Research report / Alberta Agricultural Research Institute

4 Pages·1997·1.2 MB·English

by  Alberta Agricultural Research Institute

1997
CANADiANA
1997 Issue One
Alberta Agricultural Research Institute • AARI
Lysvk. "Control has been very
difficult." Insecticides are generally
ineffective due to the wide
distribution of adults and larv ae. Strict
sanitation is useful up to a point, but
is stymied by the widespread flv
breeding habits. The basis of the
research project was to examine the
potential of biological agents -
specifically, wasps naturally occurring
in Alberta.
Dr. Lysvk continues: "We used tour
parasitic wasps. Thev are much
smaller than the common garden
variety, and, as tar as is known, pose
no environmental threats, except to
the stable fly. One wasp species,
Mucidifurax raptor, was very effective
Pesticide spraying of cattle partially controls stable Hies.
and consumed the most number of
flies. M. raptorellus achieved the
highest host kill when released in
Pesky Flies Inflict Serious large numbers. It also showed the
ability to produce progeny, at half the
cost of other Muscidifurax species,
Losses on Cattle Industry
suggesting it is more economical for
Researchers investigate biological control
rearing and prodw Hon.
(cont'd on page 3)
I f o ne wants to look at animal
Canada Research Centre. "Along with
health and welfare from an the energy expended trying to ward
obvious and realistic vantage, off the flies, this adds up to significant Inside
consider the case of cattle and
weight loss." Based on IW1 figures,
I their nemesis: stable flies. The
the stable fly i s responsible for a total
stable fly is a bloodsucking pest of loss in Alberta of $5.5 million a year! Alternative Forage
cattle. It inflicts very painful bites on
Stable flies, which look like horseflies,
the cattle, subjecting them to a very
are very widespread globally and
high degree of stress. This results in a
affect many animals, as well as Stable Flies (cont'd)
loss of meat quality. Economic losses
humans. Thus, the Alberta
Green Seed in Canola
occur at very low attack rates of one or
Agricultural Research Institute (ARI)
two flies per foreleg.
funded a project, under its Farming
In the Works
for the Future Direct Funding
The stable fly has become a serious
Program, "Development of Biological
problem in Alberta. "It interferes with Control Methods for Stable Flies in Annual Research Proposals .
the animal's ability to convert feed/' Feedlots" (#920100). Review *\
says Dr. Tim Lysyk, Research Scientist
in Livestock Entomology at the
"The stable fly is very aggressive and
'Research Report" on the WEB 4
Lethbridge Agriculture and Agri-Food
its bite is painful," continues Dr.
li R f ort
Alfalfa Alternative
Fenugreek shows diverse potential as a forage crop and a natural source of steroids
interest in alternative annual legumes, • To compare the effect of feeding
FenuEtgruardraisteiiaonen a lkpllyi a sn at b .e c el nIot vs eu rssleeiedkd es, l ohra ve fenugreek being one. aslufpalpfla e more n fteendu g rweietkh bsairlalgeey grain on
An Alberta research team from
pungent and aromatic growth rate, dry matter (DM)
flavourings. Although it has Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's intake, feed digestibility and feed
been grown in the Middle East and Lethbridge Research Centre, led by conversion efficiency.
the tropics, recent interest has Dr. Zahir Mir, is exploring the benefits
occurred in cultivating this crop in of growing fenugreek in Alberta. The • To determine the effects of feeding
temperate zones. Part of the interest research project is "Evaluation of sfteenruogirde ehko r smiolnaeg e -cbaosnecde n tdriaettis o nosn in
arises from the presence of diosgenin Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) the blood of feedlot steers.
