April 16, 2018
Ranching family donates $2 million to create beef cattle research chair
Alberta鈥檚 beef cattle industry will be richer in knowledge thanks to a significant gift from the Simpson family.
A major research program in beef cattle health launched last week, with the announcement of Dr. Edouard Timsit as the inaugural Simpson Ranch Chair in Beef Health and Wellness. Timsit is pictured above, with other faculty and donors, from left: Dr. Baljit Singh, Luke Simpson, Dr. Edouard Timsit, Christie Simpson, John Simpson and University of 不良研究所 President Elizabeth Cannon.
Timsit is an assistant professor of cattle health at the University of 不良研究所 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM), where he鈥檚 developed an internationally recognized research program on Bovine Respiratory Disease, the most common and costly disease affecting the beef cattle industry.
鈥淚 see this Chair as a way to tackle some issues that the industry is facing right now, and more specifically I see the funding as a way to fund some applied research,鈥 says Timsit. 鈥淎nd also to do some what we call extension work, to reach out to the community and use this fund to go into the countryside and train producers and see how we can do things better.鈥
鈥淎lberta is the heart of cattle country and UCVM is proud to partner with the beef cattle industry to find ways to improve cattle health and wellness 鈥 and the health of the industry,鈥 says Dr. Baljit Singh, UCVM dean. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why the Simpson family鈥檚 investment in beef health research is so vital.鈥
Dr. Edouard Timsit wants to tackle some of the issues facing Alberta's beef cattle industry.
Riley Brandt, University of 不良研究所
Simpson family committed to Alberta's beef industry
John Simpson, who grew up on the cow calf ranch his father established in the foothills near Cochrane in 1956, operates Simpson Ranching along with his children Christie and Luke Simpson. He and his family are committed to Alberta鈥檚 beef industry and pride themselves on being on the leading edge of research and technology for the wellness of their own cattle.
鈥淚t was about 10 years ago when we started off trying to create this Simpson Ranch Chair in Beef Health and Wellness, and I was concerned that the industry was not moving towards where the consumer was wanting beef to go and I think this is going to do a lot to get us to that point,鈥 Simpson says. 鈥淲e鈥檝e moved a long way in 10 years but we鈥檝e still got long ways to go.鈥
The announcement of the inaugural Simpson Ranch Chair in Beef Health and Wellness.
Riley Brandt, University of 不良研究所
'A huge benefit to the industry'
With the Chair funding, Timsit will lead a major research program in priority areas including antimicrobial resistance, surveillance and control of production-limiting and zoonotic diseases, reproduction, lameness, and beef quality and safety. He also plans to work closely with the beef cattle community to identify and address emerging issues.
And Christie Simpson believes that community will embrace the work of the new Chair. 鈥淭o have a partnership with veterinarians who can speak for the industry in a completely unbiased, completely science-based research-based approach is a huge benefit to the industry,鈥 she says.