us | Current projects | Publications | Presentations | Factsheets and extension articles


    Our Vision:
    Livestock Research Branch: World-class partner in delivering applied and innovative solutions for a sustainable and vibrant Alberta.
    Mission Statement:
    Enable the Alberta livestock industry to use research-based knowledge and technology to enhance competitiveness.


About Us

Who we are
We are a small group of researchers consisting of:
Eduardo Beltranena - Feed Research Scientist/Lead
Matt Oryschak - Research Associate
Miranda Smit - Research Extension Coordinator - Livestock
Liangfei (Fiona) He - Research Technologist
Misaki Cho - Post-doctoral Fellow

What we do
Our team conducts original, applied animal feed research in pigs, poultry and fish focusing on:
  • Novel or currently underutilized grains, legumes, oilseeds, their fractions and co-products.
  • Processing methods that improve the feeding value and reduce anti-nutritional factors in feedstuffs.
  • Reducing adverse effects of feeding bio-energy co-products on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality.
  • Reducing the environmental impact of poultry and pig feeding through targeted feeding strategies and feedstuff selection.
Why we do it
  • Feed represents as much as 75% of the cost of production for Alberta producers. Reducing feed costs for producers is central to all of our research projects.
  • Research into the feeding value of locally grown and processed pulses may permit us to reduce our reliance on imported and animal-based protein ingredients. This will also create increased market demand for local pulse crops.
  • Our carcass and meat quality research is critical to safeguarding domestic and export market consumer confidence in the quality of products from animals fed bio-energy co-products.
  • Expanded production of bio-fuels in Western Canada will produce large quantities of co-products. Learning more about how to integrate co-products into livestock and poultry feeding will create a local market to help clear anticipated surplus inventories.
  • Our research into the feeding value of fractions may permit a single crop to be used simultaneously for human food products, bio-industrial applications and animal feeds, thereby creating opportunities to add value to raw commodities.
  • The wide array of feedstuffs available in Western Canada offer opportunities for poultry and swine producers to curb their environmental footprint while maintaining, or even improving profitability.
See a more extensive overview of our research in pigs.
See a more extensive overview of our research in poultry.

Current projects

Here is a list of projects that we are currently working on.

Pigs:
  • Increasing hybrid rye substitution level for wheat grain with or without enzyme on growth performance and carcass traits of grower-finisher barrows and gilts. Hybrid rye is more resistant to ergot and fusarium and has lower anti-nutritional factors. It might, therefore, be a good alternative to feeding wheat.
  • Effects of dietary energy level, stocking density and feeder space on growth performance and carcass characteristics of barrows and gilts. The ability of growing-finishing pigs to perform well on lower than traditional net energy diets depends on whether they can increase feed intake, which probably depends on pen density and the number of feeders. This research studies the relationships among dietary NE level, stocking density, feeder space and sex in a commercial growout barn.
Poultry:
  • Feeding increasing zero-tannin faba bean inclusions at different slopes to broiler chickens. We are feeding faba bean varieties Snowbird, Snowdrop and Tabasco at three different inclusion levels (low, medium, high) to broilers to look at effects of feed intake, growth performance and carcass characteristics.
  • Feeding tannin or zero-tannin faba bean hulled or dehulled to broiler chickens. In this trial we compare feeding high-tannin faba bean varieties (Malik, Fabelle) with zero-tannin varieties (Snowbird, Snowdrop). Because most of the tannins are located in the hulls, we also look at dehulling as a process to remove tannins.
  • Reducing the carbon footprint of egg and chicken production – the carbon footprint of feed accounts for 35% and 65% of the total carbon footprint of chicken and egg production, respectively. Over the next 18 months, we will be looking at the feasibility of reducing the feed-associated carbon footprint of egg and chicken meat production by as much as 20% through ingredient selection and changing dietary energy density (Anticipated project completion date – March 2018).
  • Dietary manipulations to reduce ammonia emissions from laying hens – over the next 2 years, we will conduct in depth investigations into the role that diet plays in influencing ammonia emissions from laying hens. Our goal is to find cost-effective diet formulation strategies to reduce ammonia emission intensity per dozen eggs by 25% (Anticipated project completion date – March 2018).
Publications Presentations

In the Table below is a summary of presentations given by members of the Monogastric Feed Research Group. You can click on the title to open a presentation as a pdf file.