in the seed. Diosgenin is a naturally as an Annual Forage Legume for Beef
occurring steroid used in the Cattle", project 940539. The basic Results from this study were very
manufacture of progesterone, other project objectives were to evaluate positive as far as potential economic
ccoornttircaocsetpetriovnee . steroids and dfieonsuggerneienk laesv eal s f e eidn , t haen d n e two tcersot p f oars ggarionwsn t ou n tdhee r p riorvriingcaet.e d F pernauigriree ek
well as the steroid's effects in the conditions is a forage with a high DM
Fenugreek also has merit as an annual cattle blood. vield and protein content and has the
forage legume. Its seed is high in potential to be similar in nutritive
The objectives of the research
protein. Alfalfa, on the other hand, is value for cattle as alfalfa. Several types
experiments were:
one of the most important forage of steroidal sapogenins were detected
crops in North America. It has the • To determine yield and nutritional in the seed and the forage. Results
highest feeding value for livestock of quality of fenugreek forage at from the feeding trial indicated the
all commonly grown crops. However, varying stages of maturity. nutritive value of fenugreek silage
some producers do not want their
• To determine diosgenin content of was comparable to that of full-bloom
land allocated to one crop species for fenugreek in the whole plant, alfalfa silage for growing steers.
several years with a perennial crop forage and seed at varying stages of Presence of steroidal sapogenins in
such as alfalfa. For this reason, there is maturity. fenugreek forage did not adversely
affect steer performance or hormonal
status. Fenugreek has potential to be a
valuable forage in feedlot diets.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Z. Mir, Project Manager,
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,
Lethbridge Research Centre, PO Box
3000, Main, Lethbridge AB T1J 4B1.
Phone: (403) 327-4561
Fax: (403) 382-3156
RESULTS TO DATE
Fenugreek found to be a nutritionally
sound forage alternative to alfalfa.
Naturally occurring steroids present in
fenugreek did not affect cattle.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS
The identification of an alternate forage
Fenugreek
crop and the potential of a natural
Photo by
steroid could result in economic gains
Dr. Stan Blade for Alberta's agricultural industry.
□
Research Report
Stable Flies (cont'd)
Although it Likes 2-4 weeks to show a l:or more information, please contact
difference (several releases required), Dr. Tim I v svk, Project Manager, RESULTS TO DATE
the use of wasps is on par with the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,
New biological control for stable flies
cost of pesticides, and better if there Lethbridge Research C entre,
found. Good potential
are flies with insecticide resistance. Lethbridge AB
1 l owever, the combination of wasps
POTENTIAL BENEFITS
Phone:
and pesticides may be the way to go. (403) 327-4561
Wasps, themselves, certainly showed Fax: [phone] Possible high revenues from cattle
good potential as biological control weight gain.
agents.
Decrease Greening Rather Than Increase
De-greening
Researcher discovers technology to minimize green canola seed
An innovative solution was laboratory scale. Our next research
"Canada has a serious problem with
conceived. The research was phase will be working with the
green canola seed," says Dr. Anne
Johnson-Flanagan, Associate Professor conducted under API's Farming for industry, using advanced hybrids, to
in the University of Alberta's the Future Matching Grants Program, develop transgenic cultivars of the
Department of Agricultural, Food and project #^5M756. Genetic engineering
Nutritional Science. "Green seed allowed Dr. Johnson-Flanagan to
occurs naturally and can dramatically For more information, please contact:
solve the problem. "The greening is
deteriorate the oil quality. The oil is produced by antisense chlorophyll Dr. Anne Johnson-Flanagan, Associate
left with a bad taste from the process a/b binding proteins (CAB). In our Professor, University of Alberta,
laboratory, we successfully removed Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and
of photo-oxidation."
one of the CAB genes from a Brassica 1 [ ompela n Et.c"o nomics, 410 Agriculture/
Alberta is second in the nation for napus canola, and placed it back in the Forestry Centre
canola production. As important genome, but in reverse order (thus the
canola is to Alberta and Canada, it is term antisense). The green problem Phone: (403) 492-3239
vital to minimize or eliminate green was reduced. We also found a Fax: (403) 442-4265
seed. The green pigment can be decrease in re-greening under frost E-mail: chair@a fns.ua lberta.ca
removed with bleach - a costlv
conditions."
process. Also, the clay used for
RESULTS TO DATE
bleaching cannot be re-used, and must Dr. Johnson-Flanagan continues, "The
be discarded at landfill sites.
technology has been proven on a Genetic engineering of canola drastically
reduced the problem of seed greening in
the laboratory.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS
When available in commercial seed,
improved quality of canola = higher
returns for producers and reduced costs
for processors.
