A vet who's made substantial contributions to cattle health and welfare was honoured in London, Ontario last week at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference.

Dr. Eugene Janzen is a professor and researcher at the University of Calgary College of Veterinary Medicine, and was presented with the Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation.

Dr. Janzen says, he's been working with a group of people for five years on effectively controlling pain in beef cattle.

"Those are probably the two things that concern me most of all, improving our diagnostics and improving the welfare of our animals,and a part of improving the welfare is looking after pain wherever we can."

He says, he's also interested in emerging conditions in Alberta livestock.

"We're changing how we farm, so as we change how we farm, and graze corn, and we no longer summer fallow, all of a sudden we have to be concerned about mycotoxins, so we'd better be aware that's out there. It behooves people like me to make sure we get enough infrastructure to diagnose that and deal with it."

Some of Dr. Janzen's other research includes toe-tip necrosis syndrome in feedlot animals and livestock welfare during transport.

The Beef Cattle Research Council says, Dr. Janzen has also contributed to a number of other health and welfare issues in the beef industry such as diseases and pathology of feedlot cattle, including bovine respiratory disease, neurological conditions and Mycoplasma bovis, diseases and pathology of cow-calf operations, Johne’s disease, Bovine Viral Diarrhea, lameness, herd health and treatment protocols, epidemiology, antimicrobial use and resistance, sexually transmitted diseases, health effects of feedlot feeding programs, remote necropsy and disease surveillance and diagnostics.

“There are few people with a broader or more prolonged impact on the beef industry than Dr. Eugene Janzen,” said Ryan Beierbach, Chair of the Beef Cattle Research Council and producer near Whitewood, SK. “His work on disease management and accurate diagnosis has been extremely valuable and continues to help the industry to better understand, treat, and prevent issues in cattle health and welfare.”

Dr. Janzen says, it's an an honour to be recognized.

"There's so many other capable people around me that probably deserve the honour a lot more than I do, but I'm pleased, needless to say, that the industry has honoured me."

The Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation is presented annually by the Beef Cattle Research Council.

The award recognizes scientists and academics who are actively involved in strong research programs aligned with industry priorities, continually engage with industry stakeholders, and demonstrate their passion and long-term commitment through leadership, teamwork, and mentorship.

 

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