In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Wayne Lees, coordinator for Squeal on Pigs Manitoba, discusses the challenges of controlling invasive wild pigs. He covers the environmental, economic, and safety risks associated with wild pigs, and explains the innovative methods being used to track and manage their population. Learn about the unique climate challenges of wild pig eradication in Canada and how the efforts might serve as a model for other regions. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Wild pigs pose significant environmental risks, including destroying ecosystems and carrying animal diseases like African swine fever."

Meet the guest: Dr. Wayne Lees holds a DVM from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and a Master’s degree in veterinary epidemiology from the Ontario Veterinary College. With extensive experience in veterinary practice, government, and academia, he now coordinates Squeal on Pigs Manitoba. The initiative aims to control and eliminate invasive wild pigs from Manitoba.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:38) Introduction
• (01:58) Why wild pigs matter
• (03:36) Wild pig population trends
• (04:58) Preferred habitats
• (06:25) Geographic challenges
• (17:53) Emerging technologies in control
• (25:19) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this special rerun episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Antonio Velarde, a senior scientist in Animal Welfare at IRTA, shares practical insights into improving animal welfare in swine production. From pain assessment techniques to advancements in group housing systems, Dr. Velarde provides strategies tailored to the swine industry. Listen now on your favorite platform to learn more about innovative ways to enhance swine welfare!

"Animal welfare is the physical and mental state of the animal about the conditions in which it lives."

Meet the guest: Dr. Antonio Velarde is a senior scientist in Animal Welfare at IRTA in Catalonia, Spain. With over two decades of research experience, he specializes in animal behavior, health, and science-based welfare assessment. He holds advanced degrees in veterinary and animal sciences and contributes significantly to European swine welfare policy.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:37) Introduction
• (00:55) Animal welfare
• (03:04) Measurement techniques
• (08:30) Technology & welfare
• (14:17) Group housing
• (22:24) Tail docking
• (26:34) Closing thoughts

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Ali Alameer from the University of Salford discusses how AI and machine vision are being applied to swine farming. He explains how non-invasive camera systems can monitor pig behavior to detect health and welfare issues, creating early warning systems for farmers. Learn how AI can help revolutionize farm management and improve animal care. Listen now on all major platforms!

"AI and machine vision can help detect subtle changes in behavior, predicting health issues before they become severe."

Meet the guest: Dr. Ali Alameer is a Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Salford, UK. His research focuses on using AI and machine vision to monitor pig behavior, aiming to enhance animal welfare through early disease detection. Dr. Alameer's work bridges AI technology and agriculture, making significant contributions to precision livestock farming.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:37) Introduction
• (04:14) AI & machine vision
• (08:22) Pig behavior and AI
• (10:44) Systems for farmers
• (17:57) Advances in tracking technology
• (25:37) Ethical AI in animal care
• (29:41) Final questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Eduardo Beltranena explains the benefits of feeding faba beans to pigs. He discusses inclusion rates, nutritional comparisons with cereals, cultivar selection, and how frost-damaged beans can still be effectively utilized. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Faba beans provide both starch and protein, competing directly with cereals in swine diets."

Meet the guest: Dr. Eduardo Beltranena holds a Ph.D. in nutrition and reproduction interactions from the University of Alberta and currently serves as Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University. His work focuses on improving swine nutrition using regional feedstuffs, optimizing nitrogen use, and supporting Spanish-speaking workers in US pork operations. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:52) Introduction
• (05:17) Faba bean nutrition
• (13:04) Inclusion rate limits
• (16:00) Frost-damaged beans
• (24:28) Cultivar recommendations
• (30:17) Cost comparisons
• (35:58) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Karolína Steinerová explores how promoting play behavior in pigs supports welfare, resilience, and growth performance. She discusses her PhD research findings, the practical application of enrichment materials, and the role of positive emotional states in disease resistance. Learn how welfare can drive productivity in swine herds. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Enhancing animal welfare is not only about reducing negative experiences but about providing animals with positive ones like play."

Meet the guest: Dr. Karolína Steinerová holds a BSc in Animal Protection and Welfare, an MSc in Animal Science from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and a PhD in Swine Behaviour and Welfare from the University of Saskatchewan. She currently manages Producer Services at Sask Pork, leading on-farm animal welfare programs and education.

Click here to read the full research articles:

Rearing pigs with play opportunities: the effects on disease resilience in pigs experimentally inoculated with PRRSV

The promotion of play behaviour in grow-finish pigs: The relationship between behaviours indicating positive experience and physiological measures

Exploring the effect of play on heart rate variability as a measure of positive emotional states in pigs

Regular play opportunities during the grow-finish phase improve pig trainability and learning in a cognitive bias test

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:13) Introduction
• (03:09) Career in animal behavior
• (10:41) Emotional health indicators
• (13:44) Welfare and immune response
• (17:18) Practical enrichment tools
• (25:47) Knowledge transfer strategies
• (34:03) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Anja Strathe from the University of Copenhagen unpacks key challenges and opportunities in sow feeding and nutrition. She discusses strategies for enhancing birth weight, the value of transition diets, and the role of amino acids and fiber in sow feeding. Learn how precision feeding can improve sow health and lactation and reduce mortality. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Feeding glucose-rich diets one week before mating increased litter size from 22 to 23 piglets."

