Dr. Manuel Juárez

Image Manuel Maria Juarez Davila
Livestock Phenomics Scientist

Dr. Manuel Juárez coordinates the Livestock Phenomics program, linking livestock genomics and phenotypical research focused on meat production. Dr. Juárez applies a holistic approach to evaluate the interactions between genetic and environmental factors, being able to quantify their relative contribution on animal performance, carcass and meat quality traits. Breeders can benefit from being able to select and sort animals based on current and expected market conditions. His goal is the optimization of livestock production systems to maximize profitability while maintaining or enhancing carcass and meat quality.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Lacombe, AB

Current research and/or projects

  • Augmented reality for pork primal classification based on quality attributes. Alberta Innovates. 2022-2023.
  • The Profitability of Classifying Alberta Pork Based on Quality Attributes. Alberta Agriculture. 2021-2023.
  • Big data and Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) accelerated data science for high-throughput carcass and pork quality phenotyping. Ontario Pork. 2021-2023.
  • Enhancing beef production efficiency by optimizing carcass composition via predictive analytics and genomic selection. AAFC-ABase. 2021-2023.
  • Classifying Canadian pork based on quality attributes. Swine Innovation Porc. 2018-2023.
  • Alternative grading technologies for the pork industry. A cost-benefit analysis. Results Driven Agriculture Research. 2021-2023.

  • Big data and Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) accelerated data science for high-throughput carcass and pork quality phenotyping. Ontario Pork. 2021-2023

  • Developing a Canadian Total Quality Management System for Beef Processing.  Beef Cattle Research Council. 2018-2023.
  • Canada's National Beef Quality Audit at Retail and Processing. Beef Cattle Research Council. 2020-2023.

Research and/or project statements

  • Linking livestock genomics and phenotypical research
  • Evaluation of interactions between genetic and environmental factors
  • Selection of animals and production systems based on current and expected market conditions
  • Optimization of livestock production systems to maximize profitability while maintaining or enhancing carcass and meat quality

Professional activities / interests

  • Associate Editor in the area of Meat Science for the Canadian Journal of Animal Science
  • Past President Canadian Meat Science Association
  • Volunteer at the Alberta Science Network

Education and awards

Education:

  • Management and Leadership Development Program. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 2016
  • Master in Management of Agri-Food Companies. EOI Spain (Executive Education International). 2008
  • PhD in Animal Production. European PhD Program. University of Seville. 2007
  • Master Business Administration (MBA). International Business Centre (CEREM). 2003
  • Doctor Veterinary Medicine. University of Cordoba. 2002

Awards

  • Award for Best Communication in the area of “Meat and Health”. 56th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST). Jeju, South Korea. 2010
  • 2007-2008 PhD Award of Excellence. University of Seville. 2010
  • Award Young Researcher “Intervet”. SEOC (Spanish Sheep and Goat Breeders Association). Badajoz. Spain. 2003
  • Award Best Scientific Communication. 7th Army Veterinary Congress. Madrid. Spain. 2003

International experience and/or work

2020-2021: A/Associate Director Research Development and Technology. AAFC-Lethbridge and Lacombe Research and Development Centres

2019: A/Director Research Development and Technology (Alberta).

2017-218: A/Associate Director Research Development and Technology. AAFC-Lethbridge and Summerland Research and Development Centres.

2017-2108: President Canadian Meat Science Association.

2012-2013: A/Director of Operations. AAFC-Lacombe Research Centre. Lacombe, AB, Canada.

2011-Present: Livestock Phenomics Scientist. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Lacombe, AB, Canada.

2009-20110: NSERC Post-doctoral Fellow. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Lacombe, AB, Canada.

2008: Quality Differentiation Specialist. Spanish Association of Malagueña Goat Breeders. Malaga, Spain.

2007: Meat Quality Researcher. Italian Agriculture Research Council (C.R.A.). Monterotondo, Rome. Italy.

