Ethology

The overall goal of the ethology group is to find solutions to production challenges related to pig behaviour and welfare. Many of these issues are linked to implementation of the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of pigs.

Members

Latest Research

Areas of Research

Finding the optimal loose lactation system and management for Canadian pig production
Improving Sow Management and Performance Using Precision Feeding Records
Provision and innovation of different types of environmental enrichment and understanding their effects on health, welfare and productivity in all stages of pigs
Understanding the impact of different group housing systems on sow health, welfare and productivity
Studying the effects of transportation, slaughter and killing methods on pigs and interventions to mitigate negative welfare consequences
Finding alternatives for piglet painful procedures such as tail docking, castration, teeth reduction and ear notching

The Code requires group housing of gestating sows and requires that all pigs receive ‘multiple forms of enrichment’ throughout the production cycle. The ethology group has completed research on these issues and collaborated in technology transfer to facilitate the transition to group housing and implementation of effective and biologically meaningful enrichment. Sow health management is another important area of research, with research completed on risk factors for sow lameness and shoulder lesions, and the influence of temperament and social status on sow welfare and productivity. Other areas of study include research on linking feeding behaviour with welfare, helping animals better cope with extreme temperature, pain mitigation at castration, alternatives to tail docking, effective ways of implementing these practices on-farm, alternative systems in farrowing and nursery to reduce pre-weaning mortality and promote piglet health, humane culling methods, welfare impact at end of life and One Welfare.

Current ethology research projects are funded by the Government of Saskatchewan – Agriculture Development Fund & ADOPT, Swine Innovation Porc, MITACS, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Ethology Program

Ethology Group Members

Jen-Yun Chou, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Jen-Yun’s background is multidisciplinary at the interface of applied animal behaviour, animal welfare and social science. She obtained her PhD degree in Clinical Veterinary Sciences at the University of Edinburgh in 2019 and holds an MA in Science, Technology and Society. She has experience working as an animal welfare advisor at an international non-profit organization and has conducted research at various research institutes across Europe and North America. Her research projects collaboratively explore issues surrounding ending piglet painful procedures and providing pigs with a better physical and social environment. She is also interested in subjects such as One Welfare, welfare at transport/slaughter and on-farm euthanasia. She did a postdoctoral research project from 2020-2021 at the Swine Teaching and Research centre at the University of Pennsylvania, USA, focusing on sow housing in early gestation. She was also a Marie Skłodowska Curie postdoctoral fellow at the Pig Development Department, Teagasc and the Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, investigating social behaviour and social network in pigs. Jen-Yun has ongoing research collaborations with partners in the US, Europe and Taiwan, where she is from originally. Her goal is to show animal welfare can be beneficial and profitable for all stakeholders and to contribute to improving pig welfare globally.

Yolande Seddon, Ph.D.

Research Chair in Swine Welfare

Dr. Seddon is based at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Her research program focuses on the behaviour and welfare of farmed pigs and explores the interactions between management, pig behaviour, welfare and productivity, with a strong multidisciplinary and applied research approach. In collaboration with the Prairie Swine Centre, Dr. Seddon has regular knowledge transfer of research findings to industry. Broad research interests include: Perception of the environment by animals Influence of environment and management on behavioural development and the relationship to welfare status of the individual Optimizing behavioural development to promote good welfare and productivity Biomarkers predictive of welfare Dr. Seddon’s previous research includes studies on management of group housed gestating sows, lameness prevalence and interventions, temperament assessment, piglet pain behaviour and management of pain, housing systems and economic evaluations. The ultimate goal of Dr. Seddon’s research is to contribute to the development of lasting solutions to animal welfare challenges, and to help to advance sustainable farming practices.

Jennifer Brown, Ph.D.

