Dr. Susan Markus
Don't Throw Your Profits Out with the Pasture Water
About the Session:
Poor-quality or limited water can increase the risk of illness in beef cattle, reduce productivity, and impact ranch profitability. Dr. Susan Markus will assess commercially available, affordable hand-held water screening devices using a variety of water samples and demonstrate why visual assessment alone is not a reliable indicator of water quality. Attendees will gain practical insights into evaluating water sources and making informed management decisions that support herd health and performance.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Susan Markus is a livestock scientist, researcher, and rancher with decades of experience in beef cattle production and applied livestock research. Raised on a mixed farm in northern Manitoba, she earned her Bachelor of Animal Science from the University of Saskatchewan, a Master of Science in ruminant nutrition from the University of Manitoba, and a PhD in Animal Sciences from the University of Alberta. Over a career spanning more than 25 years with the Alberta Government, Dr. Markus served as a beef specialist, livestock expert, and principal investigator leading applied research projects focused on practical solutions for producers. Her work has explored feed efficiency, genomics, productivity, sustainability, and technologies that improve ranch profitability and return on investment. An adjunct professor at both the University of Alberta and Dalhousie University, Dr. Markus has mentored students and collaborated on numerous livestock research initiatives. Since 2021, she has worked with Lakeland College as an RDAR Livestock Scientist specializing in Technologies and Innovations. Dr. Markus and her husband operate a large beef cattle ranch in east-central Alberta, where they continue to apply research-driven practices while raising the next generation of Canadian ranchers.