Meet the guest: Dr. Anja Varmløse Strathe is an Associate Professor in Porcine Nutrition at the University of Copenhagen. She has worked with sow nutrition for over a decade in Denmark and the U.S. Dr. Anja earned her MSc in Agronomy and PhD from the University of Copenhagen. Her focus includes fundamental studies on sow physiology and applied nutrition research in partnership with the swine industry.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:55) Introduction
• (03:51) Improving piglet birthweight
• (09:23) Nutritional strategies
• (12:24) Transition feeding insights
• (14:00) Fiber sources in diets
• (18:21) Piglet nutrition strategies
• (26:43) Closing thoughts

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine it Podcast Show Canada

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I’m Dr. Aline Remus, and I’m excited to host my very first episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada! I couldn’t be more thrilled to kick things off with a conversation that tackles two major topics in our industry: how we’re feeding today’s hyper-prolific sow and why training scientists to speak the language of producers matters more than ever. Our guest, Dr. Crystal Levesque from South Dakota State University, shares her insights on sow longevity, amino acid metabolism during pregnancy, and science communication training for swine researchers. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Through the science communication training, the students get an opportunity to tailor a message about their science to real-world stakeholders."

Meet the guest: Dr. Crystal Levesque holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition and Metabolism from the University of Alberta and is an Associate Professor in Swine Nutrition at South Dakota State University. Her research focuses on amino acid metabolism during pregnancy and the nutritional impact on piglet development. She also leads a national training program in science communication for graduate students.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:23) Introduction
• (01:45) Guest career path
• (09:04) Science communication training
• (14:17) Audience-specific messaging
• (22:17) Nutrition and sow longevity
• (24:55) Stillbirth pattern trends
• (30:09) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Stephen Heckbert, Executive Director of the Canadian Pork Council, breaks down what shifting political dynamics mean for pork producers in Canada. He shares insights on trade relationships, the importance of effective communication with policymakers, and opportunities for market growth. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We have to really simplify our story so that it's easy for a policymaker to understand what they can do to help us."

Meet the guest: Stephen Heckbert, Executive Director of the Canadian Pork Council, holds a B.A. in English and Philosophy from the University of Prince Edward Island and a BBA in Marketing from St. Francis Xavier University. With over two decades of leadership across public and private sectors, he brings expertise in strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and agricultural advocacy.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:01) Introduction
• (04:06) Policy engagement urgency
• (07:10) Advocacy communication tools
• (08:35) Progress on advocacy efforts
• (13:10) International trade insights
• (17:06) China market strategy
• (24:27) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, a global leader in biosecurity research, unpacks the current and future challenges in swine biosecurity. He explores whether technology can improve compliance, how behavioral psychology plays a role in consistent biosecurity practices, and why the ongoing HPAI situation in poultry may pose concerns for swine producers. Get insights on protecting your herd from emerging threats. Listen now on all major platforms!

"There’s no silver bullet. We need to apply biosecurity measures consistently."

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Introduction
• (03:45) Biosecurity insights
• (07:11) Tech for compliance
• (13:49) Human behavior training
• (20:11) Influenza threat overview
• (26:26) Emerging zoonotic threats
• (39:33) Final three questions

Meet the guest:

Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt earned his D.M.V. and M.Sc. from the University of Montreal and his Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Minnesota. He is a professor at the University of Montreal, associate director of the World Veterinary Education in Production Animal Health, and a global leader in biosecurity research. His work focuses on infectious disease control in swine production.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Manuel Juarez from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada shares insights into the use of immunocastration in heavy pigs and how it impacts carcass quality, animal behavior, and production efficiency. He explains why industry protocols may need updating to reflect changing market weights and emerging challenges in pig welfare. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Immunocastration can improve feed efficiency — 8 to 12% better than surgical castration — which is quite significant."

• (00:00) Introduction
• (02:57) Carcass quality methods
• (07:19) Immunocastration insights
• (12:14) Timing and dose protocols
• (17:15) Belly fat concerns
• (19:30) Practical producer advice
• (23:57) Final three questions

Meet the guest:

Dr. Manuel Juarez earned his Ph.D. in Animal Production from the University of Seville, after completing an MBA and a DVM. He now serves as a Livestock Phenomics Scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. His research combines genetics and phenotyping to improve carcass and meat quality in swine production.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn