Karen S. Schwartzkopf-Genswein, Ph. D.

Image Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein
Senior Research Scientist

Beef Cattle Physiology and Welfare

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
5403 1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta

Current research and/or projects

Current Research

Project Lead
2017-2020
Incidence and characterization of feedlot lambs and ewe flock lameness in Alberta. Total Funds: $214,409

2018-2023
Identification of treatment strategies for the most common causes of lameness in feedlot cattle. Total Funds: $470,014

2018-2023
Effect of rest stop duration and quality of the welfare of cattle transported by road. Total Funds: $879,188

Project Co-Lead
2019-2029
Determining the effect of stress on the respiratory microbiome of cattle during transportation. Total Funds: $79,480 (T.Alexander Co-Lead; AAFC)

Project Collaborator
2018-2020
Circulating microRNA as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis in feedlot cattle lameness $367,600 (L. Guan Lead; U of A)

2020-2022
Characterization and optimization of visual pen checking criteria to improve BRD treatment outcomes in feedlot cattle $183,996 (D. Moya Lead; U of S)

2018-2023
Further strategies to enhance the use of wheat in feedlot diets $475,502 (T. McAllister Lead; AAFC)

2018-2021
Simple strategies to reduce impacts of ergot alkaloids on beef cattle $394,745 (K. Stanford Lead; Alberta Agriculture and Forestry)

2018-2023
Effect of feeding ergot alkaloids on ruminal metabolism, growth performance, health and welfare of beef cattle: How much is too much? $565,640 (G. Ribeiro Lead; U of S)

Professional activities / interests

Associations and Certifications

  • Member of Canadian Society of Animal Science

  • Member of American Society of Animal Science

  • Certified PACCO Auditor for Meat Slaughter Plants

  • Certified PACCO Auditor for National Cattle Feeders Association Animal Care Assessment Program

 

Invited Member

  • Technical Advisory Committee of the Alberta Beef Producers

  • BC SPCA Species Advisory Committee

  • Technical Advisor for the Canadian Beef Export Federation

  • North American Food Animal Well-being Commission- Beef (Founded at the University of Kansas, Manhattan, KS).

  • Technical Advisor to the Canadian Cattle Feeders Association

  • Panel Member for Canadian Council on Animal Care

  • Canadian Round Table for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) Science Advisory Committee

  • Advisory Board Member for the Olds College Center of Innovation (TAC), Olds, AB.

  • Subcommittee member for the Canadian Council on Animal Care tasked with drafting “Guidelines for Choosing an Appropriate Endpoint for Animals in Research”

  • Canadian National Cattle Feeders Association Feedlot Animal Care Advisory Committee.

  • Chair of Scientist Committee for Canadian Transportation Codes of Practice - Cattle.

  • Member of the Code Development Subcommittee for the Canadian Transportation Codes of Practice (Represent Scientist Committee).

  • Technical Committee Member for Verified Beef Production + Program for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

  • Ethics Committee for Genome Alberta.

  • Chair of the Livestock Users Committee at the AAFC Lethbridge Research and Development Center.

Education and awards

Degrees

1996     University of Saskatchewan
PhD in Physiology and Applied Animal Ethology
1990     University of Regina
MSc in Biology
1986     University of Lethbridge
BSc in Science

Awards  

2013    Recipient of the Award of Distinction for Innovation by The Alberta Farm Animal Care Association
2015    Recipient of the Canadian Society of Animal Science Award for Extension
2017    Recipient of the Canadian Society of Animal Science Award for the Innovation for Safe and Affordable Food
2017    Recipient of the Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation awarded by the Beef Cattle Research Council-            division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association

 

International experience and/or work

Invited symposium speaker, lecturer, research collaboration and expert committee member regarding beef cattle welfare at numerous international events including Brazil, China, United States, Spain, Italy, Germany, Australia, and South Africa.

Additional links

https://albertamilk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/5.7-CULL-COW-TRANSPORT-SEP-2019.pdf

https://issuu.com/skstockgrowers/docs/beef_business_november_2019_web

http://www.beefresearch.ca/research-topic.cfm/transport-1

https://www.producer.com/2020/01/study-questions-rest-stop-need/

https://cattlefeeders.ca/industry-overview/alberta-cattle-feeding-facts-and-stats

http://www.beefresearch.ca/factsheet.cfm/measuring-and-mitigating-pain-during-castration-131

 

Key publications

  1. Wolfger, B., Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S., Barkema, H.W., Pajor, E.A., Levy, M., Orsel, K. (2015). Feeding behavior as an early predictor of bovine respiratory disease in North American feedlot systems. Journal of Animal Science, [online] 93(1), 377-385. http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/jas.2013-8030

