Jade St. Peter Position/Title: M.Sc. by thesis email: stpeterj@uoguelph.ca Phone: Office: ANNU 032 LinkedIn

After unexpectedly ending my B.Sc Agr. (Animal Science) in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I decided to continue my studies at the University of Guelph. I am a current M.Sc. by thesis student studying under Dr. Ira Mandell, looking at pasture production methods to benefit beef producers and the environment. I come from a small cow-calf operation, so this topic runs very close to home for me. I wanted to be a part of the industry I loved and jumped at the opportunity to be around cattle and research in the outdoors for my masters. 

Greenhouse gasses (GHG) are a popular topic in the media surrounding beef cattle. Recent research has looked into the effects of carbon sequestration on net carbon emissions from pasture production systems. Carbon sequestration is when carbon dioxide is taken from the atmosphere and stored in the soil. Therefore, carbon emissions from grazing cattle may be offset entirely, if not negative, due to carbon sequestration. Intensely managed grazing can increase forage quality and minimize GHG emissions/acre per Kg meat produced. However, less intense grazing may maximize weight gain and may increase carbon sequestration within a system. More research is needed to understand grazing methods best for carbon sequestering and animal performance without compromising producers' end goal, producing meat products in the most efficient way possible. We tested this with ~130 cow-calf pairs grazing on rotational, continuous, set stocked, and strip grazing treatments. We used these treatments to track the animal and forage productivity; soil scientists will later assess the soil for change in carbon stores. Much of the current research on carbon sequestration and grazing is from western Canada; this research helps Ontario producers understand the best grazing methods for our climate and management style. 

We are also doing work on extending the grazing season using stockpiled forages for bred heifers. Stockpiling forages consists of resting the forage in late summer to accumulate, allowing cattle to graze the forage in the fall months past the typical grazing season. Although the Canadian research on extended grazing is based in western Canada, we hope to provide relevant grazing practices for extended grazing in Ontario. We examined the use of birdsfoot trefoil, alfalfa, and a seeded grass mix for effectiveness in an extended grazing system. Our project's first year showed unexpected results; alfalfa pastures held cattle for longer than the trefoil and numerically longer than grass fields, contrary to most literature stating grass species are best in an extended grazing system. 

After my M.Sc., I hope to work in the feed industry, which I grew to love while working at a feed store and Sunderland co-op during my summers. I enjoyed working and talking with producers, and I hope to have a career that allows me to do that daily.