Research Scientist (Retired)

Jennifer has always had an interest in animal behaviour and grew up caring for the family pets and farm animals. Before starting her career in the swine industry, Jennifer lived in PEI and worked in research related to clinical chemistry, toxicology and human health. She completed a PhD at the University of Guelph in 2009, studying the relationship between pig temperament and behavior, stress physiology and pork quality in market pigs. At the Prairie Swine Centre she leads an applied research program looking at issues related to pig behavior and welfare, including studies on the effects of long duration transport, gestation housing and management, sow lameness, pain control at castration, euthanasia, environmental enrichment for pigs and space allowances for weaner pigs. She lives with a collection of animals on a rolling half section near Hafford, SK.

Abby Tillotson, M.Sc.

Research Officer

Abby Tillotson completed her M.Sc. degree in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science in the College of AgBio, University of Saskatchewan, under supervision of Jennifer Brown in 2024. She is currently the Research Officer for the Ethology and Welfare team. Abby is originally from British Columbia but has spent the last 10 years living in Saskatoon throughout the completion of her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Abby first started working with pigs in the summer of 2019, when her passion for animal welfare, specifically in the swine industry, only grew. Abby has previous experience with sheep and poultry and is excited to continue working in the realm of swine behaviour and welfare research.

Martyna Lagoda, Ph.D.

WCVM

Dr. Martyna Lagoda holds a B.A. degree in Science, Zoology, and an MSc degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. Following the completion of her PhD in Sow Welfare at Teagasc, Ireland, in collaboration with the Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Poland in 2022, Martyna worked as a research technologist on the “Tail Bite Advice” project in Teagasc, aiming to develop algorithms to accurately monitor tail biting behaviour and to create a data-driven PLF decision support tool that will actively advise farmers on how to reduce tail-biting occurrences. As a Zoologist, Martyna is interested in welfare as a broader concept, and in a range of species. One of her main research interests includes using behaviour to gain insights into welfare states, as well as developing housing environments that promote species-specific behaviours. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Saskatchewan, Martyna will continue to work towards improving the welfare of swine.

Serge Muhizi, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Student

Serge Muhizi, originally from the eastern part of Rwanda, has started his Ph.D. under the guidance of Jennifer Brown, Jen-Yun Chou, and Deborah Adewole. He looks forward to furthering his research in animal science and contributing to the ongoing advancements in this field. Serge is excited about the journey ahead and eager to collaborate with fellow researchers and industry professionals to drive innovation and improve animal behavior, nutrition, and welfare. Serge began his master's journey at Dankook University in South Korea in 2020, where he was supervised by Dr. In Ho Kim and Jae Hong Park. His master's thesis focused on assessing the effects of organic acid-based feed additives on various aspects of pig production, including nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial communities, and fecal gas emissions in both weaning and growing pigs. This research provided critical insights into feed additives' impact on the health and growth of monogastric animals. In addition, he had a chance to participate in several trials evaluating the effect of feed additives such as enzymes, prebiotics, probiotics, and organic acids in different stages of swine and poultry production. Before pursuing his master's, he completed a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine at the University of Rwanda, where he was supervised by Dr. Anselme Shyaka. His undergraduate thesis, titled "Assessing the Prevalence of Salmonella Contamination in Pig and Pork at Farms and Slaughterhouses in Northwest Rwanda," laid the groundwork for his focus on animal health and food safety. Apart from that, in his spare time, Serge enjoys meeting friends and hiking, which helps him maintain a balanced lifestyle.

Darian Pollock, B.Sc.

Ph.D. Student - WCVM

Darian was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Darian was fortunate to grow up in an environment surrounded by animals and science, and always knew she wanted a future involving both of these things. This led her to complete her BSc. (Hon) in Toxicology from the University of Saskatchewan in 2018. During her degree, Darian was fortunate to conduct research under Dr. Barry Blakley, where she discovered her passion for diagnostics and analytical methods. This led her to commence graduate school under the supervision of Dr. Yolande Seddon, where she is working on validating and evaluating the hormones dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and cortisol as biomarkers of welfare in growing swine. In her free time, Darian enjoys travelling, being involved in Sikaran (Filipino martial arts), playing instruments, and spending time outdoors with her pets and younger brothers.