DateMeetingPresenterTitle
Jun 2018Collaborators meetingXun ZhouIncreasing hybrid rye substitution level for wheat grain with or without enzyme on growth performance and carcass traits of grower-finisher barrows and gilts
Jan. 2017BPS pre-conference seminar - Canola Council of Canada, Banff, ABEduardo BeltranenaFeeding canola meal or soy expeller at two dietary net energy levels to growing-finishing barrows and gilts
Listen to the Farmscape interview regarding this research by clicking here
Feb. 2016Western Poultry Conference, Red Deer, ABEduardo BeltranenaCamelina sativa co-products as feedstuffs for poultry
May 5, 2015Canola Council of Canada/Feedstuffs webinarEduardo BeltranenaOptimizing canola meal feeding to broiler chickens and egg layers
Jan. 2015Banff Pork Seminar, Banff, ABEduardo BeltranenaImpact of low energy diets on the bottom line
Jan. 2014Alberta Pork Board, Edmonton, ABMiranda SmitDecreasing stocking density in a growing-finishing pig barn
Sep. 2013Western Nutrition Conference, Saskatoon, SKMatt OryschakFurther processing for better utilization of co-products in monogastrics
Feb. 2013Atlantic Poultry Conference, Wolfville, NSMatt OryschakCould co-products give corn-soybean meal a run for your money?
2013Prairie Poultry MeetingEduardo BeltranenaIncreasing dietary inclusion of camelina meal for laying hens: Effects on performance and egg quality
2013Prairie Poultry MeetingEduardo BeltranenaExpeller-pressed vs. solvent-extracted B. napus vs. B. juncea meal for laying hens
2013University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SKEduardo BeltranenaCamelina, an egg out of the canola basket?
2013Mid Egg Size workshopEduardo BeltranenaManaging on-farm feed mills
Nov. 2012Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium, Saskatoon, SKEduardo BeltranenaMoving to heavier market hogs
2012Alberta Pork meeting, Lethbridge, ABEduardo BeltranenaHog finishing practices that impact your profit margin
2012Canola Council of Canada meeting, Winnipeg, MNEduardo BeltranenaBroiler AME comparison of B. napus, B. juncea, and Air-Classified fractions
2012Canola Council of Canada meeting, Winnipeg, MNEduardo BeltranenaEgg production of brown layers fed solvent-extracted or extruded+pressed B. juncea or B. napus
2012Canola Council of Canada meeting, Winnipeg, MNEduardo BeltranenaCanola meal inclusion and broiler performance: effect of graded inclusion of B. napus vs. B. juncea meals
2012Canola Council of Canada meeting, Winnipeg, MNEduardo BeltranenaExtruded + pressed canola Juncea meal on hog growth performance, carcass traits, and jowl lipid profile
2012Canola Council of Canada meeting, Winnipeg, MNEduardo BeltranenaEffects of feeding high- and low-fibre fractions of air-classified, solvent-extracted canola meal on diet nutrient digestibility and growth performance of weaned pigs
2012Canola Council of Canada, Mexico tourEduardo BeltranenaAlimentación de harina canola a aves
