ALP Support of Research
Alberta Lamb Producers (ALP) is committed to funding research. Partnering with other organizations, wherever possible, to work on projects provides better value as expertise can be shared, and resources and funding can be leveraged.
ALP has changed the way we accept research proposals. By creating structure to this process, it allows for ALP to properly budget for research projects each fiscal year and ensures the projects we support, align with ALP’s strategic plan.
Effective in 2021, our new Research Proposal Structure is as follows:
- ALP will be placing a call out to researchers to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) for upcoming research projects that will be seeking a monetary or in-kind investment from ALP. This call-out will happen once a year, beginning in January of each fiscal year and will have a submission deadline provided.
- The LOI’s that are submitted by the deadline will then be reviewed by the ALP Board of Directors by the end of April each fiscal year, who will then select which projects ALP would like to see full proposals from. Those who have been selected to submit full proposals for further consideration, will have until the end of June, each fiscal year to do so.
- The ALP Board of Directors will then review the full proposals and decide which projects to fund by mid-end of August.
- Lastly, ALP will then reach out to all proposal applicants by the end of September, of each fiscal year to let them know if they have been approved or declined.
Alberta Lamb Producers (ALP) Invites You To Submit A Letter Of Intent For Research Projects
We invite researchers with project proposals that match Alberta Lamb Producers’ Research Priorities to complete the Letter of Intent Form and submit it no later than March 31, 2026. Full proposals will be solicited in April with the target of having proposals approved by September 2026.
It is important to note that projects will be ranked accordingly on the following criteria:
- Ability to fall within current ALP priorities. If your project addresses more than one priority, this will be noted.
- Alberta Research Priorities document, a joint Alberta industry collaboration, developed by ALP.
- Ability to leverage funds. Projects with other funding partners will rank higher than projects asking ALP for the full amount of funds. The more leveraged dollars you can achieve the better.
- Ability to communicate your research results and conclusions. Knowledge transfer to producers is of utmost importance. Mandatory activities include articles in the ALP quarterly N’ewesletters, factsheets, reports for producers and a report for the ALP Board. Other communication activities include presentations at producer events, articles in agricultural press, etc. Please note: if you fail to provide communication material you might be at risk of losing funding or not receiving funding in the future.
If you have any questions, please contact ALP’s Executive Director at
Past Research Projects Supported By ALP Include:
- Healthy Flocks and Safe Alberta Lamb Meat, 2026-2027
- Adaptation of the Anesthetic Care-Ring™ Ligation Band technology to prevent Fly Strikes, 2025-2026
- Adaptation and Development of the Anesthetic Elastrator Band for use in the Canadian Lamb Industry, Chinook Contract Research Inc, 2022.
- Investigating the efficacy of Ovipast Plus® Vaccine in reducing bacterial pneumonia in pre-weaned lambs and feedlot lambs, Dr. Joyce Vandonkersgoed and Dr. Cathy Bauman, 2022.
- Incidence and characterization of feedlot lambs and ewe flock lameness in Alberta, Dr. Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, 2016.
- Improved accuracy in diagnosing pregnancy and predicting litter size at early ewe gestation; Metabolomics analyses for pen side kit development, Dr. Susan Markus, 2016.
- Reducing impacts of ergot alkaloids on performance of growing lambs, Dr. Kim Stanford, 2015.
- Development of a respiratory vaccine for sheep, Dr. Andrew Potter and Dr. Joyce Vandonkersgoed, 2014.
- Predicting feeder lamb performance: a validation of Sheepbytes feeding recommendations, Dr. Susan Markus, 2014
- Investigating and mitigating the emergence of Haemonchus contortus as a major pathogen of western Canadian sheep, Dr. John Gilleard and Dr. Michel Levy, 2014
- Benchmarking Canadian lamb carcass and meat quality through use of innovative platform technologies, Dr. Manuel Juarez, 2013.
If you’d like more information about any of the research studies we’ve supported or have questions about our policies, please contact the office.
Current and Upcoming Funded Projects
Find current or upcoming projects funded by Alberta Lamb Producers.
Develop Elastration Ligation Band with Anaesthetic and Insecticide Properties
Previously, Alberta Lamb Producers partnered with Chinook Contract Research Inc. (CCR) to modify the novel anesthetic delivering elastration ligation band for use in Alberta’s lamb industry. The product is now available as a prescription product in Alberta through AVL/Solvet as the LidoBand™. Research is now underway on the incorporation of an insecticide in the band to prevent fly strike. The goal is to provide producers with the anesthesia band with a specific label claim for insecticide and anesthetic delivery during lamb castration and tail docking. A technology transfer goal of this work is to provide producers with a practical and effective tool to provide long-term pain and fly strike control for banded castration and tail docking.
Alberta Sheep Industry Revitalization Project
Alberta Lamb Producers is pleased to announce we are partnering with Stolz-Williams Consulting to update our business and infrastructure resources and our cost of production tool. A group of producers will be chosen with varying styles of production practices to then gather cost of production data and further develop existing resources and financial tools. The estimated time to finish this project is Fall 2025.