Farmscape for March 27, 2018

The newly named NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Swine Welfare is preparing to gather input from pork sector stakeholders on their priorities when it comes to swine welfare.
"Thinking Forward: Animal Welfare and Your Business" will be the focus of a Swine Welfare Forum and the official launch of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's newly announced swine welfare research program, scheduled for next week in Mississauga.
NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Swine Welfare Dr. Yolande Seddon, encourages broad communication on the issue.

Clip-Dr. Yolande Seddon-Western College of Veterinary Medicine:
First item on the agenda to start this research program off positively is to have a swine welfare forum for industry stakeholders in Mississauga.
This will be held at the Maple Leaf Think Food Conference Centre on the 4th of April.
It's very important to make sure that we're all on the same page and that we are discussing about this because there are obviously different stakeholder views and different approaches to addressing welfare.
What is most important is that we're thinking about it and discussing and thinking forward.
In my role as the Chair I can only operate at my best if I understand industry partner viewpoints.
We're taking about how we can approach different welfare initiatives to make sure it's a success.

Dr. Seddon notes several guest speakers will attend, including Dr. Anna Johnson with Iowa State University who will discuss hot animal welfare topics of the day, Professor emeritus Dr. Sandra Edwards of Newcastle University who will discuss future hot topics and Dr. Christian Fink Hansen with Danish Pig Production who will discuss Denmark's approach to finding sustainable solutions to welfare initiatives.
Due to limited space this is an invitation only event but Dr. Seddon encourages pork sector stakeholders who have not received an invitation but would like to attend to contact her at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon.
For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork