ELORA – University of Guelph researcher Emma Borkowski, who is focusing on a pathogens in ruminant livestock is the winner of this year’s Early Career Research Award, funded by funded by the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC), Grand River Agricultural Society, Western Fair Association, and the Ontario Agricultural and Veterinary colleges.
Borkowski will receive $70,000 to help fund her research into controlling gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) in sheep and goats.
The pathogen causes severe disease and death in the animals, as well as significant financial losses for producers because of decreased growth, and wool and milk production in affected animals.
Existing treatments for GINs focus on medications, but only two products are licensed in Canada for sheep and none for goats. Resistance to those existing treatments is a growing problem too. Many farmers are turning to indoor housing to control GINs, a costly move and less sustainable than grazing pasture.
Borkowski’s research will focus on understanding and leveraging natural immune responses for GIN control, including breeding for better immunity.
“Emma’s research has the potential to have a big impact on the livestock industry in Ontario and LRIC is proud to support her work with this award,” said LRIC board director Tara Terpstra when presenting the award on June 1.
The research award first launched in 2022 and is designed to encourage cross-sectoral and cross-disciplinary approaches to livestock research.