2012Canola Council of Canada, Mexico tourEduardo BeltranenaAlimentación de harina canola a cerdos
2012Eduardo BeltranenaFeeding Western Canadian co-products to monogastrics
Jul. 2012Poultry Science Assoc. Annual Meeting, Athens, GAMatt OryschakNutrient digestibility in Canadian-grown pulse crops compared to soybean meal for growing broilers at 15- and 29-d of age
Jul. 2012Poultry Science Assoc. Annual Meeting, Athens, GAMatt OryschakEffect of increasing dietary inclusion of solvent-extracted B. juncea vs. B. napus canola meal on broiler growth performance, carcass traits and yield of carcass components
Jan. 201231st Centralia Swine Research Update, Kirton, ONEduardo BeltranenaHow to mitigate the effects of feeding DDGS on carcass and pork quality?
Jan. 2012Banff Pork Seminar, Banff, ABEduardo BeltranenaOilseed co-products as alternative ingredients
Sep. 2011Western Nutrition Conference, Edmonton, ABEduardo BeltranenaFeeding value of Western Canadian oilseed and biodiesel co-products
Sep. 2011Canola meal inclusion science cluster research review meeting, Edmonton, ABEduardo BeltranenaRecent canola meal research with broilers (2010-11)
Jul 2011Poultry Science Assoc. Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MOMatt OryschakA comparison of nutrient digestibility in wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and 3 wheat DDGS fractions produced using a 2-step dry fractionation process for broilers
Jul 2011Poultry Science Assoc. Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MOMatt OryschakNutrient digestibility in canola meal for broilers: Effects of oil extraction method and fractionation by air classification
Jul 2011Poultry Science Assoc. Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MOMatt OryschakNutrient digestibility of 4 varieties of triticale compared to CPS wheat for broilers
Jan. 2010Banff Pork Seminar, Banff, ABEduardo BeltranenaResearch update: Alternative feedstuffs: DDGS
Sep. 2010FOBI Network SeminarEduardo BeltranenaWheat-based DDGS as a protein source in poultry feeding
Jul. 2009Poultry Science Assoc. Annual Meeting, Ralreigh, NCMatt OryschakEffect of extrusion on nutrient digestibility in corn and wheat DDGS for broilers
Jul. 2009Poultry Science Assoc. Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NCMatt OryschakEffect of extrusion and enzyme supplementation on nutrient digestibility in triticale DDGS for broilers
Jul. 2009Poultry Science Assoc. Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NCMatt OryschakEffect of graded levels of DDGS in broiler diets on performance and breast meat yield
2009AEP medium size egg workshop, Balzac, ABEduardo BeltranenaWhat can cause too many mid-size eggs?
Dec. 2008Posters presented at several meetingsSeveralRecent advances in Alberta; Feed research with pulse seed and fractions
2006Swine Technology Workshop, Red Deer, ABEduardo BeltranenaZero-tannin fababean vs. field pea vs. soybean meal as protein sources for hogs.

