Chaouki Benchaar, Ph. D.

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Research Scientist

Dr. Benchaar is a research scientist at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre (Quebec) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. He obtained (with distinction) a Ph.D. in Dairy Cow Nutrition and Metabolism from “Institut National Polytechnique” of Toulouse, France. After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Benchaar joined Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, Sherbrooke, Quebec) to work as a post-doctoral fellow (1994-1997) and research assistant (1997-2000). Since April 2000, he is a Research Scientist in Dairy Cow Nutrition and Metabolism/Sustainable Dairy Production at the Sherbrooke Research and Development. His research program focuses mainly on: 1) Quantification and mitigation of enteric methane emissions from dairy cows; 2) Impact of dietary enteric methane strategies on emissions from stored manure; 3) Dietary and nutritional approaches to reduce nitrogen excretion from dairy cows; and 4) Evaluation of potential use of plant secondary metabolites (e.g., essential oils) as feed additives to modulate rumen fermentation and enhance feed efficiency. The ultimate objective of his research program is : 1) Enhancing environmental performance of the Canadian agricultural system (reduction of green-house gas emissions and nitrogen excretion); and 2) Enhancing economic benefits of Canadian dairy production (improved production efficiency and reduced feeding costs).

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, QC

Current research and/or projects

  • Canola meal to improve efficiency and sustainability of dairy production: filling knowledge gaps. Funded by Canola Council of Canada/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Growing Forward III).
  • Assessment of the impact of feeding management practices on methane emissions from enteric fermentation and manure storage of dairy cows: filling knowledge gaps. Funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (A-Base).
  • Mitigation of enteric methane production from dairy cows and impact on manure emissions: Filling knowledge gaps. Funded by the Dairy Farmers of Canada/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Growing Forward II).
  • Mitigation of Enteric Methane Emissions to Reduce Carbon Footprint of the Dairy Industry. Funded by the Dairy Farmers of Canada/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Growing Forward I).
  • Towards determining protein requirements of the Aryrshire Cow: Effects of variation in metabolizable protein intake. Funded by Agrinova (Alma, Quebec).
  • Faba bean (Vicia faba) inclusion in dairy cow diets: Effect on nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation, nitrogen utilization, methane production, and milk performance. Funded by Agrinova (Alma, Québec).
  • Effects specific plant extracts on rumen microbial fermentation and methane production in vitro. Funded by IDÉNA (Sautron, France).
  • Effects of direct-fed microbials on rumen microbial fermentation and methane production. Funded by Bacterras Inc. (Montreal, Quebec).
  • Effects of herbs, spices and essential oils and their combination on rumen microbial fermentation and methane production. Funded by Ayurvet Ltd. (Baddi, India).

Professional activities / interests

  • Co-leader of the “Technical Advisory Group on Feed Additives” of the “Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership” of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (Rome, Italy).  Development of “Guidelines for Assessment of Environmental Performance of Feed Additives in Livestock Supply Chains”.
  • Eastern Director of the Canadian Society of Animal Science (2006-2008).
  • Associate Editor to the Canadian Journal of Animal Science (2003-2008).
  • Member of the Editorial Board of "Animals" Journal. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals/editors

Education and awards

  • Ph.D. in Animal Science (with distinction), Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, France. 1993.
  • Diplôme d’Étude Approfondies, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, France. 1988.
  • M.Sc. in Animal Sciences, Institut National Agronomique, Algiers, Algeria. 1987.
  • Recipient of the Canadian Society of Animal Science Award-2020 in "Excellence in Nutrition and Meat Science".
  • Recipient of an Outstanding Presentation Award (Invited keynote speaker) delivered by "The Chinese Academy of Sciences” at the Third International Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture for Subtropical Regions" for presentation entitled "Nutritional Managements to Reduce Enteric Methane Production from Ruminants". October 20th, 2015, Changsha, China.

Key publications

  1. Hassanat, F. and Benchaar, C. (2016). "Effect forage source of dairy cow diets on methane emission form enteric fermentation and manure storage.", 2016 ASAS/ADSA/CSAS/WSASAS Joint Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, USA, 19-23 July, 2016.

    2016 - View publication details

  2. Benchaar, C. (2016). "Forages and fat utilization to mitigate enteric CH4 emissions from dairy cows.", Talk delivered (invited speaker) at “Promoting Progress to the Profit of the Canadian Dairy Sector” Symposium, Ottawa, Canada, February 5, 2016. (Presentation)

    2016 - View publication details

  3. do Prado, R.M., Palin, M.F., do Prado, I.N., dos Santos, G.T., Benchaar, C., Petit, H.V. (2016). Milk yield, milk composition, and hepatic lipid metabolism in transition dairy cows fed flaxseed or linola. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 99(11), 8831-8846. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11003

    2016 - View publication details

  4. De Marchi, F.E., Palin, M.F., Santos, G.T., Benchaar, C., Petit, H.V. (2016). Effects of duodenal infusion of sunflower oil on β-glucuronidase activity and enterolactone concentration in dairy cows fed flax meal. Animal Feed Science and Technology, [online] 220 143-150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2016.08.002

    2016 - View publication details

  5. Lima, L.S., Palin, M.F., Santos, G.T., Benchaar, C., Petit, H.V. (2016). Dietary flax meal and abomasal infusion of flax oil on microbial β-glucuronidase activity and concentration of enterolactone in ruminal fluid, plasma, urine and milk of dairy cows. Animal Feed Science and Technology, [online] 215 85-91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2016.03.006

    2016 - View publication details

  6. Massé, D.I., Jarret, G., Hassanat, F., Benchaar, C., Saady, N.M.C. (2016). Effect of increasing levels of corn silage in an alfalfa-based dairy cow diet and of manure management practices on manure fugitive methane emissions. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, [online] 221 109-114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.01.018

    2016 - View publication details

  7. Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Li, R., Ammah, A.A., Dudemaine, P.L., Bissonnette, N., Benchaar, C., Zhao, X. (2016). Transcriptome adaptation of the bovine mammary gland to diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids shows greater impact of linseed oil over safflower oil on gene expression and metabolic pathways. BMC Genomics, [online] 17(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12864-016-2423-x

    2016 - View publication details

  8. Little, S.M., Beauchemin, K.A., Benchaar, C., Chai, L.L., Janzen, H.H., Kröbel, R., McGeough, E.J., and VanderZaag, A.C. (2015). "Demonstrating the effect of diet on the carbon footprint of a Canadian dairy scenario using whole-systems analysis and the Holos model: corn silage vs. alfalfa silage.", LCA Conference XV - A bright green future, Vancouver, Canada, October 6-8, 2015, Presentation.

    2015 - View publication details

  9. Tun, H.M., Khafipour, E., and Benchaar, C. (2015). "The effect of linseed oil supplementation on rumen microbiota composition in lactating dairy cows.", Journal of Animal Science, 93(Suppl. S3), pp. 151. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  10. Benchaar, C. (2015). "Nutritional management to reduce enteric methane production from ruminants.", 3rd International Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture for Subtropical Regions, Changsha, China, October 18-20, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  11. Chantigny, M.H., Royer, I., Rochette, P., Angers, D.A., Massé, D.I., Benchaar, C., and others (2015). "Influence des stratégies alimentaires et d’entreposage des effluents d’élevage sur la disponibilité de l’azote et les émissions de protoxyde d’azote des sols de fermes laitières.", Journée d’information scientifique – Bovins laitiers et plantes fourragère, Centre de référence en agriculture et agroalimentaire du Québec, Drummondville, QC, Canada, 25 février 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  12. Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Li, R., Ammah, A.A., Bissonnette, N., Benchaar, C., and Zhao, X. (2015). "Transcriptome adaptation of the bovine mammary gland to a diet supplemented with linseed oil.", Journal of Animal Science, 93(Suppl. S3), pp. 410. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  13. Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., Li, R., Dudemaine, P.-L., Ammah, A.A., Bissonnette, N., Benchaar, C., and Zhao, X. (2015). "Mammary gland transcriptome profiling of cows fed safflower oil reveals a potential modulatory role for SREBP1 in fatty acid synthesis.", 2015 Conference of the Canadian Society of Animal Science and the Canadian Meat Council, Ottawa, Canada, May 6-8, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  14. Ammah, A.A., Beaudoin, F., Marier, L., Benchaar, C., Bissonnette, N., Gévry, G., and Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M. (2015). "Effects of dietary supplementation with safflower oil on milk components and fat acid composition of Canadian Holstein cows.", 2015 Conference of the Canadian Society of Animal Science and the Canadian Meat Council, Ottawa, Canada, May 6-8, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  15. Chantigny, M.H., Rochette, P., Royer, I., Massé, D.I., and Benchaar, C. (2015). "Gaz à effet de serre, stratégies alimentation et entreposage des déjections.", Le Producteur de Lait Québécois, Avril 2015, pp. 13-18.

    2015 - View publication details

  16. Benchaar, C. (2015). "Mitigation of enteric methane emissions from dairy cows.", Dairy Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Program Science Coordination and Implementation Workshop, Ottawa, Canada, April 16-17, 2015, Invited speaker.

    2015 - View publication details

  17. Hassanat, F. and Benchaar, C. (2015). "Methane and carbon dioxide emissions from manure of dairy cows fed regular or brown midrib corn silage-based diets.", Journal of Animal Science, 93(Suppl. S3), pp. 716. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  18. Tun, H.M., Khafipour, E., and Benchaar, C. (2015). "The effects of linseed oil supplementation on fecal microbiota in lactating dairy cows.", Journal of Animal Science, 93(Suppl. S3), pp. 152. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  19. Benchaar, C. (2015). "Mitigation of enteric methane emissions to reduce the carbon footprint of dairy production.", China-Canada Workshop on canola meal, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, October 26-29, 2015, Invited speaker.

    2015 - View publication details

  20. Hassanat, F., Gervais, R., and Benchaar, C. (2015). "Methane production from dairy cows fed regular or brown midrib corn silage.", Journal of Animal Science, 93(Suppl. S3), pp. 449. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre
2000 College Street
Sherbrooke, QC J1M 0C8
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Agriculture-environment interactions
Agriculture›Forages
Agriculture›Nutrition›Cow
Agriculture›Nutrition›Ruminant
Animals›Production
Environment›Sustainability›Sustainable Development›Management
Food›Nutrition›Additives
Sciences›Scientific research

Affiliations

  • Associate Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Laval University, Quebec, QC.
  • Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • Adjunct Professor, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, P.R. China.
  • Member of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA).
  • Member of the Canadian Society of Animal Science (CSAS).

Language

English
French