Potentially, many new acres could be
available for growing canola, particularly
in "borderline" areas of the province
where climatic conditions are not ideal
for a good canola crop (such as
northern regions).
Green seeds are extreme! v undesir ible in canola.
National Library of Canada
Bibliotheque nationale du Canada
I
Research Re o rt
3 3286 51258 5999
In the Works - P rojects New and Underway
Ostrich market researched in two projects
w o projects started in the past ostrich chicks (1-5 davs) to meat leading to the establishment of a
year are examining the market birds (12-18 months). Fifteen viable ostrich industry.
potential for an ostrich Peace region producers are
market in Alberta. The In the other ostrich project,
cooperating on the project.
projects, funded under ARI's "Feasibility of Alternative Meats -
Farming for the Future On-Farm Anticipated benefits are: improved Ostrich" (Project #95SR15), a few of
Demonstration Program, tackle the economics of ostrich production; via a the many objectives are: 1) to
goal from opposite ends of the feedlot, production efficiencies will be determine consumer acceptability of
agricultural chain: production in maximized; reduced shipping costs of ostrich meat, and, 2) to develop
feedlots, and consumer acceptability finished birds; and (long-term), a consistency on ways of promoting the
of ostrich meat. successful feedlot operation will create meat, nutritional analysis, storage life,
a new avenue for livestock and cooking methods. Economic
diversification not only in the Peace benefits are expected to arise from
Starting with the producer, "Ostrich
country, but all of Alberta, thus increased recognition at the consumer
Feedlot Project" (project #96PR06) will
try to prove the viability of raising level.
Research Report on the
Web
That Time of Year Again
Research proposals reviewed
"Research Report" is now available
on the Worldwide Web. It can be
TherRyeeasere a rf iocsr h n to h Ie ne sa tAsigitrnuitgce .u ilnttuor a tlh e new tachpoepm lm ibiactsatitsei oe nso,f AtwRhhIoi rc ohpur ig oharrlieyt i et shr,ee nv ti herewan n k eseveden tr yo tno hftoutnpd: / /awt w twh.ea g froilcl.ogwoivn.g a ba.dcdar/emsis:n istry/
agency/aari.html
January is a busy month, the Board of Directors for final
during which hundreds of decisions. Once the A ARI site is found, it can be
research proposals are evaluated for bookmarked. This will eliminate any
scientific merit and potential benefits Project approval occurs in late future need to type out the long
to the provincial economy. Proposals February/early March. Funding is address. Plans are to put a limited
are grouped into six technical areas: either partial or 100%, depending on number of back issues on the WEB.
the program. The Farming for the Any comments, suggestions,
• Beef and dairy
Future Matching Grants Program, for
• Cereals and oilseeds example, funds projects usually on a qcaune s tbieo ndsi r eacbtoeudt t o" R tehsee a erdcihto r R eapt o trhte"
• Forages, pulses, vegetables and 50:50 basis. following address:
other crops [email protected]
For more information, please contact:
• Pork, poultry, sheep and other
livestock Patrick Marce, Communications
Officer, Alberta Agriculture, Food and
• Resource conservation
Research Report is a publication nf the Alberta
Rural Development, Research
Agricultural Research Institute. EDITOR: Patrick
• Policy, economics and marketing Division, 7000-113 Street, Edmonton
Marce, Communications Officer, Research Division
AB T6H5T6.
of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural
Each technical area has its own
Development, #202, 7000 - 1 13 Street, Edmonton,
committee. The committees are
Phone: (403) 422-6575 Alberta T6H 5T6 (403) 427-1956. Permission is
well-represented by producers, Fax: (403) 427-3252 granted to reproduce articles providing Research
Report is c redited. The editor welcomes typewritten
processors, private sector
E-mail: [email protected] articles or ideas pertaining to agricultural research
organizations, government research
and technology transfer. ©Alberta Agricultural
centres and university research Research Institute.
scientists. In January of every year, the