Research Areas:

Dairy cattle:
Fertility
Feeding
Behaviour
Environmental Impact

Expertises:

In: Dairy, Beef, Sheep, Goats, Pigs and Equine:
Reproductive Physiology
Management and Husbandry
Grazing Management

• Nutrition
• Behaviour
• Environmental Effects

Affiliations:

• Canadian Society of Animal Science

Current Research Projects:

• Quantifying the risk of pathogens from agricultural enterprises entering water resources
• Drinking and defecating frequencies and locations are affected by presence of a water trough when cattle graze near a creek.
• The effect of cattle crossing a creek on surface water quality in rural Ontario.
• Effects of corn silage and accelerated growth rates in prepubertal heifers on milk production and longevity.
• Effect of Dietary Fatty Acids (Omega-3, Omega-6) on Prostaglandin production in Dairy Cattle.
• Reducing (Phosphorus) Pollution in Dairy Production
  
  

Selected Bibliography Highlights From the Last Five Years:

• Effects of Ensiled High Moisture Grain Corn on Performance of Grain Fed Veal
  P. Sharpe, D. McKnight, A. Koekkoek and J. Pitty Del Cid
  
  
• Sharpe, P.H., A. Unc, J.P. Del Cid, R. Marcelissen, D.R. McKnight and M.Goss. 2006. Drinking and defecating frequencies and locations are affected by presence of a water trough when cattle graze near a creek. (Abstr.) Proceedings of the Canadian Society of Animal Science p63. August 1-4. Halifax.
  
  
• A. Unc, P. H. Sharpe, J. Pitty Del Cid, S. Springthorpe, S. A. Sattar,
  R. Marcelissen and M. Goss. 2006. Impact of cattle grazing management on microbial indicators of fecal pollution. Proceedings of the Canadian Society of Animal Science p109. August 1-4. Halifax.
  
  
• Jarvie, B.D. L. A. Trotz-Williams, D.R. McKnight, K.E. Leslie, M.M. Wallace, C.G. Todd, P.H. Sharpe and A.S. Peregrine. 2005. Effect of Halofuginone Lactate on the occurrence of Cryptosporidium parvum and Growth of neonatal dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 88:1801-1806.
  
  
• McKnight, D.R., P.H. Sharpe and J.P. Del Cid. 2003. Effect of lead feeding with milk cow TMR on intake, performance and health of transition cows. Proceedings of Canadian Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting. Saskatoon.
  
  
• Sharpe, P.H., D.R. McKnight, J.J. Morgan and J.P. Del Cid. 2003. Lead feeding and fertility in Holstein cows. Proceedings of Canadian Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting. Saskatoon.
  
  
• Rana, R.S., P.H. Sharpe and D.R. McKnight. 2002. Evaluation of Ontario developed high moisture sorghum forage source for mid lactating dairy cows.  Agriculture Environmental Renewal Canada Inc. (AERC) Annual Report 2001 pp 148-152.
  
  
• McKnight, D.R., P.H. Sharpe and R.S. Rana. 2002. Effect of greenhouse housing on performance of neonatal dairy calves housed in hutches. Proceedings of 2002 Joint Meeting: American Dairy Science Association, American Society of Animal Science and Canadian Society of Animal Science. July 21-25, 2002. Quebec City.  Abstract # 1472.