Pierre Lacasse

Research Scientist

Dr. Pierre Lacasse has obtained a Ph.D. in Animal Science from McGill University in 1993.

In 1994, he did a postdoc at Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre in Hamilton, New Zealand; where he investigated the relationship between mammary gland blood flow and milk production.

Since 1995, he is a research scientist in Biology of lactation for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre in Sherbrooke, Québec. His current research program focus on the biological control of lactation persistency, factors controlling milk synthesis, effect of dairy cow management on productivity and susceptibility to diseases and the development of new tools to fight mastitis.

He is one of the founding member and leaders of the Canadian Bovine Mastitis and Milk Quality Research Network.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec

Current research and/or projects

Dairy cow management for the next generation.
Biological control of lactation persistency.
Improvement of dairy cow resistance to disease.
Prevention of intramammary infection at drying-off by the stimulation mammary gland immunity.
Development of alternative to antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of bovine mastitis.

Professional activities / interests

Theme leader and executive member of the Canadian Bovine Mastitis and Milk Quality Research Network.
Theme leader and executive member of OP+Lait, Regroupement québécois pour un lait de qualité optimale.
Éditor for the scientific journal Animal: an international journal of animal bioscience.
Executive and program Committee Member of the NSERC-CREATE on milk quality.

Education and awards

2005 Canadian Society of Animal Science Award for Technical Innovation in Enhancing Production of Safe Affordable Food.
2006 Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) Bourse pour séjour scientifique de haut niveau.
2019 Canadian Society of Animal Science Fellowship Award.
2020 American Dairy Science Association Zoetis Physiology Award

International experience and/or work

1994-1995 Postdoctoral fellow at Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.

2006-2007 Visiting scientist at INRA, St-Gilles, France.

Key publications

Impact d’une réduction en protéines métabolisables de la ration sur le statut immunitaire et métabolique des vaches laitières pendant la période de transition. Tapp G.*, Beaudoin F., Ouellet D., Malouin F., Lacasse P., Ster C. 2023. Journée d’information scientifique sur les bovins laitiers et les plantes fourragères, Centre de référence en agriculture et agroalimentaire du Québec. Drummondville, 8 Février, 2023
2023 - View publication details
Vanacker, N., R. Blouin, and P. Lacasse. 2021. Effect of intravenous lipid infusion on blood metabolite concentrations and immune functions of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 104, Suppl. 1: 19
2021 - View publication details
Deacon, A.-M., R. Blouin, and P. Lacasse. 2021. Modulation of mammary gland secretory activity and prolactin signaling by incomplete milking. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 104, Suppl. 1: 172
2021 - View publication details
Lacasse, P., Petitclerc, D. (2021). Effect of photoperiod before and during first gestation on milk production and prolactin concentration in dairy heifers. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 104(4), 4991-4998. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-19514
2021 - View publication details
Vanacker, N., R. Blouin, C. Ster, and P. Lacasse. 2020. Effect of different fatty acids on the proliferation and cytokine production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 103, Suppl. 1: 125
2020 - View publication details
Vanacker, N., Girard, C.L., Blouin, R., Lacasse, P. (2020). Effects of feed restriction and supplementary folic acid and vitamin B12 on immune cell functions and blood cell populations in dairy cows. Animal, [online] 14(2), 339-345. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1751731119002301
2020 - View publication details
Hooper, H.B., Silva, P.d.S., de Oliveira, S.A., Meringhe, G.K.F., Lacasse, P., Negrão, J.A. (2020). Effect of heat stress in late gestation on subsequent lactation performance and mammary cell gene expression of Saanen goats. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 103(2), 1982-1992. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16734
2020 - View publication details
Toledo, I.M., Zhao, X., Lacasse, P. (2020). Effects of milking frequency and domperidone injections on milk production and prolactin signaling in the mammary gland of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 103(2), 1969-1981. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17330
2020 - View publication details
Zhao, X., Ponchon, B., Lanctôt, S., Lacasse, P. (2019). Invited review: Accelerating mammary gland involution after drying-off in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 102(8), 6701-6717. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16377
2019 - View publication details
Girard, C.L., Vanacker, N., Beaudet, V., Duplessis, M., Lacasse, P. (2019). Glucose and insulin responses to an intravenous glucose tolerance test administered to feed-restricted dairy cows receiving folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 102(7), 6226-6234. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16298
2019 - View publication details
Lacasse, P., Zhao, X., Vanacker, N., Boutinaud, M. (2019). Review: Inhibition of prolactin as a management tool in dairy husbandry. Animal, [online] 13(S1), S35-S41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1751731118003312
2019 - View publication details
Boutinaud, M., Herve, L., Quesnel, H., Lollivier, V., Finot, L., Dessauge, F., Chanat, E., Lacasse, P., Charton, C., Guinard-Flament, J. (2019). Review: The cellular mechanisms underlying mammary tissue plasticity during lactation in ruminants. Animal, [online] 13(S1), S52-S64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1751731119000624
2019 - View publication details
Dufour, S., Y. Chorfi, C. Krug, P.-A. Morin et P. Lacasse. 2019. Modifier le bilan énergétique des vaches. La terre de chez-nous 4 février 2019 https://www.laterre.ca/actualites/elevages/modifier-le-bilan-energetique-des-vaches
2019 - View publication details
Dufour, S., Wellemans, V., Roy, J.-P., Lacasse, P., Ordonez-Iturriaga, A., Francoz, D. (2019). Non-antimicrobial approaches at drying-off for treating and preventing intramammary infections in dairy cows. Part 1. Meta-analyses of efficacy of using an internal teat sealant without a concomitant antimicrobial treatment, 86-97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1466252319000070
2019 - View publication details
Lacasse, P., Zhao, X., Ollier, S. (2019). Effect of stage of lactation and gestation on milking-induced hormone release in lactating dairy cows. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, [online] 66 72-85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2018.10.003
2019 - View publication details
Krug, C., Morin, P.A., Lacasse, P., Roy, J.P., Dubuc, J., Dufour, S. (2018). A randomized controlled trial on the effect of incomplete milking during the first 5 days in milk on reproductive performance of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 101(12), 11330-11341. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-14909
2018 - View publication details
Krug, C., Morin, P.A., Lacasse, P., Roy, J.P., Dubuc, J., Dufour, S. (2018). Effect of incomplete milking during the first 5 days in milk on udder and reproductive tract health: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 101(10), 9275-9286. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-14713
2018 - View publication details
Girard, C. L., Vanacker, N., M. Duplessis and P. Lacasse. 2017. Effects of supplementary folic acid and vitamin B12 on glucose and insulin responses of fed-restricted dairy cows to an intravenous glucose tolerance test. Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 100, Suppl. 2: 299
2018 - View publication details
Krug, C., Morin, P.A., Lacasse, P., Santschi, D.E., Roy, J.P., Dubuc, J., Dufour, S. (2018). A randomized controlled trial on the effect of incomplete milking during the first 5 days in milk on culling hazard and on milk production and composition of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 101(5), 4367-4377. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-14021
2018 - View publication details
Morin, P.A., Krug, C., Chorfi, Y., Dubuc, J., Lacasse, P., Roy, J.P., Santschi, D.E., Dufour, S. (2018). A randomized controlled trial on the effect of incomplete milking during early lactation on ketonemia and body condition loss in Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science (JDS), [online] 101(5), 4513-4526. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-13151
2018 - View publication details