PhD graduate student opportunity in pig welfare and productivity
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
We are seeking a motivated graduate student interested in swine behaviour, welfare, and production. This project focuses on understanding the effects of immunocastration (IC) in commercial pigs raised to increasingly heavy slaughter weights. Although IC provides well-documented production benefits, the effects of IC on heavyweight pigs reared under commercial conditions remain insufficiently explored. Optimizing the timing of the second IC dose is essential for maximizing welfare, growth, and carcass quality, while preventing potential negative consequences.
This PhD project will evaluate behavioural responses, welfare indicators, performance measures, and carcass outcomes in heavyweight IC pigs. The goal is to provide evidence-based recommendations.
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