Enhancing climate change resiliency and environmental sustainability of the livestock industry through the use of innovative technology and rotational grazing practices

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Olds College (Alberta), a leader in applied research since 1999, carries out market-focused projects to enhance innovation in agriculture, horticulture, land and environmental management. The Olds College TAC for Livestock Production aims to advance production efficiencies and environmental sustainability. ARTP projects to improve productivity of grazing land and optimize tools/technologies that support alternative grazing practices will draw on TAC research expertise to boost plant diversity, enhance soil health and cattle nutrition under two overarching themes:1. Improve pasture productivity and environmental sustainability2. Validate carbon monitoring technologies to increase access to carbon credit programsRising production costs force cow-calf producers to continually increase efficiency. As feed accounts for 70% of the cost of raising cattle, producing more forage (feed) on the same amount of land can increase profits. As an environmentally sound alternative to conventional fertilizer, a soil additive called plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) performed well in preliminary studies, increasing forage production by approximately 100% with added benefits of improved forage quality and soil health. PGPB will be evaluated alongside the establishment of a high legume forage stand as tools to increase pasture productivity. Large portions of Alberta native grasslands have a history of poor management and overgrazing. Rotational grazing could successfully support pasture rejuvenation and promote carbon capture in the soil-a win for the environmental. TAC will validate two technologies for accessing carbon-offset programs. The first will measure changes in soil carbon as a result of improved grazing management, providing necessary data to further develop this technology and enable ranchers to be compensated for adopting practices that help store carbon in soils. The second will remotely verify grazing practices. An aerospace company will provide imagery from space using novel optical technology and small satellites. This research will allow the SME to calibrate and validate a proprietary algorithm to remotely verify grazing practices, a process that will reduce costly reliance on carbon credit program inspectors to travel to sites. Olds College is excited to work with four Alberta-based SMEs to address overgrazed pastures in Western Canada and deliver impactful results that accelerate partners toward innovation commercialization.