2005-2006: Research Assistant. TEAGASC. Ashtown Food Research Centre. Dublin, Ireland.

2003-2004: Veterinary and Production Manager. Honkolan Kartano. Urjala, Finland.

2002-2003: Applied Geneticist. Spanish Merino Sheep Breeders’ Association. Madrid, Spain.

Key publications

  1. Lopez Campos, O., Prieto, N., Juarez, M., Dugan, M.E.R., and Aalhus, J. 2016. Advancing technology development for beef total quality management. Prairie Post - Bull Breeders (February).

    2016 - View publication details

  2. O.P. Soladoye, Ó. López Campos, J.L. Aalhus, N. Prieto, C. Gariépy, P.J. Shand, M. Juárez, Evaluating the accuracy of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in predicting carcass composition from varying pig populations, Meat Science, Volume 112, 2016, Page 185, ISSN 0309-1740, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2015.08.195.
    (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0309174015003344)

    2016 - View publication details

  3. Prieto, N., Juárez, M., Dugan, M.E.R, Zijlstra, R.T., and Aalhus, J.L. (2015). "Near Infra-red spectroscopy on ears to classify pigs based on carcass and meat composition.", 61st International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, Clermont-Ferrand, France, August 23-28, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  4. Soladoye, P.O., Aalhus, J.L., López-Campos, Ó., Prieto, N., Uttaro, B., Dugan, M.E.R, Gariépy, C., Zhang, H., Ye, J., Shand, P.J., and Juárez, M. (2015). "Alternative management strategies for pork differentiation in Canada.", Banff Pork Seminar 2015, Banff, AB, Canada, January 20-22, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  5. Dugan, M.E.R, Vahmani, P., Turner, T.D., Mapiye, C., Juárez, M., Prieto, N., Beaulieu, A.D., Zijlstra, R.T., Patience, J.F., and Aalhus, J.L. (2015). "Pork as a source of omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids.", Journal of Clinical Medicine, 4(12), pp. 1999-2011. doi : 10.3390/jcm4121956

    2015 - View publication details

  6. Soladoye, P.O., López-Campos, Ó., Aalhus, J.L., Prieto, N., Gariépy, C., Shand, P.J., and Juárez, M. (2015). "Evaluating the accuracy of Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) in predicting carcass composition from varying pig populations.", Canadian Meat Science Association (CMSA) and Canadian Meat Council (CMC) 2015 Annual Conference and Technical Symposium, Ottawa, Canada, May, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  7. Davidson, J., Ruan, E.D., Raines, C., Plautz, C., Juárez, M., Jørgensen, N., Aalhus, J.L., Good, C., and Summerfelt, S.T. (2015). "The effect of native freshwater snails Physa gyrina on biofilm growth and off-flavor compounds (geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol) in experimental reuse systems culturing rainbow trout.", World Aquaculture Society Meeting, Jeju, South Korea, May 26-30, 2015. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  8. López-Campos, Ó., Larsen, I.L., Prieto, N., Juárez, M., and Aalhus, J.L. (2015). "Using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry technology for rapid and non-invasive fat and lean predictions in beef carcasses.", Meat Science, 99, pp. 144. doi : 10.1016/j.meatsci.2014.07.015 (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  9. Soladoye, P.O., Shand, P.J., Gariépy, C., Aalhus, J.L., and Juárez, M. (2015). "Effect of cooking method and storage time on lipid oxidation and sensory attributes of bacon.", 61st International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST), Clermont-Ferrand, France, August 23-28, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  10. López-Campos, Ó., Larsen, I.L., Prieto, N., Juárez, M.L., Juárez, M., Dugan, M.E.R, Uttaro, B., and Aalhus, J.L. (2015). "Evaluation of the Canadian and U.S. beef yield equations.", CMSA, Ottawa, Canada, May, 2015. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  11. Prieto, N., Juárez, M., Dugan, M.E.R, Zijlstra, R.T., and Aalhus, J.L. (2015). "Near infrared spectroscopy on ears to classify pigs based on carcass and fat composition.", 2015 Conference of the Canadian Society of Animal Science and the Canadian Meat Council, Ottawa, Canada, May 6-8, 2015. (Abstract)