    2015 - View publication details

  2. Soares, D.R., Cyrillo, J.N.S., Sant’anna, C.A., Valente, T.S., Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G., and Paranhos da Costa, M.J.R. (2014). "Flight speed as predictor of cattle ability to adapt to feedlots.", Journal of Animal Science, 92(E-Suppl.2), pp. 410. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  3. Moya, D., He, M.L., Wang, Y., McAllister, T.A., and Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. (2014). "Evaluation of hair cortisol as a biomarker of chronic stress in beef cattle.", ADSA-ASAS 2014 Joint Annual Meeting, Kansas City, MO, USA, July 20-24, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  4. Marti, S. and Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. (2014). "Effect of rest-stop duration during long distance transport on indicators of animal welfare in weaned beef calves.", Journal of Animal Science, 92(E-Suppl. 2), pp. 21. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  5. Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. (2014). "Animal welfare and ethical implications of livestock Genomics.", Calgary, Alberta, Canada, April 23, 2014. (Presentation)

    2014 - View publication details

  6. Kehler, C., Ominski, K.H., Connor, L., Crowe, T.G., and Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. (2014). "The relationship between trailer motion and carcass bruising in market cows during transport.", Journal of Animal Science, 92(E-Suppl.2), pp. 110. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  7. Marti, S., Devant, M., Amatayakul-Chantler, S., Jackson, J.A., Lopez, E., Janzen, E., and Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. (2014). "Effect of anti-GnRF vaccine and band-castration on indicators of welfare in beef cattle.", 4th annual Beef cattle Conference, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 19-20, 2014. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  8. Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. (2014). "What is welfare and how do we measure it in beef cattle?", Olds College, Olds, AB, Canada, November 4, 2014. (Presentation)

    2014 - View publication details

  9. Moote, P.E., Church, J.S., Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G., and Van Hamme, J.D. (2014). "Effect of Fermented Winery By-Product Supplemented Rations on the Temperament and Meat Quality of Angus-Hereford X Steers During Feeding in a British Columbia Feedlot.", Journal of Food Research, 3(6), pp. 124-135. doi : 10.5539/jfr.v3n6p124

    2014 - View publication details

  10. Moya, D., He, M.L., Wang, Y., McAllister, T.A., and Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. (2014). "Evaluation of hair cortisol as a biomarker of chronic stress in beef cattle.", Journal of Animal Science, 92(E-Suppl. 2), pp. 20. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  11. Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. and Grandin, T. (2014). "Cattle Transport by Road.", in Grandin, T. (ed.) - Livestock Handling and Transport 4th edition, pp. 143-173.

    2014 - View publication details

  12. Wolfger, B., Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G., Levy, M., Barkema, H.W., and Pajor, E.A. (2014). "Using feeding behaviour to predict respiratory disease in feedlots.", Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Dublin, Ireland. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  13. Soares, D.R., Cyrillo, J.N.S., Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G., and Paranhos da Costa, M.J.R. (2014). "Feedlot cattle with good temperament have better carcass composition.", Brazilian Animal production Soceity, Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  14. Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G., Janzen, E., Jelinski, M., Dorin, C., Orsel, K., Pajor, E., Shearer, J., Millman, S., Coetzee, H., Thomson, D., Demmans, L., Moya, D., and Marti, S. (2014). "Occurrence, characterization and risk factors associated with lameness within Alberta feedlots: Preliminary results.", 4th International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare, http://www.extension.iastate.edu/registration/events/conferences/beefwelfare/speakers.htm. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  15. Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. (2014). "Welfare Issues in beef cattle.", Guest Lecture, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, November 18, 2014. (Presentation)

    2014 - View publication details

  16. Marti, S., Jelinski, M., Dorin, C., Janzen, E., Olson, M.E., Ralston, B.J., and Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. (2014). "Effect of oral meloxicam on indicators of pain following band castration in beef calves.", Journal of Animal Science, 92(E-Suppl.2), pp. 405. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  17. Demmans, L., Marti, S., Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G., and Janzen, E. (2014). "Lameness in Southern Alberta Feedlots.", 4th annual Beef cattle Conference, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 19-20, 2014. (Abstract)

    2014 - View publication details

  18. Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. (2014). "Welfare prcatices to increase beef production and sustainability.", Alberta Agricultural Economics Association, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, May 1, 2014. (Presentation)

    2014 - View publication details

  19. Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G., Janzen, E., Jelinski, M., Dorin, C., Orsel, K., Pajor, E., Shearer, J., and Millman, S. (2014). Occurrence, characterization and risk factors associated with lameness within Alberta feedlots Interim Report (4 pg) to ALMA Project # 2013R008R ANH.10.11 (December 31, 2014). (Report)

    2014 - View publication details

  20. Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K.S.G. (2014). "What is welfare and how do we measure it in beef cattle?", National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Cattlemen’s College, Nashville, TN, USA, February 4, 2014. (Presentation)

    2014 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Lethbridge Research and Development Centre
5403 1st Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1
Canada

Expertise

Animals›Health and Wellness›Infections

Affiliations

Affiliations

2004-present                        Adjunct Status at University of Saskatchewan

2010-present                        Adjunct Status at University of Calgary

2010-present                        Adjunct Status at UNESP University, Jaboticabal, Brazil

2012-present                        Adjunct Status at University of Manitoba

2019-present                        Adjunct Status at University of Guelph

Language

English