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New Research Award Honours Dr. Ira Mandell’s Lasting Contributions to Ontario’s Beef Sector
July 24, 2026
Madeline McLennan named as the inaugural recipient of the award
Madeline McLennan
2026 Recipient of the Dr. Ira Mandell Research Award
The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) is pleased to announce the establishment of the Dr. Ira Mandell Research Award and University of Guelph PhD student Madeline McLennan as its inaugural recipient. The award and its first recipient were announced in July during BFO’s Summer Meeting at the Nottawasaga Resort and Conference Centre in Alliston.
The annual $2,500 award recognizes exceptional research that advances knowledge, innovation and sustainability within Ontario’s beef sector. It honours the life and legacy of the late Dr. Ira Mandell, a respected professor and researcher in the University of Guelph’s Department of Animal Biosciences.
Throughout his career, Dr. Mandell made significant contributions to beef production and meat-quality research, education and critical research infrastructure. He played an influential role in developing the Ontario Beef Research Centre, helped modernize the University’s meat research facilities and served as an advisor to BFO’s Research Committee for more than 20 years. In this role, he helped shape research priorities that continue to benefit Ontario beef farmers.
“Dr. Mandell understood the importance of connecting academic research with the practical needs of beef farmers and the broader industry,” says Jason Leblond, BFO President. “This award is a fitting way to recognize his remarkable legacy while encouraging emerging researchers to pursue innovative work that will benefit Ontario’s beef sector for years to come.”
A PhD student in the University of Guelph’s Department of Animal Biosciences, McLennan is exploring nutritional strategies that could improve the performance and efficiency of finishing beef cattle while enhancing carcass value and meat quality. Specifically, her research examines how supplementation with guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and rumen-protected methionine affects muscle energy metabolism, feed efficiency and beef quality.
Her findings could help Ontario beef farmers improve productivity, manage production costs and continue delivering high-quality beef to consumers. The research may also support the future approval of GAA as a feed ingredient for beef cattle in Canada, potentially providing producers with an additional science-based nutritional tool.
“Madeline’s research is a great example of the practical, industry-focused work this award was created to recognize,” says Kim Jo Bliss, Chair of BFO’s Research Committee. “Her work could help farmers improve feed efficiency and animal performance while continuing to produce high-quality beef. It reflects Dr. Mandell’s commitment to research that addresses real-world challenges and delivers practical value for Ontario beef farmers.”
McLennan completed both her undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of Guelph and is now pursuing her PhD in ruminant nutrition, physiology and meat science. She has built a strong record of applied research, industry engagement and producer outreach, contributing to projects at the Ontario Beef Research Centre and presenting her work at producer meetings, industry conferences and research events across Canada.
About the Dr. Ira Mandell Award
Presented annually by Beef Farmers of Ontario upon the recommendation of the BFO Research Committee, the $2,500 Dr. Ira Mandell Research Award recognizes exceptional research that advances the knowledge, innovation, sustainability and competitiveness of Ontario’s beef sector. The award is open to Master’s, PhD and post-doctoral researchers at recognized Ontario universities or colleges whose work has direct relevance and practical value for the province’s beef industry. Candidates must be nominated or supported by their academic supervisor or principal investigator.