    2015 - View publication details

  12. Soladoye, P.O., López-Campos, Ó., Aalhus, J.L., Prieto, N., Gariépy, C., Shand, P.J., and Juárez, M. (2015). "Accuracy of Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) in assessing carcass composition from different pig populations.", Banff Pork Seminar 2015, Banff, AB, Canada, January 20-22, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  13. Prieto, N., Juárez, M., Dugan, M.E.R, Zijlstra, R.T., and Aalhus, J.L. (2015). "The potential for near infrared spectroscopy on ears to predict body and fat composition post-slaughter.", Banff Pork Seminar, Banff, Canada, January, 2015. (Presentation)

    2015 - View publication details

  14. Basarab, J.A., Baron, V.S., McKeown, L.E., Juárez, M., Larsen, I.L., Akanno, E.C., Stothard, P., Plastow, G., and Aalhus, J.L. (2015). "Relationships between feed efficiency, carcass quality and meat quality in longissimus steaks from slaughter heifers and steers.", 2nd Symposium of Animal Evaluation and Meat Quality in Pirassununga/SP/Brazil, September 21, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  15. Prieto, N., Juárez, M., Dugan, M.E.R, Zijlstra, R.T., and Aalhus, J.L. (2015). "The potential for near infrared spectroscopy on ears to predict body and fat composition post-slaughter.", Banff Pork Seminar 2015, Banff, AB, Canada, January 20-22, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  16. Prieto, N., Juárez, M., Zijlstra, R.T., López-Campos, Ó., and Aalhus, J.L. (2015). "Rapid discrimination of enhanced quality pork by visible and near infrared spectroscopy.", Meat Science, 110, pp. 76-84. doi : 10.1016/j.meatsci.2015.07.006

    2015 - View publication details

  17. Prieto, N., Swift, M.L., Summerfelt, S.T., Juárez, M., Zijlstra, R.T., Aalhus, J.L. (2015). A Feasibility Study on the Use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy for the Authentication of Depurated Salmon Fillets, 8(10), 2660-2664. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12161-015-0168-9

    2015 - View publication details

  18. Rodas-González, A., Larsen, I.L., Uttaro, B., Juárez, M., Parslow, J., Aalhus, J.L. (2015). Determination of optimum oven cooking procedures for lean beef products, 3(6), 475-485. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.229

    2015 - View publication details

  19. Soladoye, P.O., Shand, P.J., Aalhus, J.L., Gariépy, C., Juárez, M. (2015). Review: Pork belly quality, bacon properties and recent consumer trends. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, [online] 95(3), 325-340. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/CJAS-2014-121

    2015 - View publication details

  20. Avilés, C., Peña, F., Polvillo, O., Barahona, M., Campo, M.M., Sañudo, C., Juárez, M., Horcada, A., Alcalde, M.J., Molina, A. (2015). Association between functional candidate genes and organoleptic meat traits in intensively-fed beef, 107 33-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2015.04.005

    2015 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Lacombe Research and Development Centre
6000 C and E Trail
Lacombe, AB T4L 1W1
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Agri-Food
Agriculture›Beef
Agriculture›Carcass grading›Pork carcass quality
Agriculture›Food Science›Anti-microbial resistance of microbes in food production
Agriculture›Food Science›Food biochemistry
Agriculture›Livestock›Livestock phenomics
Agriculture›Pork
Agriculture›Sensory evaluation
Animals›Production
Food›Agriculture

Affiliations

  • Adjunct Professor University of Saskatchewan
  • Adjunct Professor University of Manitoba
  • Adjunct Professor University of Guelph

Language

English
French

Other languages

Spanish, Italian