Óscar López Campos, Ph.D.

Image Oscar Lopez Campos
Research Scientist

Since the first grading policies for pork in 1922, for beef in 1927, and for bison in the late 1950s, the Canadian grading systems have been continuously evolving as a means of classifying carcasses with similar attributes into similar classes or ‘‘grades’’. In Canada, quality and yield grades form the language for trade, facilitate marketing and production decisions, and ensure that consumers are able to purchase a predictable and consistent product. The objectivity of the grading systems is a fundamental pillar of carcass classification and the implementation of objective methods at the grading stand has been one of the main goals pursued by the Canadian Livestock Industry. In this sense, the major objectives of Dr. Óscar López Campos’ Livestock Carcass Merit and Market Competitiveness program are focused on identifying measuring, prioritizing and utilizing objective and subjective carcass merit and meat quality assessments and attributes of economic importance to promote development, adaptation and competitiveness of the whole meat value-chain in Canada.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
6000 C & E Trail Lacombe, Alberta, T4L 1W1

Current research and/or projects

Currently, Dr. López Campos value-chain approach to research into carcass and meat quality issues provides critical support for growth in complexity and competitiveness of the Meat Industry.

Research and/or project statements

  • Development of yield prediction tools to optimize carcass cut-out value.
  • Developing a Canadian Total Quality Management System for Beef Processing.
  • Beef Quality Canada’s National Beef Quality Audit at Retail and Processing.
  • Evaluating the Canadian beef grading ruler to predict USDA five yield grades based on a modified yield percentage matrix.
  • Classifying Canadian pork based on quality attributes.

Professional activities / interests

  • Carcass Merit and Market Competitiveness.

  • Carcass classification (beef, bison, veal, pork and sheep).

  • Grading systems (beef, bison, veal and sheep).

  • Meat Quality.

Education and awards

  • 2007 - Ph.D. in Animal Production. University of León (Spain).
  • 2004 - Master in Veterinary. University of León (Spain).
  • 2003 - Master in Pedagogical Aptitude Certificate. University of León (Spain).
  • 2002 - B.Sc. Biology. University of León (Spain).

International experience and/or work

  • 2015 - present: Carcass Merit and Market Competitiveness Research Scientist. Lacombe Research and Development Centre, Agricultural and Agri-Food Canada.

  • 2012 – 2015: Research Associate on Carcass Classification and Grading with Livestock Gentec, University of Alberta (Canada).

  • 2009 - 2012: Post-doctoral Researcher thorough the NSERC Visiting Fellowship in Canadian Government Laboratories Program. Meat Research team at Lacombe Research and Development Centre, Agricultural and Agri-Food Canada.

  • 2006 - 2009: Biologist for research and laboratories at the Mountain Cattle Institute of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

  • 2003 - 2006: Pre-doctoral Fellow at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC - ULE).

 

Key publications

  1. Juárez, M., Roberts, J.C., López-Campos, Ó., Prieto, N., Aalhus, J.L. (2018). Focusing on phenomics to unlock the potential of livestock genomics. CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources, [online] 13 http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/PAVSNNR201813019

    2018 - View publication details

  2. Narváez-Bravo, C., Rodas-González, A., Ding, C., López-Campos, O., Galbraith, J., Larsen, I.L., Ye, J., Siegel, D., Aalhus, J.L. (2017). Effects of novel nitrite packaging film on the bacterial growth of bison strip-loin steaks. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, [online] 41(6), http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jfpp.13311

    2017 - View publication details

  3. Lopez-Campos, O. 2017. The value of carcass grading. In BeefTech 2017. Edmonton, Canada.

    2017 - View publication details

  4. Roberts, J. C., Rodas-González, A. R., Juárez, M., Lopez-Campos, O., Larsen, I. L., & Aalhus, J. L. Tenderness and sensory attributes of eleven muscles from carcasses within the Canadian cull cow grades. Canadian Journal of Animal Science. https://doi.org/10.1139/CJAS-2017-0105

    2017 - View publication details

  5. J. C. Roberts, A. Rodas-González, J. Galbraith, M. E. R. Dugan, I. L. Larsen, J. L. Aalhus and Ó. López-Campos. 2017. Nitrite Embedded Vacuum Packaging Improves Retail Color and Oxidative Stability of Bison Steaks and Patties. Meat and Muscle Biology. 1:169-180. doi:10.22175/mmb2017.03.0015

    2017 - View publication details

  6. Juárez, M., Dugan, M.E.R., López-Campos, Ó., Prieto, N., Uttaro, B., Gariépy, C., Aalhus, J.L. (2017). Relative contribution of breed, slaughter weight, sex, and diet to the fatty acid composition of differentiated pork, 97(3), 395-405. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/CJAS-2016-0103

    2017 - View publication details

  7. Dugan, M.E.R., Vahmani, P., Rolland, D.C., McAllister, T.A., Block, H.C., Proctor, S.D., Guan, L.L., Prieto, N., Aalhus, J.L., Lopez-Campos, O. 2017. Sequential feeding of extruded flaxseed (LinPRO-R) and hay increases the n-3 PUFA biohydrogenation intermediates in longissimus thoracis of steers. ICoMST, Cork, August 13-18, 2017.

