A new epigenetic testing pilot in Manitoba is helping dairy farmers optimize herd health and productivity by looking at how genes respond to the environment.
Tag Archives genomics
Epigenetics startup brings new insights to dairy herd performance
A new testing pilot in Manitoba is helping dairy farmers optimize herd health and productivity
Zoetis to acquire Neogen Corp. genomics business
Zoetis Inc. expects to close the acquisition of Neogen Corp.’s animal genomics business in the second half of 2026.
Climate-smart agriculture and genomics research hubs receive federal funds
The University of Guelph will co-host two new genomics hubs that will work together to maximize the impact of climate-smart agriculture and genomics research. The hubs – the Agricultural Genomics Action Centre and the Climate Smart-Data Collaboration Centre– will receive $6.6 million in funding from Genome Canada’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems initiative. Nine interdisciplinary challenge teams (ICT) to investigate how […] Read more
Dairy farmers challenged to make tough genomics choices
Heifers at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show displayed competing genomic priorities
At Rose Vega Farm near Cambridge, Luke and Kelly Donkers agree that emotion sometimes creeps its way into dairy breeding decisions. But at the recent Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS), Luke also agreed that when it comes to overall dairy farm profitability, genomics is a valuable tool. “There are probably more grey-haired cows on our […] Read more
New dairy innovations featured at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show
Dairy business leaders’ perception of what consumers expect of Canadian farmers is driving information technology innovation in the sector. The DeLaval dairy equipment company used the 2023 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show to officially launch in Canada and the U.S. its DeLaval Plus Behavior Analysis tool for monitoring in-barn cow behaviour and herd health. The company’s […] Read more
Ontario Genomics receives major investments to grow cellular agriculture
German-based company and FedDev Ontario contribute millions to develop manufacturing capabilities
Cultivating a Canadian cellular agriculture industry is a driving vision since 2019 for Bettina Hamelin, Ontario Genomics’ founder and CEO. Her vision is becoming a reality with the launch of a brick-and-mortar manufacturing, production and innovation facility in Burlington. “It’s happening. We’re creating an industry in Ontario that’s going to benefit Ontarians,” Hamelin told Farmtario. […] Read more
FedDev boosting early-stage genomics companies through $5.6 funding of BioCreate
Ontario Genomics’ program will assist in commercialize genomics and engineering biology products
Ontario Genomics’ BioCreate program has received approximately $5.6 million to scale and commercialize genomics and engineering biology technology in southern Ontario. Over five years, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) funding will provide 32 high-potential small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 18 months of intensive business mentorship and access to critical infrastructure to scale-up […] Read more
Beef sector faces genomic roadblocks
Researcher urges industry to make the most of new technology, but producers say it must be worth the time it will require
Glacier FarmMedia – Producers must keep better records in order for the cow-calf industry to use the full potential of genomics to select cattle for desirable traits, says a scientist. “If you’re going to take advantage of any of the new technologies, having a comprehensive individual cow record-keeping system is essential,” said John Basarab, a […] Read more
Bringing rapid genetic testing to the farm
Competition win helped Harvest Genomics bring its technology to the agriculture industry
The last two years have been a whirlwind for Harvest Genomics CEO and co-founder Chris Grainger. After his Guelph-based start-up won the University of Guelph Gryphon’s LAAIR pitch competition in 2020, the company has been on a rapid growth trajectory. Launching a business in the middle of a pandemic was not without its challenges, but […] Read more
Genomics have growing influence on dairy herd management
Identification of beneficial genes is leading to improved economic heifer traits
Dairy cow genetic performance has raced ahead since the advent of genomics, bringing dairy farmers more ways to select for higher profitability cows. More data gathering could create even more capacity for genomic improvement. Christine Baes, Canada research chair in Livestock Genomics at the University of Guelph, who is also a researcher and lecturer at […] Read more