The Fund

Research is a key element in the development of any industry. Since 1994, Quebec cattle producers have managed a Research Fund, which allows them to fund structuring projects for their production sectors. The creation of this Fund was approved by the Régie des marchés agricoles et alimentaires du Québec.

This Fund is essential to initiate research projects that correspond to the needs of Quebec cattle producers. The research is generally performed by government research centres, universities, private laboratories or private groups.

The financial contribution of the private sector very often determines the government’s contribution and is even a condition for government involvement in most cases.

The Fund is built up by a special levy on each head of cattle marketed. It is administered by the five production sectors through their marketing committee. The research projects cover the environment, animal health, herd management and marketing.

Projects

Since 1999, about 70 research projects have been funded in whole or in part by the Research Fund. During this period, producers invested $2 million for research projects valued at a total of $8.5 million.

The projects concerned fundamental and applied research, technology transfer, epidemiological studies, development of technological tools, and literature reviews. This research was conducted by universities (Laval, McGill, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and others), government and paragovernmental research centres (Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment (IRDA), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Research Centres, Centre de recherche en sciences animales de Deschambault (CRSAD) and others) and private organizations (e.g.: AGÉCO Group, Groupe-conseil BPR, Envir-Eau inc., Éco-Ressources Consultants and others).

The research results are disseminated in various ways by the Federation. Most are presented in the magazine Bovins du Québec, in order to reach all Quebec cattle producers.

Research projects conducted in 2009

1. Environmental projects
Project Responsibility Wintering pen Standards analysis Envir-Eau Improvement of Wintering pen management Consultant Roger St-Cyr Study of soils saturated in phosphor UPA Beauce

2. Animal health projects
Project Responsibility Veterinary expertise FPBQ Evaluation of antibodies on vaccinated feeder calves FPBQ and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Evaluation of humoral response FMV and FPBQ

3. Herd feeding and management projects
Project Responsibility Bovitrace software FPBQ New nutritional approaches for replacement of implants in heavy calves McGill University Mr. Leroy E. Phillip Feeder Calf immune system improvement by selenium control FMV

4. Marketing projects, business initiatives
Project Responsibility Chair in agricultural policy analysis and collective marketing Université Laval GREPA Beef Market  analysis and  identification of opportunity Groupe Dancause