Dr. Renée M Petri

Research Scientist Gastrointestinal Microbiome

Supporting livestock and feed industries by uncovering how microbial communities in the rumen and gut influence animal health, productivity, and sustainability. Using advanced tools—including culturing, molecular biology, sequencing, and bioinformatics— to identify and characterize novel microbes in cattle, pigs, bison, and even polar bears. Industry partnerships for evaluating the impact of feed ingredients and additives on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), immunity, and animal performance, through understanding modes of action to support the development of science-based, practical solutions that address industry challenges.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec

Current research and/or projects

My current projects are based on understanding the feed-microbiome-host interactions, specifically with regard to developing knowledge in the area of animal and rumen health. Including a dairy cluster looking at using permeate in Canadian dairy diets, looking at the application of canola oil in the reduction of methane emissions, and assessing feeding practices for their impact on antimirobial resistance across the farm ecosystem. The diverse approaches used in these studies make use of the ever increasing molecular and bioinformatic tools available and have applied knowledge and techniques from human medical research to improve the health and sustainability of animal agriculture.

Research and/or project statements

- Role of the gastrointestinal microbiome in animal immunity and productivity

- Evaluate feed management in transition on metabolic disorders, rumen dysbiosis and immunity

- Determining the impact of the energy to protien ratio in forages on the adherent ruminal microbes and their metabolism

- Impact of feed additives on the host-microbiome crosstalk

Professional activities / interests

Associate Editor Canadian Journal of Animal Science

Communications Director Canadian Society of Animal Science

Education and awards

Post Doctoral Researcher Host-Microbiome Interactions, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 2015-2019

Ph.D. Nutritional Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 2013

M.S.c Ruminant Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 2009

B.S.c Animal Science, University of Alberta, 2005

Young Researcher Development Program 2015-2019, 260,000€

University of Saskatchewan MSc Scholarship 2006-2007, $10,000

International experience and/or work

Research Group Leader Feed-Gut-Microbiome, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna 2019-2020

Contract Research Scientist, Bioinformatics, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2013-2015

Key publications

Martineau, C.A., Duplessis, M., Ronholm, J., Petri, R.M. (2025). The influence of trace metal supplementation on the presence of ceftriaxone resistance in Enterobacteriaceae in the gastrointestinal tract of dairy cattle. Microbiology Spectrum, [online] 13(4), http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01090-24
2025 - View publication details
Conference proceedings.
2025 - View publication details
conference publication
2024 - View publication details
Oplait abstract booklet available to conference members only.
2023 - View publication details
Poulin, A-A., Hassanat, F., Tremblay, G., Ouellet, D., Petri, R., Thériault, M., Claessens, A., Bertrand, A. et Charbonneau, É. 2022. Variation of the alfalfa energy-to-protein ratio to maximize nitrogen use efficiency by rumen microbes. ADSA Annual Meeting, June 25-28, 2023, Ottawa, ON, Canada [poster] and J. Dairy Sci. 106(Suppl. 1): 1133M. [Abstract]
2023 - View publication details
Poulin, A-A., Hassanat, F., Tremblay, G., Ouellet, D., Petri, R., Thériault, M., Claessens, A., Bertrand, A. et Charbonneau, É. 2023. L’efficacité d’utilisation de l’azote par les microbes du rumen est affectée par le ratio énergie/protéines de la luzerne. Journée d'information scientifique sur les bovins laitiers et les plantes fourragères. 8 février 2023, Drummondville, QC. CRAAQ [affiche]
2023 - View publication details
Liu, X.; Floate, K.D.; Gorzelak, M.A.; Holman, D.B.; Hrycauk, S.; Kubota, H.; Lupwayi, N.; Neilson, J.A.D.; Ortega Polo, R.; Petri, R.M.; Tran, L.; Wang, H.; Wilches, D.; Yang, X.; Zorz, J.; Guarna, M.M. Prairie Agroecosystems: Interconnected Microbiomes of Livestock, Soil and Insects. Agriculture 2023, 13, 326. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020326
2023 - View publication details
Poulin, A-A., Hassanat, F., Tremblay, G., Ouellet, D., Petri, R., Thériault, M., Claessens, A., Bertrand, A. et Charbonneau, É. 2022.Variation du ratio énergie/protéines de la luzerne pour maximiser l’efficacité de l’utilisation de l’azote par les microbes du rumen. Symposium sur les bovins laitiers, 2 novembre 2022, Drummondville, QC. CRAAQ.
2022 - View publication details
Lupwayi, N.Z., May, W.E., Kanashiro, D.A., Petri, R.M. (2018). Soil bacterial community responses to black medic cover crop and fertilizer N under no-till. Applied Soil Ecology, [online] 124 95-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.11.003
2018 - View publication details
Lupwayi, N.Z., Larney, F.J., Blackshaw, R.E., Kanashiro, D.A., Pearson, D.C., Petri, R.M. (2017). Pyrosequencing reveals profiles of soil bacterial communities after 12 years of conservation management on irrigated crop rotations. Applied Soil Ecology, [online] 121 65-73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.09.031
2017 - View publication details
Petri, R.M., Mapiye, C., Dugan, M.E.R., McAllister, T.A. (2014). Subcutaneous adipose fatty acid profiles and related rumen bacterial populations of steers fed red clover or grass hay diets containing flax or sunflower-seed. PLoS ONE, [online] 9(8), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0104167
2014 - View publication details
Petri, R.M., Schwaiger, T., Penner, G.B., Beauchemin, K.A., Forster, R.J., McKinnon, J.J., McAllister, T.A. (2013). Characterization of the core rumen microbiome in cattle during transition from forage to concentrate as well as during and after an acidotic challenge. PLoS ONE, [online] 8(12), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083424
2013 - View publication details
Petri, R.M., Forster, R.J., Yang, W., McKinnon, J.J., McAllister, T.A. (2012). Characterization of rumen bacterial diversity and fermentation parameters in concentrate fed cattle with and without forage. Journal of Applied Microbiology, [online] 112(6), 1152-1162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2012.05295.x
2012 - View publication details