Close to 100 agricultural sciences students attended Lakeland's Canadian Angus at Lakeland Technology & Information Field Day last month at the Centre for Ag Technology and G.N. Sweet Livestock Research Facility.

Featuring industry experts from the Canadian Angus Association (CAA), Growsafe, NeoGen, Datamars and Lakeland's applied research department, as well as local producers, the event provided local producers and students with the latest industry news and research.

“Getting the opportunity to meet other commercial and purebred producers from the area at an event like this, as well as industry organizations, helps us students learn to establish connections. I appreciate that Lakeland is helping us to build connections now,” says Robert Geis, a second-year animal science technology student in the beef major. Geis also emceed the event alongside fellow student Ben Rajotte.

Geis adds he received valuable information he can take back home to his parent's purebred black Angus operation in Barrhead, Alta.

Presentation topics included genomics by Michelle Miller, general manager with Neogen Canada; expected progeny differences and the development of a new genetic evaluation by Kajal Devani, director of science and technology with the CAA; producer's perspective on working with Lakeland by Greg and Amanda Pugh from Pugh Farms; and garlic trials results and RFI testing by Dr. Obi Durunna, Lakeland's livestock research scientist.

Photos: (Top) Robert Geis and Ben Rajotte emcee the Canadian Angus at Lakeland Information and Technology Field Day on Friday, Nov. 15. (Bottom) Kajal Devani, with the Canadian Angus Association, gives a presentation about expected progeny differences and the development of a new genetic evaluation.