Posters

In the Table below is a summary of posters presented by members of the Monogastric Feed Research Group. You can click on the title to open a poster as a pdf file.

Animal modelIngredientTitle
grow-finish pigshybrid ryeFeeding hybrid rye replacing wheat grain with or without enzyme to grow-finish hogs
laying hensfaba beanIncreasing inclusions of faba bean in laying hen diets: Effects on productivity, egg quality and carbon intensity
laying henscanola seedIncreasing inclusions of canola seed in laying hen diets: Effects on productivity, egg quality and carbon intensity
laying hensvariousDietary approaches to reduce the carbon intensity of table egg production - a conservative approach
laying hensvariousDietary approaches to reduce the carbon intensity of table egg production - a more aggressive approach
grow-finish piglow NE, feeder space, stocking densityEffects of dietary NE value, stocking density, feeder space and sex in grow-finish hogs
grow-finish pigsoy expeller, canola mealFeeding canola meal or soy expeller at two dietary net energy levels to growing-finishing barrows and gilts
grow-finish pigcamelinaFeeding diets with increasing camelina cake levels to nursery and grow-finish hogs
grow-finish piglow energyFeeding diets with decreasing net energy value to hogs
nursery pigcanola mealEffects of feeding high- and low-fibre fractions of air-classified, solvent-extracted canola meal on diet nutrient digestibility and growth performance of weaned pigs
nursery pigtriticaleComparison of 4 Spring triticale cultivars and low-protein wheat on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weaned pigs
grow-finish pigwheat DDGSIncreasing inclusions of wheat DDGS in diets for grower-finisher pigs: growth performance, carcass traits, pork yield, loin and belly quality
grow-finish pigcanola mealFeeding B. juncea or B. napus canola meal at increasing dietary inclusions to growing-finishing gilts and barrows
grow-finish pigcanola mealFeeding increasing inclusions of canola meal with distillers dried grains and solubles to growing-finishing barrows and gilts
grow-finish pigcorn DDGSWithdrawal of corn DDGS from late finisher rations; Effects on performance, carcass traits, economics, pork quality, retail appearance, sensory evaluation, and back fat and belly quality
grow-finish pigcanola mealFeeding yellow- vs. dark-seeded canola meal at increasing dietary inclusions to hogs
laying hensreduced ammonia emissionsPractical dietary strategies to reduce ammonia emission intensity of table eg production
laying henscamelina cakeCamelina sativa cake in practical layer diets: Effects of high dietary inclusion
laying henscamelina seed, flax seedCamelina seed vs. flaxseed for laying hens: Effects of seed processing on omega-3 content of eggs
laying henscamelina mealEvaluation of Camelina sativa meal as a feedstuff for layers: Effects of increasing dietary inclusion and layer strain on feed intake, egg production and egg characteristics
laying henscamelina mealCamelina sativa meal as a feedstuff for laying hens: II. Effects on egg quality and egg fatty acid profiles
laying henscamelina mealEvaluation of Camelina sativa meal as a feedstuff for layers: Effects of increasing dietary inclusion, copper supplementation and layer strain on post-mortem signs of toxicity, organ weights and serology
broilerscamelina mealScrew-pressed Camelina sativa meal as feedstuff for broilers: Effects of graded dietary inclusion on organ weights and post-mortem signs of toxicity
broilerscanola mealEffect of increasing dietary inclusion of solvent-extracted B. napus or B. juncea meals for broilers grown to 35-d of age on nutrient mass balance and calculated nitrogen emissions
broilerscanola mealA comparison of B. napus and B. juncea meals and their air-classified fractions: Growth performance, carcass traits and measured AME in growing broilers
laying henscanola mealChallenging the concept of maximum dietary inclusion levels of canola meal in laying hen diets
broilersfaba bean, field peaNutrient and energy digestibility in air-classified faba bean and field pea protein and starch concentrates in 21-day old broilers
broiler chickspulses and soyNutrient digestibility in air-classified pulse protein concentrates and wet-fractionated soy protein concentrate for 15-d-old broiler chicks
broilerswheat DDGSCan fractionation technology enhance the nutritional value of wheat DDGS for poultry?
broilersDDGSCan feeding diets containing up to 10% DDGS maintain broiler performance while reducing feed costs?
broilers -Perches for broilers: Effect of perch configuration and dietary crude protein level on growth performance, carcass traits and profitability
broilerscanola meal, triticale, pulsesCombination of six posters:
- Not all canola meals are created equal: Nutritional quality of meals produced by different oil extraction methods
- B. napus and B. juncea canola meals for broilers: I. Nutrient and energy digestibility
- B. napus and B. juncea canola meals for broilers: II. Effects of increasing dietary inclusion on growth performance, carcass traits and profitability
- Can triticale be a reliable alternative to wheat in broiler diets?
- Could pulses give soybean meal a run for your money?: I. Soy- vs. pulse protein concentrates for chicks
- Could pulses give soybean meal a run for your money?: II. Whole pulses vs. soybean meal for growing broilers
broilersenzymatically hydrolyzed caseinComparison of ileal endogenous amino acid measurements in growing broilers fed an N-free diet or a diet containing a source of highly digestible protein

Factsheets and extension articles

Links to several fact sheets, discussing topics relating to pig or poultry husbandry, as well as feed ingredients and technology, can be found by clicking on the links below.
 
 
 
 
Share via AddThis.com
For more information about the content of this document, contact Miranda Smit.
This information published to the web on November 17, 2014.
Last Reviewed/Revised on January 17, 2019.