    2017 - View publication details

  8. López-Campos Ó, Robertson WM, Dugan MER, Larsen IL, Roberts JC, Aalhus JL (2017) Effect of growth-promoting implants and high-voltage electrical stimulation on quality characteristics of finished steers. Can J Anim Sci:166-176. doi:10.1139/cjas-2016-0155

    2017 - View publication details

  9. Roberts J, Rodas-González A, Juárez M, López-Campos Ó, Larsen IL, Aalhus JL (2017) Muscle profiling of retail characteristics within the Canadian cull cow grades. Can J Anim Sci 97 (4):562-573. doi:10.1139/cjas-2017-0001

    2017 - View publication details

  10. Dugan, M., López-Campos, O., Aalhus, J.L., Vahmani, P., Prieto, N., Juárez, M., McAllister, T., Stanford, K. Lamb fat composition: the good, the not so good and possibilities for the future. N’ewesletters Winter 2017.

    2017 - View publication details

  11. Soladoye, O. P., Campos, Ó. L., Aalhus, J. L., Gariépy, C., Shand, P., & Juárez, M. (2016). Accuracy of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in assessing carcass composition from different pig populations. Meat Science, 121, 310-316.

    2016 - View publication details

  12. López-Campos, Ó., Larsen, I.L., Prieto, N., Juarez, M., Dugan, M.E.R., and Aalhus, J. 2016. Evaluation of total lean and saleable meat yield prediction equations and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry for a rapid, non-invasive yield prediction in beef. In Proceedings of the 96th Annual Conference of the Canadian Meat Council. Ottawa, Canada.

    2016 - View publication details

  13. Juarez, M., Lopez Campos, O., Prieto, N., Hosford, S., Galbraith, J., Uttaro, B., and Aalhus, J. 2016. Evaluating alternative lamb carcass classification systems in Canada. Canadian Meat Science Association Newsletter.

    2016 - View publication details

  14. López-Campos, Ó., Larsen, I.L., Prieto, N., Juarez, M., Dugan, M.E.R., and Aalhus, J. 2016. Evaluation of total lean and saleable meat yield prediction equations and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry for a rapid, non-invasive yield prediction in beef. In Proceedings of the 69th Reciprocal Meat Conference. San Angelo, Texas.

    2016 - View publication details

  15. Zhang, H., Aalhus, J.L., Gariépy, C., Uttaro, B., López-Campos, O., Prieto, N., Dugan, M.E.R., Jin, Y., Juárez, M. (2016). Effects of pork differentiation strategies in Canada on pig performance and carcass characteristics. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, [online] 96(4), 512-523. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2015-0197

    2016 - View publication details

  16. Juárez, M., Basarab, J.A., Baron, V.S., Valera, M., López-Campos, Ó., Larsen, I.L., Aalhus, J.L. (2016). Relative contribution of electrical stimulation to beef tenderness compared to other production factors, 96(2), 104-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2015-0041

    2016 - View publication details

  17. Vahmani, P., Meadus, W.J., Uttaro, B., López-Campos, Ó., Mapiye, C., Rolland, D.C., Caine, W.R., Aalhus, J.L., Dugan, M.E.R. (2016). Effects of feeding beef fat enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acid biohydrogenation products to pigs. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, [online] 96(2), 95-99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2015-0080

    2016 - View publication details

  18. López-Campos, Ó., Prieto, N., Aalhus, J. L., & Dugan, M. E. 2016. Feeding for carcass value: grading system implications. In Proceedings of the London Swine Conference: A platform for success, April 5th and 6th, 2016, London, Ontario, Canada (pp. 157-166). London Swine Conference.

    2016 - View publication details

  19. Ding, C., Rodas-González, A. R., López-Campos, Ó., Galbraith, J., Juárez, M., Larsen, I. L., ... & Aalhus, J. L. (2016). Effects of electrical stimulation on meat quality of bison striploin steaks and ground patties. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 96(1), 79-89.

    2016 - View publication details

  20. 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

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›Food biochemistry
Agriculture›Meat science
Animals›Production
Food›Agriculture

Affiliations

  • Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Adjunct Professor.
  • Canadian Journal of Animal Science, Associate Editor.
  • Canadian Meat Science Association (CMSA), Secretary Treasurer.

Language

English

Other languages

Spanish