Siba Khalife, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Student - WCVM

Wanting to pursue a career in animal-related studies, Siba Khalife completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph in Animal Biology. After taking part in an undergraduate research project on the welfare of pregnant sows, she developed an interest in swine welfare and behaviour and decided to further develop the project as a master’s student. She completed her MSc at the University of Guelph in 2019 and moved to Saskatchewan to study early life effects on the resilience and welfare of pigs under the supervision of Dr. Yolande Seddon. Siba has participated in research involving all areas of swine welfare including transport and gestation housing and is hoping to conduct further research to improve swine housing and husbandry systems.

Shuang Luo, B.Sc.

M.Sc. Student

Shuang Luo graduated from the University of Alberta in 2020 with a Bachelor of Animal Science. After graduation, with several years of hands-on experience on a commercial swine farm, he has gained a good understanding of animal husbandry and swine production. Currently, he is pursuing his master’s degree under the guidance of his supervisors Jen-Yun Chou and Jennifer Brown. His research focuses on utilizing longitudinal retrospective data to compare the productivity of sows and gilts in both group and stall housing systems and linking ESF feeding patterns to productivity to improve group-housed sow management.

Carmen Cole, B.Sc.

M.Sc. Student - WCVM

Carmen completed a BSc in Animal Bioscience at the University of Saskatchewan in 2022. Her degree provided a broad background in agricultural and companion animal health, management, and industry knowledge. Carmen’s introduction to the magnificent world of pig behaviour and welfare was through her undergraduate research thesis project on piglet play behaviour and the weaning transition, completed with Dr. Seddon. Continuing with her professional development, Carmen spent a year working as a research technician in Dr. Seddon’s lab, developing her laboratory, animal welfare, and scientific skillsets. This led Carmen to pursue an MSc project that focuses on developing a new technique for euthanizing large swine on-farm. She is inspired to remain in the field of pig welfare research while working to connect with the swine industry.

Kyle Moak, M.Sc.

Research Assistant, WCVM

Within the WCVM swine welfare research group, Kyle contributes to data collection and analysis on several projects. Kyle graduated from the University of Guelph (UoG) with an MSc in Animal Behaviour and Welfare under the mentorship of Drs. Renée Bergeron (UoG) and Luigi Faucitano (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Sherbrooke, QC). His project evaluated swine welfare and meat quality during the transportation process using two novel trailer designs against the standard North American Potbelly trailer under Canadian Summer and Winter conditions. Under Dr. Bergeron, Kyle was also involved in a project examining low-stress genes and piglet behaviour. Under Dr. Faucitano, he was involved in two studies: 1) investigating the effect of slaughter weight and trailer space allowance during summer transport conditions on the behaviour, physiological response, carcass quality, and meat quality of pigs and 2) investigating the effect of group size and pig weight on loading behaviour and swine welfare indicators.

Yuanyue Wang, M.Sc.

Research Assistant, WCVM

Yuanyue holds a BSc and MSc degree in Veterinary Medicine and worked in the pig industry in China for two years and at Fast Genetics in Canada for three years. He has a deep understanding of the pig industry, particularly in swine disease, barn management and maintenance, feed mill operation, and breeding stock selection. Currently, Yuanyue is a research assistant in the WCVM swine welfare group. At the stage of the second year, he thoroughly enjoys his work, as it not only provides him with constant opportunities for learning and self-improvement but also allows him to contribute to pig animal welfare in the industry, which he loves too.

