June 6, 2012
Agriculture Canada, Nova Scotia to fund alternative poultry feed source study
Agriculture Canada and Nova Scotia''s Ministry of Agriculture would invest in research projects across Atlantic Canada''s four provinces, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, to search for new sources of feed.
The research will also include new health initiatives for the poultry and egg industry.
One project being funded seeks to identify "healthy, cost-effective alternatives to traditional feed, such as omega (3)-rich crab meal, canola seeds and cold-pressed canola oil," Agriculture Canada explained in a press release.
The Atlantic Poultry Research Institute will receive C$820,000in funding from the government''s Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program, which is jointly funded by the national and provincial governments.
"The government of Nova Scotia is investing in these projects to support scientific research that will improve the poultry sector''s adaptability, competitiveness and innovation," Nova Scotia Minister of Agriculture John MacDonell said.
Six different research projects are being funded. One project aims to identify ways to increase omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants in chickens and eggs. Another seeks to assess ways to improve flock health and reduce disease.
Other research projects being funded include one to develop a new approach to vaccination, and another will look for a way to cut antibiotic use in poultry rearing.