Collaboration and networking opportunities were key themes at the second annual University of Guelph Swine Research Day last week, bringing together researchers, industry and government representatives.
The U of G Swine Research Day was initiated in 2016, formed by the merging of the Centralia Swine Research Update and the Mike Wilson Swine Research Day. This one-day meeting highlights U of G swine-focused research. This year, the day was organized by the newly formed Ontario Swine Research Network (OSRN), established by University of Guelph swine researchers, along with representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the swine industry.
The 2017 event moved to a larger venue on the U of G campus recognizing increased interest from researchers and industry participants.
“We had over 160 people attend the meeting. I was very happy to see such a large turnout of representatives from across the swine industry as well as many researchers from across campus. The goal of the meeting is to disseminate research findings to the industry and to bring researchers and industry together to share research results, ideas and discuss future research needs,” said Terri O’Sullivan, assistant professor in the Ontario Veterinary College’s department of Population Medicine and one of the day’s organizers.
In welcoming attendees to the day, Ontario Veterinary College Dean Jeff Wichtel noted there are many things “we’re proud of at the University of Guelph and the Ontario Veterinary College and today particularly proud to talk about the Swine Research Network.”
“To bring this number of people together for the research day is a tribute to the swine industry, which sets the bar for innovation and sustainability,” he added.
Prizes were awarded for poster pitches and oral presentations from Masters and PhD candidates Back row, from left: Kristen Reynolds, Terri O’Sullivan (Committee Chair), Adam Totafurno. Front row, from left: Doug Richards (CSRU representative), Amanda Perri, Angie Bosman, Emily Miller, Dylan Melmer, Shayla Larson, Wilfredo Mansilla.
Dr. Jim Squires, Professor and Chair of the Department of Animal Biosciences, announced that an endowed graduate scholarship in swine nutrition is being created in memory of Kees de Lange who passed away in August 2016. Squires introduced keynote speaker Dr. John Patience, Iowa State University, who delivered the first first Dr. Kees de Lange Memorial Lecture titled: The evolution of diet formulation - a look to the future.
During his career at the University of Guelph, de Lange published more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and more than 130 presentations on swine nutrition. In addition to teaching undergraduate students, he supervised over 50 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Most of his students have gone on to leading positions in the swine industry, the animal feed industry, and faculty positions. More information about the scholarship can be found at: uofg.convio.net/keesdelange
Dr. Mike Wilson attended the day and keynote speaker Dr. John Deen, a professor of veterinary epidemiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota, presented the Dr. Mike Wilson Keynote Lecture, titled: From production to demand medicine?
The day also featured research updates from UofG faculty across campus, as well as poster pitches and oral presentations from Masters and PhD candidates engaged in swine research at the University of Guelph. The Centralia Swine Research Update (CSRU) generously funded the graduate student oral and poster competition.
Prizes were presented by Doug Richards, a founding member of the CSRU. Awards for the CSRU Graduate Student Poster Competition, 2 Minute Oral Poster Pitches went to Kristen Reynolds (Department of Population Medicine), first place, and Wilfredo Mansilla (Department of Animal Biosciences), second place.
In the CSRU Graduate Student Oral Presentation Competition, MSc Category, first place went to Adam Totafurno (Department of Animal Biosciences), and runner-ups were Shayla Larson (Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology) and Dylan Melmer (Department of Population Medicine).
In the CSRU Graduate Student Oral Presentation Competition: PhD Category, first place went to Amanda Perri (Department of Population Medicine) and runner-ups were Angie Bosman (Department of Population Medicine) and Emily Miller (Department of Animal Biosciences).
To follow U of G swine research updates and other news items please visit the OSRN website.
Save the date for the 2018 U of G Swine Research Day which is planned for Wednesday May 18, 2018
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