Yolande Seddon

Dr. Yolande Seddon is an Associate Professor and NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Swine Welfare at the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. Her work focuses on swine welfare, behavior, and management practices, with a multidisciplinary approach to improve animal well-being and agricultural productivity. She collaborates closely with the Prairie Swine Centre to translate research into industry practices.

Dr. Seddon holds a PhD in Pig Health Management (Newcastle University, 2011), an MSc in Animal Biology & Welfare (Writtle College, 2006), and a BSc in Animal Behaviour & Welfare (University of Central Lancashire, 2005). Her research interests include environmental perception, biomarkers for welfare, and the impact of management practices on swine behavior and productivity.

Her research emphasizes optimizing behavioral development for welfare and productivity, with studies on play behavior, stress biomarkers (e.g., cortisol in hair), and disease resilience. She also explores sustainable farming practices and the economic implications of transitioning to crate-free farrowing systems. Dr. Seddon has contributed to understanding pain management in piglets, lameness prevention, and shoulder lesions in sows.

Her work bridges applied research and industry needs, addressing topics like transport stress, environmental enrichment, and automated welfare assessment tools. She welcomes collaborations on equine behavior and welfare.