Advancing the beef industry through research

In the heart of Alberta, where cattle graze on vast prairies, the Beef Research Showcase unfolded — a gathering of industry experts, researchers, students, and passionate producers.

Among the voices that resonated during this event was that of Karin Schmid, Beef Production and Extension Lead at Alberta Beef Producers (ABP).

Schmid, who recently joined an episode of ABP’s podcast, The Bovine, explains that showcasing research results is crucial given that producer checkoff dollars fund much of the work presented.

The Showcase, which in 2024 was held at Olds College, didn’t always exist in its current form — it evolved from more modest beginnings.

“Pre-COVID, we used to have sessions with the ABP Research Committee where we’d get researchers in to talk about the results of projects we funded. And then of course, the pandemic hit and everything sort of shut down,” Schmid recalls.

When in-person meetings resumed, the research committee saw an opportunity to engage more producers in learning about funded work.

“They wanted to explore some ideas about how we could get some of this information out to the wider producer audience.”

A small test event was held in 2023, with ABP directors and delegates. It proved successful, prompting the committee to expand the concept. “They said, ‘let’s take this, and make it bigger and better.’ So that’s how this year’s version came to be,” she says.

Now in its second year, the 2024 Beef Research Showcase saw increased engagement from producers. Its growth stems directly from the research committee’s drive to better inform those who fund agricultural research through their checkoff dollars.

“[The research committee] said, ‘can we potentially partner with post-secondary institutions? Can we look at taking it on the road and moving it around so that we hit more parts of the province?'” Schmid says. Their efforts established an impactful new platform for connecting beef producers to research results and insights that can benefit operations for years to come.

The 2024 event saw researchers from Saskatchewan and Alberta present on projects covering topics like forages and feed grains, animal health and welfare, the environment, beef quality, and food safety. ABP works to curate a selection of completed or near-complete research representing these categories.

“We want to make sure that we have a spread of those types of projects that we can talk about,” says Schmid. Presenting applicable results allows producers to consider how findings might be adopted on their own operations.

One goal in showcasing research is demonstrating how individual projects contribute to long-term industry gains. As Schmid explains, when looking at research, it’s important to keep your eyes on the future, and what topics could be impacting producers down the line.

“Research done today, you generally don’t see results that matter tomorrow. You see them three, five, ten years down the line.”

By bringing together researchers and producers, the Beef Research Showcase also sparks new research ideas. Producer questions and on-farm challenges often lead to future research priorities. As Schmid notes, a current project examining itchy cattle is an example of research stemming from producer observations.

Overall, the annual Beef Research Showcase is an important opportunity for knowledge sharing and producer engagement with the research their dollars support. Events like this help ensure results from research investments in priority areas for beef producers are shared with who can benefit most from the information for many years to come.

Stay tuned for 2025 — as ABP takes the Beef Research Showcase on the road to a new location.

Learn about ABP-funded research projects on Alberta Beef Producers’ resource hub – albertabeef.org.