Manitoba Swine Seminar Guest Speakers SWednesday - Feb 4TH,

Topic: Seneca Valley virus or skin lesions on the snout - What Happens next?

 Dr. Christensen is the owner of EpiSAC (Epidemiologic Surveillance and Analysis Consulting) and the manager of Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network (CWSHIN).

Dr. Christensen is a veterinary epidemiologist (DVM, Ph.D. from Copenhagen, Denmark), with experience in all aspects of animal health surveillance in swine herds as well as national animal health surveillance, and disease control programs from work in both Denmark and Canada.

As Manager of CWSHIN (since 2018) Dr Christensen has developed a prototype repository for routine diagnostic laboratory data and clinical impression surveys for swine health in the western region of Canada for the purpose of swine health surveillance. In addition, she has developed disease freedom models for blisters and African swine fever (ASF) in the region.

Prior to that (2001 to 2016) she was an epidemiologist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), working on CanNAISS (Canada’s Notifiable Avian Influenza Surveillance) and swine surveillance (CanSwineSurv).

Before she moved to Canada she worked in Denmark. At the Danish Veterinary Laboratory she was a researcher and senior research officer primarily working in a broad collaboration with other colleagues on national Salmonella surveillance and control before leading a multi-stakeholder research project.

Her PhD project on health monitoring in swine herds was conducted at the Danish Bacon and Meat Council (DBMC).

Just out of Vet school she got her first experience in large animal practice, as a meat-inspector (swine), and with national disease control at the Veterinary Services (veterinary authority) in Denmark .

Topic:  Large Litters and How to manage them 

Dr. Lee-Anne Huber is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences at the University of Guelph, where she leads research in swine nutrition and physiology. Her work focuses on precision feeding strategies to improve sow productivity and sustainability, with strong industry partnerships and practical applications on commercial farms. Lee-Anne grew up on a mixed farm in Southwestern Ontario.

Topic: Feeding gilts to maximize their mammary development and subsequent milk yield

Dr. Farmer has been a research scientist at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada since 1986. She was a pioneer in studying mammary development in gilts and sows. She has published 175 scientific manuscripts, 9 book chapters, and is the sole editor of two books that were also translated and published in Chinese. 

Topic: Day 1 Piglet Care

KEYNOTE SPONSORSHIP: SUMMITT TECHNOLOGIES

 Karina Mikkelsen from Denmark began her career in economics before pursuing agriculture, graduating from an agricultural college in 2002. She spent over 20 years working with breeding, propagation, and production herds. In 2020, she founded Hands On Consulting, providing practical advice to farmers. Since then, she has supported more than 270 farms across 17 countries, known for her hands-on experience and commitment to modern farming.

Learn how piglets get the best start in life and why the sow is crucial for their survival and well-being. 

Gain insight into sow biology and discover how Danish farming uses knowledge and good practices to raise strong animals with low medication use.

  My name is Karina Mikkelsen, and I am the owner of Farrowing Management. I have worked with pigs since 1997, became a trained Danish farmer in 2002, and gained more than 16 years of experience as a farm manager. In 2020, I established my own consulting company, where I work hands-on with practical management solutions on pig farms in both Denmark and abroad. Over the past six years, I have visited more than 270 farms in 17 countries. 

With my many years of experience have given me deep insight into how crucial the first hours and days after farrowing are for piglet survival, welfare, and long-term performance.

 Topic: Water Quality and Treatment 

Irena Motnenko, PhD, is the President and Chief Technical Officer of Osorno Enterprises Inc.

In 1990 she graduated from Moscow State University, Russia, with an M.Sc. in sedimentology and marine geology.
She received her PhD in environmental geology from Moscow State University in 1999.
She has worked in the field of water and wastewater treatment technologies since her immigration to Canada more than two decades ago. Her expertise lies in interpretation of water composition for the definition of potential treatment processes, the application of chemicals, including oxidation and disinfection options such as chlorine dioxide, various peroxy compounds and other."

2:00-2:30 p.m. Topic ; Autogenous Vaccines  - farm specific health care. 

Dr. Cesar Caballero holds a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine from Colombia, a Doctorate in Veterinary Science from the University of Guelph and Executive Veterinary Program from the University of Illinois. Dr. Caballero is a licensed veterinarian in Canada, member of the American and Canadian Association of Swine Veterinarians. With more than 25 years of experience in the swine industry, he has worked in swine technical positions with different companies such as Boehringer ingelheim and Hypor genetics. He is actually the Canadian Swine Veterinary Services Manager with Ceva Animal Health.

2:45-3:15 p.m. Topic ; Sow Housing Choices 

Sponsored by: HIPRA Animal Health Canada Inc.

Kevin Kurbis is the Sales Manager at New Standard Ag, focusing on the development and implementation of loose sow housing systems that promote animal welfare and farm productivity. With extensive on-farm experience and a practical understanding of producer challenges, he helps bridge research-based welfare standards with practical, cost-effective solutions for commercial operations adapting to loose housing.

3:15-4:00 p.m.  Panel on Sow and piglet care

Dr. Lee-Anne Hubner, Dr. Chantal Farmer, Kevin Kurbis