Dairy research receives a sizable boost

Embrun, Ont. – A recent investment in the dairy sector will focus on creating more innovation and enhancing sustainability.

The Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) announced that it had received $12 million from the federal government to lead a research cluster.

The cluster will bring together scientific expertise needed to research key areas such as:

• sustainable milk production;
• dairy genetics and genomics; and
• the nutrition of milk products.

The research will help to increase the competitiveness of the sector by improving productivity and animal health and welfare.

It will also bring innovative and competitive dairy products with health benefits to the market.

The DFC is also working closely with the Canadian Dairy Network and the Canadian Dairy Commission to invest more than $6 million in addition to the federal investment to support cutting-edge research to strengthen the sector.

The research cluster will support what industry has identified as the highest priority research, done by the best Canadian experts in research centres across the country.

Agriculture Canada researchers will collaborate on several priorities, including:

• research that leads to genetic improvement for dairy cattle productivity and profitability
• establishing innovative practices for sustainable milk production
• gaining a better understanding of the link between dairy foods and nutrition.

Canada is leading the way in dairy genetics and the results of research have helped to significantly improve milk production per cow over the last 30 years.

This has helped to open markets in the Middle East, Pacific Rim and South America, with exports of over $110 million in dairy genetics last year.