At Bakerview Farm, we believe in growth and working hard to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday.  We believe in learning and improving farming practices through study, education, research, and best practices. Here is the list of research projects that we are currently working on:

• To improve health and well-being through innovation and collaboration

• To make a difference for the common good.

• To be open & honest, win-win, find solutions, and make a difference.

2024 Report Summary

1. On-Farm Direct Measurements and Interventions to Validate Traceability and GHG Monitoring Tools for Canadian Dairy Producers of Pacific Farmed Seaweed as Value-Add Components of Cattle Feed

Partners: TheoryMesh, Canadian Automated Agriculture Innovation Network (CAAIN), Spoitz Research Services, Catalyst Agri-Innovations Society, Point 3 Biotech Corp., FortisBC

The Canadian dairy sector is on a path to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. With financial support from CAAIN and technical support from industry leaders in agricultural technology, this project combines leading dairy science, direct non-invasive measurement techniques, innovative milk analysis and manure management practices within TheoryMesh’s digital infrastructure to create a platform that can rapidly and reliably verify the GHG emissions of a dairy operation and reflect changes to total dairy GHG production data when an on-farm intervention is implemented. Theorymesh is a company focussed on digitizing the agricultural and food supply chains with the intent of making all of the manufacturing inputs fully traceable and accessible to customers for food safety and environmental considerations. Data of growing importance to dairy producers will be compiled and stored on a secure, authenticated platform in a readily auditable format

2. Evaluation of Pacific Coastal Seaweeds and Hydroponic Fodder as Feed Additives to Produce Premium Authentic Japanese Style Beef

Partners: Thompson Rivers University (TRU), Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), GenomeBC, Spoitz Research Services

A performance and metagenomic assessment of the effect of finishing diets on the growth rate and quality of Japanese-style beef (Wagyu) to create improved opportunities for high-end beef production in BC. This project aims to optimize the inherent traits that make Wagyu beef world-renowned. Novel diet treatments include hydroponic sprouts (Hydrogreen) and seaweed additives, which are assessed in high- and low-forage mixed rations. Microbial ecology is studied at KPU to correlate any observed animal/beef metrics. This project is supported through the GenomeBC Genesolve program.

2023 Report Summary

1. Building Consumer Trust in Premium Beef Products: A Pilot and Demonstration Project Using Block-chain Technology for Agri-food Supply Chain Data Integration and Authentication

Partners: KPMG, Vytelle, Foerster-Technik, Spoitz Research Services

A complete mapping of the farm-to-fork movement of beef products through the Bakerview Farm to consumers around BC. This project was conducted in association with KPMG, which worked with Bakerview to pilot its blockchain encrypted information management system (Origins). Non-invasive monitoring devices from GrowSafe by Vytelle and Foerster-Technik were used to track animal feed intake and weight gain. Finished product was graded using a MIJ-30 camera and algorithm to provide beef quality metrics. The objective to bolster consumer confidence was demonstrated through a well defined beef lifecycle analysis including important animal data (registration, certification, age, and feed), locations of key production activities, and final location of sale.  

2. Development of a Living Research Lab Focusing on Sustainable Beef Cattle Finishing

Partners: Abbotsford Community Foundation, Spoitz Research Services

The major issue for beef producers is the cost of feeding cattle. As certain forage types become more expensive or scarce, producers will be required to change their ration formulations to accommodate. The identification of new feed sources or supplements that can increase feed efficiency will be important to the industry. Further, the validation of experimental supplements that reduce enteric methane emissions will be increasingly valuable as the Canadian government targets reductions in sector-specific greenhouse gas emissions. To answer these questions, the Bakerview Living Lab was developed to provide the required information needed for producers to remain competitive in the beef market. Therefore, innovation is provided by two project outcomes: (1) piloting state-of-the-art monitoring equipment (short-term deliverable) and (2) evaluating new feed formulations for beef cattle (long-term deliverable). The integration of feed (inputs), farm (animals), and food (final products) – the central model of the Nutriva Group – allows complete control of the value-chain variables and unmatched information for academic and industry researcher partners involved in the Living Lab.

3. Evaluation of Pacific Farmed Seaweed as Value-Add Components of Cattle Feed

Partners: Cascadia Seaweed Corp., Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (AAFC), Spoitz Research Services

On May 31, 2023, Cascadia Seaweed Corp. completed this project in collaboration with AAFC to study different seaweeds harvested over two years for research activities including: (1) comprehensive chemical profiles, (2) effects in model ruminant systems (in vitro analysis), and (3) animal trials (beef finishing). All animal trials were completed at Bakerview and included monitoring performance, methane emissions, and carcass metrics for beef finishers supplemented with dried pacific kelp. The overall project goal was to develop a systematic assessment protocol to study the applicability of these specific seaweed species as components of cattle feed. Bakerview developed a series of methodologies to support feed additive animal research for industry partners.

Collaborators

Principal Investigator: Dr. Spencer Serin (Spoitz Inc.) Co-Investigators: Bill Vanderkooi (Nutriva Group), Dr. Fraser Pick (Spoitz Inc.), KPMG, Lara Hirowatari (Nutriva Group), Dr. John Church (TRU)

Our Services

We have an on-site lab Fraser Analytical Services (FAS) that analyze feed and water samples to ensure optimal nutritional benefits for animals. We test the feed and water on our farm and offer these services to other farmers across western Canada.  For feed & water testing click here.

Our Products

We specialize in farm fresh and traceable dairy, organic and free-range eggs and premium grass-fed beef.  Our product lines include Vitala Foods dairy and egg products, EcoDairy Milk, Hanks Grass Fed Beef and FreeBird organic eggs not to mention seasonal curated ice cream, fresh berries, and on-site farm market.

“My grandfather used to say that once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman and a preacher but every day, three times a day, you need a farmer.”

Brenda Schoepp