Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre

The Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre (Sherbrooke RDC) located in Sherbrooke, Québec was established in 1914. It is one of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) network of 20 research and development centres. 

Areas of Research

Research at Sherbrooke RDC focuses on developing cost-effective and environmentally friendly dairy and swine production techniques that provide Canadians with high-quality agricultural products.

The Sherbrooke RDC is the only AAFC research centre that is dedicated exclusively to dairy and swine production. Specializing in a number of different disciplines in the areas of animal science such as husbandry, nutrition, functional genomics, agro-environmental processes, behaviour study and meat quality, the centre’s research teams are able to conduct both fundamental and applied research to gain insight into and develop solutions to issues related to livestock production.

Search Research projects from the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre to learn more about what we do.

Sector Needs

The Sherbrooke RDC carries out innovative research, development, technology and knowledge transfer activities in support of the AAFC's Strategic Plan for Science, which includes:

• Dairy, pork, poultry and other livestock

Enhancing the Sector’s Productivity

The efficiency and productivity of the Dairy and Swine sector are enhanced by researching genetics, livestock and the production system, with an emphasis on:

• Disease resistance
• Animal welfare
• Sow productivity
• Cow lactation persistency
• Effectiveness of cow and pork inputs

Enhancing environmental performance

By reducing the environmental impact of dairy and pork production, we:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient excretion from cows
• Reduce swine excretion and odours
• Reduce microbial contamination in swine manure by using different separation systems

At the production system level, we reduce gas and ammonia emissions and improve nutrient management and the efficient use of natural resources in dairy and swine operations.

Improving food and non-food attributes

By identifying and developing value-added attributes in pork carcasses and meat and in meat quality to improve quality for food and non-food uses throughout the food chain.

Dealing with the risks of the value chain

By improving cow and swine health and milk safety. By reducing the use of antibiotics and the risk of disease from pathogens in manure and slurry. For poultry and other animals, by contributing to the conservation of genetic resources and improvement of safety throughout the value chain.

Meet our Scientists

Find out more about the scientists at Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre through their profiles below.

You can also visit the Fields of Science campaign featuring 11 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientists from coast to coast. Discover why they chose to pursue a career in agriculture and learn more about their research.