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.

2025 Report Summary

1. On-Farm Direct Measurements to Validate Traceability and Develop GHG Monitoring Tools for Canadian Dairy Producers

Partners: CAAIN

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 to validate and build experience with GHG mitigation and monitoring tools.

Greenfeed technology is employed to continuously monitor methane emissions from dairy cows. Following a baseline assessment, sprouted grains are introduced into the diet, a strategy shown to potentially reduce methane emissions by up to 20%. The project remains in progress, with final results anticipated in May 2026.

2. Performance Evaluation of prebiotic feed additive in Wagyu cross beef calves

Partners: Lallemand

Newborn calves are confronted with many challenges, such as movement between barns, dehorning, weaning, castration and transition to group pens. This can negatively affect their immune status and increase risk of morbidity from either enteric disease during the first 3 weeks or respiratory disease from 1 week of life.

This study evaluates a prebiotic feed additive, based on yeast cell walls, designed to enhance natural defenses by limiting pathogenic gut colonization and modulating immune responses during early development. Calves are raised on milk replacer with or without the prebiotic, and outcomes are assessed using metrics such as average daily weight gain, milk intake, overall health, and morbidity. The project commenced in December 2024 and will continue through December 2026.

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.

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