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.

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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

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jessica Law, veterinarian and owner of the Prairie Livestock Veterinarians, shares her expertise on advancing herd health through preventative medicine. She explores the power of working closely with producers, the crucial role of biosecurity, and why early piglet care can make all the difference down the line. Get practical tips on disease prevention, vaccination strategies, and how to keep your herd healthy and performing at its best. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Herd health is just like this big ecosystem; it’s a combination of animal health, production, and the goals for those animals."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jessica Law, DVM, earned board certification in Swine Health Management in 2024, becoming only the second veterinarian in Canada and one of just 20 diplomates in North America. Honored as the 2020 Young Veterinarian of the Year, she’s served as president of the Canadian and Western Canadian Association of Swine Veterinarians and chairs the Food Animal Committee for the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Law, owner of Prairie Livestock Veterinarians in Alberta, specializes in herd health, reproduction, biosecurity, and disease prevention. She also teaches at the University of Calgary.

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:08) Introduction
• (03:50) Herd health overview
• (05:18) Producer collaboration
• (13:08) Ventilation's role in health
• (15:00) Biosecurity insights
• (22:08) Management strategies
• (33:36) 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, Mark Fynn, Training Resources Coordinator at the Canadian Pork Council, discusses the development and rollout of the PigLEARN training platform—a national initiative to standardize swine training across Canada. He explains how this digital resource enhances barn-level education and workforce onboarding, with modules on biosecurity, transport, and more. Learn how this system supports swine professionals in delivering consistent, high-quality training. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The PigLearn training platform is an online platform that hosts training—different training modules on a variety of priority topics for the pork industry."

Meet the guest: Mark Fynn holds a Master of Science in Animal Science from the University of Manitoba and serves as the Director of Quality Assurance and Animal Care at Manitoba Pork. He also acts as the Training Resources Coordinator at the Canadian Pork Council. With over 14 years of experience, Mark has been instrumental in driving swine workforce education.

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:55) Introduction
• (03:37) PigLEARN training platform
• (06:18) National training collaboration
• (09:18) Training development overview
• (11:18) Language-accessible learning
• (16:01) Target audience focus
• (21:02) 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.

Website: The Swine it Podcast Show Canada

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As summer temperatures heat up, it's crucial to find ways to manage the rising warmth in swine barns. In this special episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Robert Stwalley from Purdue University discusses how cooling floor pads can alleviate thermal stress in swine barns. He explores the impact of heat on sows, boar productivity, and piglet welfare and explains how microclimate engineering supports animal performance and barn efficiency. Learn practical solutions for barn design and temperature management. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Thermal stress drastically affects sows, and barns are just compromising between overheating the sow and underheating the piglets."

Meet the guest: Dr. Robert Stwalley is an Associate Clinical Professor of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue University. He holds degrees in Power and Machinery (B.S.), and Combustion and Computational Fluids (M.S. and Ph.D.) from Purdue. His research focuses on microclimate technologies, renewable energy, and agricultural machinery design.

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:12) Introduction
• (01:47) Managing thermal stress
• (06:57) Cooling pad design
• (08:07) Performance and behavior impact
• (16:17) Cost considerations
• (21:35) Microclimate control methods
• (25:05) 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. Janice Siegford from Michigan State University explores the role of precision livestock farming in modern swine production. She explains the challenges of using sensors and monitoring tools in pig barns—from durability issues to scaling data collection for large operations. Learn how these technologies can improve pig welfare, detect disease early, and help producers make smarter decisions. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"We need to ensure technology supports both efficiency and ethical responsibility in swine production."

Meet the guest: Dr. Janice Siegford, MS, PhD, is a Professor in the Animal Behavior and Welfare Group at Michigan State University, where she also serves as Associate Chair of Graduate Programs. With a background in neuroscience, zoology, and science communication, she specializes in the impact of management practices and housing environments on livestock welfare.

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:06) Introduction
• (01:22) Precision livestock farming
• (02:44) Challenges in pig monitoring
• (05:51) Technology for disease detection
• (09:56) Individual tracking benefits
• (20:54) Tech for decision-making
• (24:34) 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.

Website: The Swine it Podcast Show Canada

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