Dr. Fadi Hassanat

Research Scientist

Research on forages and and forage preservation

2560 Hochelaga Boulevard, Quebec, QC G1V 2J3

Current research and/or projects

Improving the carbohydrate to protein ratio of alfalfa to improve microbial protein synthesis and reduce CH4 and N losses in the environment

Reducing Clostridia dominance during silage fermentation to improve silage quality and reduce silage and milk losses

Exploring forage management practices to improve nutritive value and increase yield of forages

Research and/or project statements

Forages continue to be an important part of livestock feeding systems. For ruminants, and especially dairy cattle, from 50% to 100% of the diet is made up of forages. My research program focuses on improving forage yield, conservation and quality to improve production, increase animal longevity in the herd, and advance the sustainability and environmental feasibility of farms.

At the start of my scientific career, I worked on evaluating perennial plants by studying environmental and foraging conditions that affect their yield and quality when used as emergency forages. This work developed to working on pearl millet as an alternative forage to corn and the effect of several pre- and post-harvest conditions on the nutrition quality of forage and silage. In 2008, I joined the Science and Technology Branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), where I worked on the effect of forages and non-forage components of the diet on rumen fermentation, enteric methane CH4 production, N metabolism and N excretion in dairy cows. I also worked on the effect of diet on methane emissions during storage of manure.

In 2021, I was hired by AAFC as a research scientist to work on silage and forage management for ruminants, with emphasis on dairy production. I have joined an interdisciplinary forage research team and will be working closely with industry, universities and partners within the government of Canada and abroad to advance scientific development in sustainable forage and animal production.

Professional activities / interests

Improving forage nutritive value through genetic selection and forage management practices
Improving quality of preserved forages (hay, silage)
Using forages to increase performance and reduce carbon footprint of dairy and beef production
Using additives to improve forage nutritive value and silage quality
Developing farm practices to increase sustainability and durability of animal production

Education and awards

McGill University: Ph.D. in Animal Science

Jordan University: M.Sc., B.Sc.

International experience and/or work

Revegetating arid lands in Jordan: Nutritional evaluation of saltbush as emergency forage

Key publications

Thivierge, M.-N., Chantigny, M., Lafond, J., Maillard, É., Leewis, M.-C., Bertrand, N., Lachance, C., Duchesneau, R.-F., Khechine, M.T., Pelletier, K., Houde, S., Pelster, D., Halde, C., Charbonneau, É., Hassanat, F., Jégo, G., Angers, D.A., Bélanger, G., Tremblay, G., Vanasse, A., Samson, M.-É., and Royer, I. 2023. The PERMANENCE project: legacy effect of perennials and organic fertilizers in crop rotations for dairy farms. Hosting of a provincial team of MAPAQ farm advisors and visit to research plots, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC, September 1, 2023.
2023 - View publication details
Poulin, A-A., Hassanat, F., Tremblay, G., Ouellet, D., Petri, R., Thériault, M., Claessens, A., Bertrand, A. et Charbonneau, É. 2022. Variation of the alfalfa energy-to-protein ratio to maximize nitrogen use efficiency by rumen microbes. ADSA Annual Meeting, June 25-28, 2023, Ottawa, ON, Canada [poster] and J. Dairy Sci. 106(Suppl. 1): 1133M. [Abstract]
2023 - View publication details
Thivierge, M.-N., Chantigny, M., Lafond, J.A., Royer, I., Lachance, C., Duchesneau, R.-F., Maillard, É., Leewis, M.-C., Pelster, D., Khechine, M.T., Pelletier, K., Halde, C., Hassanat, F., Bélanger, G., Angers, D.A., Samson, M.-É., Jégo, G., Charbonneau, É., and Tremblay, G.F. 2023. Le projet PERMANENCE: démonstration des mesures prises au champ et sommaire des principaux résultats. 37th Annual Meeting of the Association québécoise des spécialistes en sciences du sol (AQSSS), Québec, Canada, May 23–25, 2023. Oral presentation.
2023 - View publication details
Claessens, A., Seguin, P., Thériault, M., Hassanat, F., Tremblay, G. 2023. Améliorer la valeur nutritive des fourrages par l’amélioration génétique et la gestion des cultures. Série webinaire Pleins feux sur la recherche laitière au Canada, 27 avril 2023, DFC and ACER counsulting, présentation virtuel.
2023 - View publication details
Poulin, A-A., Hassanat, F., Tremblay, G., Ouellet, D., Petri, R., Thériault, M., Claessens, A., Bertrand, A. et Charbonneau, É. 2023. L’efficacité d’utilisation de l’azote par les microbes du rumen est affectée par le ratio énergie/protéines de la luzerne. Journée d'information scientifique sur les bovins laitiers et les plantes fourragères. 8 février 2023, Drummondville, QC. CRAAQ [affiche]
2023 - View publication details
Khechine, M.T., Thivierge, M.-N., Chantigny, M. H., Charbonneau, É., Brégard, A., Tremblay, G. F., Bélanger, G., Hassanat, F., Jégo, G., and Halde, C. 2023. Arrière-effet des engrais organiques et des prairies sur la performance des rotations de cultures. Journée d’information scientifique – Bovins laitiers et plantes fourragères, Drummondville, QC, February 8, 2023. Oral presentation.
2023 - View publication details
Khechine, M.T., Thivierge, M.-N, Chantigny, M.H., Charbonneau, É., Tremblay, G.F., Hassanat, F., Jégo, G., Brégard, A., Bélanger, G., and Halde, C. Six years, six rotations: How much yield? 13th annual conference of the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA), Moncton, NB, and online (Zoom), November 29-December 2, 2022. Poster presentation, virtual.
2022 - View publication details
Poulin, A-A., Hassanat, F., Tremblay, G., Ouellet, D., Petri, R., Thériault, M., Claessens, A., Bertrand, A. et Charbonneau, É. 2022.Variation du ratio énergie/protéines de la luzerne pour maximiser l’efficacité de l’utilisation de l’azote par les microbes du rumen. Symposium sur les bovins laitiers, 2 novembre 2022, Drummondville, QC. CRAAQ.
2022 - View publication details
Khechine, M.T., Thivierge, M.-N., Chantigny, M.H., Charbonneau, É., Tremblay, G.F., Hassanat, F., Jégo, G., Brégard, A., and Halde, C. 2022. Six ans, six rotations : Quels rendements en fourrages ? 46e Symposium sur les bovins laitiers, Drummondville, QC, November 2, 2022. Poster (hybrid mode).
2022 - View publication details
F. Hassanat, G. Tremblay, P. Seguin, M. Theriault, X. Godin, S. Bittman, D. Hunt, J.
Hakl, G. Belanger, M. N. Thivierge, A. Bertrand, and A. Claessens. 2022. Red clover addition to improve the energy to protein balance of alfalfa-based forage mixtures. J. Dairy Sci. 105(Suppl. 1): 1518V. (Abstr.)
2022 - View publication details
Benchaar, C., F. Hassanat, and K. A. Beauchemin. 2022. Effect of Dietary Metabolizable Protein Level on Energy Partitioning of Ayrshire and Holstein Dairy Cows. 8th International Greenhouse Gas Animal Agriculture Conference. June 5-9, 2022. Orlando, FL.
2022 - View publication details
Hassanat, F., C. Benchaar., K. A. Beauchemin, H. Lapierre, D. R. Ouellet, and C. Côrtes. 2021. Effect of dietary metabolizable protein level on enteric methane production and milk production of Holstein and Ayrshire dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 104, Suppl. 1, 308 (Abstr.).
2021 - View publication details
Benchaar C., F. Hassanat, K. A. Beauchemin, H. Lapierre, D. R. Ouellet, and C. Côrtes. 2021. Effect of dietary metabolizable protein level on digestion and ruminal fermentation of Holstein and Ayrshire dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 104, Suppl. 1, 303.
2021 - View publication details
Hassanat, F., Benchaar, C. (2019). Methane emissions of manure from dairy cows fed red clover- or corn silage-based diets supplemented with linseed oil. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 102(12), 11766-11776. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-16014
2019 - View publication details
Benchaar, C., Hassanat, F. (2019). Methane emissions of stored manure from dairy cows fed conventional or brown midrib corn silage. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 102(11), 10632-10638. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16822
2019 - View publication details
135. Benchaar, C., and F. Hassanat. 2019. Effect of method of diet delivery to dairy cows on enteric methane emissions. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 102 (Suppl. 1.): 375.
2019 - View publication details
Hassanat, F., Gervais, R., Benchaar, C. (2017). Methane production, ruminal fermentation characteristics, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen excretion, and milk production of dairy cows fed conventional or brown midrib corn silage. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 100(4), 2625-2636. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11862
2017 - View publication details
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
Hassanat, F., Gervais, R., and Benchaar, C. (2016). "Effect of linseed oil supplementation on milk fatty acid profile of dairy cows fed diets based on red clover silage or corn silage.", 2016 ASAS/ADSA/CSAS/WSASAS Joint Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, USA, 19-23 July, 2016.
2016 - View publication details
Benchaar, C., Hassanat, F., Warner, D., and Petit, H.V. (2016). "Enteric methane emissions from dairy cows fed corn silage based-diets supplemented with increasing amounts of linseed oil.", 2016 ASAS/ADSA/CSAS/WSASAS Joint Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, USA, 19-23 July, 2016.
2016 - View publication details