Foreign-trained swine veterinarians working through the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) to qualify for veterinary certification in Canada will focus on reducing swine mortality from birth to market. These veterinarians will undertake research projects to improve swine health and well-being as part of their SMART Swine Residency Certification Program training.
Dr. John Harding, a professor of swine medicine with WCVM, emphasizes the importance of research in the SMART program. These projects will develop knowledge, standards, and tools to reduce swine mortality.
Dr. Harding said the individual research projects evaluate critical control points in swine health, focusing on activities in barns that improve swine health, reduce mortality, and evaluate internal bio-security practices and compliance. The aim is to understand the most critical bio-security measures and identify bottlenecks to full compliance.
The design of the third and fourth projects is to help monitor treatment rates and ensure their effectiveness, both historically and in real time. The final project develops and evaluates a standardized tele-necropsy protocol.
“Trained technicians on farms conduct necropsies, take pictures, and send them back to the veterinary office. This project will evaluate the accuracy of this method,” he said.
Dr. Harding expects these projects to benefit swine producers, veterinarians, and pigs. The mortality rates in swine production are significant, approaching 30 per cent from birth to market.
“The primary goal of this research is to find sustainable tools and techniques to reduce mortality.”
The SMART program, developed over the past few years at WCVM, aims to train foreign-trained veterinarians in the Prairie Provinces to become licensed swine veterinarians. These individuals must have substantial knowledge and experience in the swine industry and meet academic and language proficiency requirements.

Training is delivered through WCVM and swine veterinary practices in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The program spans three years, with 70 per cent of the time spent on clinical training on farms and 30 per cent on academic work, including courses and research. Upon completion, residents receive a Master of Science degree and certification in swine health management from the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.
Dr. Harding explains the importance of involving SMART residents in research, noting that swine veterinarians increasingly participate in field research. He believes this training helps veterinarians understand and interpret research techniques, ensuring they can effectively apply new knowledge and technologies in their practice.
He highlighted the complexities of diagnosing, preventing, and treating diseases in the pork sector. Pathogens evolve, and new diseases emerge, necessitating sophisticated diagnostic tools and methods. The training program equips new swine veterinarians to address these challenges through hands-on experience and rigorous academic standards.
The five research projects focus on swine critical control points, internal bio-security practices, treatment rate monitoring, and developing a tele-necropsy protocol. These projects involve collaboration with industry partners and aim to provide practical solutions to reduce swine mortality.
Dr. Harding expects the research to benefit producers through improved production practices, reduced mortality, and better bench marking of treatment rates. Swine veterinarians will gain new tools for herd health visits, and the pigs will benefit from improved health and reduced mortality.
In the long term, the SMART program aims to increase the number of swine veterinarians, addressing a shortage in the field. Reduced mortality rates will enhance the pork industry’s economic sustainability and social license.
“Residents will gain valuable tools and knowledge for their practice and build professional networks within the industry,” said Dr. Harding.
Interested individuals can contact Dr. John Harding through the University of Saskatchewan’s website for more information. Dr. Harding expresses gratitude to the pork boards of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, the Western Canadian Swine Health Alliance, and the swine veterinarians and industry partners involved in the program and research projects. •
— By Harry Siemens