Farms.com Home   News

USask swine welfare chair renewed for the next five years thanks to national pork industry

As the pork industry continues to see growth across the country, another investment is being made in the welfare of animals.

Dr. Yolande Seddon, associate professor in swine behaviour and welfare at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, was renewed as the USask Chair in Swine Welfare on Jan. 8 at the Banff Pork Seminar.

In total, fourteen industry partners from across Canada have committed to a second chair term for Dr. Seddon from 2024 to 2030. They include Sask Pork, Olymel, Maple Leaf Foods, HyLife, Conestoga Meat Packers, Sunterra Farms, BC Pork, Alberta Pork, Manitoba Pork Council, Ontario Pork, Porcima Inc., PEI Hog Commodity Board, New Brunswick Pork and Swine Veterinary Partners.

Swine Innovation Porc also contributed $50,000 during the transition period and is anticipated to make additional investments during the five-year term.

Canada produces more than 25 million pigs each year and is the third-largest pork exporter in the world, as the swine industry generates nearly $5 billion annually in exports and is a crucial component to the nation’s economic sustainability and growth.

For producers who would like to send research ideas to Dr. Seddon, it is best to reach her by email at yolande.seddon@usask.ca by January 31, 2025.

Source : Saskpork

Trending Video

Inside the Swine Disease Reporting System - Dr. Guilherme Cezar

Video: Inside the Swine Disease Reporting System - Dr. Guilherme Cezar

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Guilherme Cezar from Iowa State University explains how the Swine Disease Reporting System (SDRS) tracks emerging disease trends in the U.S. swine industry. He outlines patterns in pathogen activity, including positive developments with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and concerning surges in PRRS variants. Gain insights into disease surveillance, biosecurity, and cross-border collaboration potential. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The Swine Disease Reporting System aggregates diagnostic lab data to monitor and interpret trends in nine major swine pathogens."

Meet the guest: Dr. Guilherme Cezar / guilhermec-veterinario-037064168 is a veterinarian and Ph.D. candidate in Veterinary Preventive Medicine at Iowa State University, where he also serves as the Coordinator of the Swine Disease Reporting System (SDRS). With a strong background in swine health, biotechnology, and field epidemiology, he focuses on infectious disease trends and data-driven solutions.