Research Priorities 

For the competition, CRS welcomes any proposals that work towards the achievement of the research priorities outlined below.

The beef industry has defined two core research objectives under which more specific priorities are established:

• To enhance industry sustainability and reduce production costs, priority outcomes are to enhance feed and forage production, quantify the environmental impact of Canada’s beef industry, increase feed efficiency, decrease the impact of animal health issues and production limiting diseases, and ensure animal care.
• To improve beef demand and quality, priority outcomes are to reduce food safety incidences, define quality and yield benchmarks supporting the Canadian Beef Advantage, and improve beef quality through primary production improvements and the development and application of technologies to optimize cutout values and beef demand.

Beef production research is funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) under their mandate for technology transfer. A major factor for adoption of new technologies is the economic impact it will have on their operation. Looking at the short, medium and long term economic impact of adopting new and different production practices is critical to encouraging adoption of technologies that improve productivity.

Applicable priority areas include:

• Animal Health and Welfare
• Feed Grains and Feed Efficiency
• Forage and Grassland Productivity

All proposed research should give strong consideration to the following overarching aims:

•  Build on existing research results with cost:benefit analysis to inform technology transfer and adoption of research results on‐farm
• Improved communication, collaboration and understanding between researchers and industry
• Encouragement of interdisciplinary teams.

Outcome #1: Cost:Benefit of adopting different management practices or technology

• Cost of adopting recommended BMPs, particularly around Sustainability and Ecosystem Services (e.g. practices that reduce Greenhouse Gases)
• Cost of adopting various management practices (e.g. winter feeding programs, fertilizing forages, vaccination ‐ connection to Antimicrobial Use and Resistance)
• Adoption rates of various technologies
• The cost to the producers (and the public) of not utilizing the innovations currently available, including those recommended for climate adaptation.
• Forage cost of production ‐ Cost:Benfit of different management strategies, rejuvenating pasture options quality, rainfall, yield.

Outcome #2: Develop Producer Decision Making Tools

• For example, BCRC has already developed tools for pre‐conditioning, pre‐checking, natural breeding and the impact of body condition on cow productivity and profitability.
• Grading differences impact on COP and profitability of feedlots Outcome #3: Evaluate the Cost of Disease to the Canadian Beef Industry

Outcome #3: Evaluate the Cost of Disease to the Canadian Beef Industry

•  Cost of various production limiting diseases, low reproductive efficiency, and animal stress (e.g. predators)

Outcome #4: Improve understanding of farm involvement in ecosystem service programs and carbon tax implications

• What is the value of grassland carbon under a carbon tax? What is required for proof of management by producers and the cost of providing it?
• What is the value of maintaining wildlife habitat, water storage, etc.
• Ecosystem Service payment programs – how to set them up to be successful at a local, regional, provincial and national level