Ontario researcher earns international award for heightened immune response detection technology Friday, November 8, 2013 contributed photo: Bonnie Mallard, centre, and her team that developed technology to identify cattle with heightened immune response to disease by SUSAN MANN Technology developed by University of Guelph researcher Bonnie Mallard and her team to help identify cattle with a heightened immune response to diseases has won one of 10 Dairy Innovation Awards at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin. Mallard, an immunogeneticist at the university’s Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) department of pathobiology, says the awards are handed out annually for new technologies “that they think are game changers.” The purpose of her technology, called High Immune Response, is to select cattle for disease resistance. Mallard says she was thrilled when she found out her technology won an award. “I think it’s the dream of every researcher to take some fundamental idea and do the basic research and then the applied research and then the market research. We’ve done all of that here.” The University of Guelph owns the technology and last year issued an exclusive license to the Semex Alliance to identify bulls with “superior immunity.” Semex’s High Immune Response sires are known as Immunity + bulls. Mallard says her lab does the blood and skin measurement test for Semex on their dairy and beef bulls. But the test can also be used for females, calves and mature animals. It can even be used for pigs. There’s a genetic basis to the immune system and if “there is a defect there are serious disease consequences,” notes Mallard. It’s very rewarding to see her work being used by the industry, she says. Mallard says her innovation is also good for consumers because “healthy animals produce better and safer dairy products. It’s based on an individual cow’s natural ability to make an immune response so we’re not using genetic modifications.” BF New Chatham farm show highlights regional producers FCC makes best employers' list - again
Take a virtual reality tour of Ontario’s egg and sheep farms Saturday, December 21, 2024 Canadians now have the opportunity to explore new virtual farm tours on www.FarmFood360.ca, thanks to Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO), is a coalition of farmers, agriculture and food partners proactively working together to grow public trust and confidence in food and farming. The... Read this article online
Snow Begone: The RapidTrak Series Friday, December 20, 2024 BYLINE: Zahra Sadiq Winter is upon us, and with it comes thick layers of snow, making everything just a little more difficult. But it doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to the RapidTrak Snow Blowers by Ariens. This company’s story starts in 1933 when Henry Ariens took his sons... Read this article online
AEM partners with Euro counterpart to enhance global alignment on key ag manufacturer issues Friday, December 20, 2024 The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the European Agricultural Machinery Association (CEMA) have signed a () to enhance advocacy efforts for the agricultural equipment industry. The agreement seeks to create a positive legislative and regulatory environment across... Read this article online
The 2024 Topigs Norsvin Canada Awards Banquet Thursday, December 19, 2024 Topigs Norsvin Canada Inc.—headquartered in Oak Bluff, Manitoba—is a global leader in swine genetics, and recently held its in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Stratford, Ontario, via two events for its producers. The banquets blended recognition for outstanding production achievements and... Read this article online
Premier equipment strengthens reach with new acquisition Wednesday, December 18, 2024 Premier Equipment, a John Deere dealership in southwestern Ontario, has reached an agreement to acquire Hutchinson Farm Supply, effective January 31, 2025. Hutchinson, which has been in business for 60 years, has served agriculture and rural property owners in York and Durham... Read this article online