Heidi Reiss

Lab Assistant, WCVM

Heidi is from Vancouver Island. She will be finishing her bachelor’s degree this year and aims to become a veterinarian afterwards. You can usually find her having a blast in the lab, currently working on the retroactive measures of stress project, but she also can be found off-site helping more hands-on with other student’s master projects. Some of these projects include swine play behaviour and swine euthanasia. She has a great sense of humour and enjoys making our group laugh, as she feels that having a positive connection and impact is important to any successful team. When she’s not working, she enjoys gaming, reading, writing stories, and drawing. She has a love for botany and has a collection of skeletons as well. If you like philosophy, well that makes two of us so don’t be shy!

Monica Li

Undergraduate thesis student (2025-2026)

Originally from Saskatoon, Monica is currently doing her bachelor’s degree in Animal Bioscience and a Certificate in Computing. Monica is working as a Summer Research Assistant with the Ethology and Welfare team assisting in the ADOPT SOWMAT research trial that is looking at the effects of providing perforated rubber mats on the welfare and health of gestating sows and gilts. Monica received the Sebulsky Award from the College of AgBio to help fund her summer research.

Ana Garcia Ubaldo

Mitacs Globalink Intern (2025)

Research Student in the Ethology and Animal Welfare team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics from the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. During her studies, she developed skills in the care and management of both companion and farm animals, covering aspects of medicine and production. She completed an internship at the Zoo of Centenario in Yucatán, where she worked with a variety of species and applied different animal training techniques focused on animal welfare and staff safety. Using positive reinforcement, she helped facilitate medical procedures, physical examinations, and general animal handling. These efforts aimed to improve the quality of life of animals in captivity, encourage natural behaviours, and promote safe and enriching interactions with their environment. In her current role with the SOWMAT project, she supports behavioural data collection and analysis for research on gestating sows, contributing to the development of science-based welfare practices. She aims to pursue a master’s degree focused on ethology and animal behaviour, contributing to the advancement of animal welfare. She is fully funded by the Mitacs Globalink Internship Programme.

Past Post-Doctoral Fellows:

Karen Mancera, PhD (2021-2022)
Cyril Roy, PhD
Stephanie Hayne, PhD
Yuzhi Li, PhD
Gensun-Yu, PhD

Past Ph.D. Students:

Thusith Samarakone, PhD (2002-2006) Social behaviour and productivity of growing-finishing pigs housed in large social groups.
Clover Bench, PhD (2001-2005) Environmental and genetic factors influencing the development of belly nosing in the early-weaned pig.
Moira Harris, PhD (1996-2001) “Savage Behaviour”: Infanticide and offspring- directed aggression in domestic pigs and farmed wild boar.
Rene Bergeron, PhD (1993-1995)

Past MSc Students:

Abby Tillotson, MSc (2022-2024) The effects of environmental enrichment and timing of enrichment provision on the development of damaging behaviours in swine.
Jessica Vehof, MSc (2021-2023) Effects of sow grouping practices on reproductive performance and piglet development.
Cristina Prade Ramos, MSc (2020-2022) Risk factors for sow mortality in Canadian swine herds.
Samuel Ereke, MSc (2020-2022) Validation of infrared technologies for identification of market pigs at risk of transport stress, death loss and PSE meat.
Erin Davis, MSc (2019-2021) Practical alternatives for managing castration pain in piglets.
Ravneet Kaur, MSc (2016-2018) Evaluation of the optimal space allowance for nursery pigs.
Jana Rajendram, MSc (2010-2012) Behavioural analysis of pigs when presented with pea-diets.
Megan Strawford, MSc (2004-2006) Social factors that affect the behaviour and productivity of gestating sows in an electronic sow feeding system.
Clover Bench, PhD (1992-1996)
Sebastien Goumon, PhD
Brandi Street, MSc

Past Undergrad Thesis Students:

Kylie Kallal, BSc (2024) The effects of creep form on piglet growth, behaviour, and blood parameters.
Hayley Bowling, DVM (2018-2020) The effects of enrichment objects on piglet growth and behaviour in an intensive production system.
Jordan Jacobs, BSc (2020) Effects of weaning on the cortisol response and growth of piglets.