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Aerial view of the Ontario Swine Research Centre

Supporting Ontario's Swine Sector

  1. U of G Homepage
  2. Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance
  3. Sector Partners
  4. Supporting Ontario's Swine Sector

Delivering farm-tested solutions for Ontario

The Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance helps Ontario’s pork producers by delivering practical, research-backed solutions to address current and future challenges. Farm-to-fork research and new technologies lead to improved growth and efficiency and productive, healthy animals.

World-class laboratory testing, specialized training and strategic investments in research keep the swine sector resilient.

Partners: Working together for a strong, sustainable sector

The Alliance brings together government, academia and industry for a strong, sustainable swine sector. Partners include:

  • Ontario Pork
  • Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC)
  • Agribusinesses, such as those specializing in animal health, nutrition, genetics, feed and ingredients
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  • Making an impact
  • Ontario Swine Research Centre
  • Additional services and resources
  • In the news

Making an impact

Dr. O'Sullivan stands outside in a golf shirt, jeans and boots, in front of the Ontario Swine Research Centre

Evaluating needle-free injection technology in piglets

Dr. Terri O’Sullivan and Dr. Ron Johnson

Alliance-funded research is examining ways to reduce needle use on farm, specifically by using a needle-free injection device to administer iron and meloxicam to young piglets at processing/castration within the first four days of life.

Testing Needle-Free Injection Technology
A single piglet walks away from a group and toward the camera, indoors on a green floor at the Ontario Swine Research Centre

Improving animal welfare, meat quality and sustainability in pork production

Dr. Jim Squires and Dr. Christine Bone

Using genetic markers associated with varying levels of boar taint, the team identifies pigs less likely to develop boar taint and develops nutritional strategies to manage this multifactorial problem that affects meat quality.

Innovative Approaches to Prevent Boar Taint
A woman in a lab coat at the animal health laboratory checks information on a screen

Safeguarding the province: Preparing for African swine fever

Dr. José Nuño-Ledesma, Scott Biden and Dr. Christa Arsenault

Experts from the University of Guelph and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness are collaborating to understand the potential economic impacts for the pork industry if the disease were to reach Canada.

Preparing for African Swine Fever
Profile photo of PhD student Sarah Hill

Reducing stillbirth and neonatal mortality in pigs

Sarah Hill

As part of her PhD in epidemiology with Dr. Bob Friendship, Hill is investigating how to reduce stillbirth and pre-weaning morality in piglets. Hoping to help sows deliver and nurse more piglets, she looked at risk factors for sows from late gestation through farrowing.

Balancing Economics and Welfare with Larger Litters
A technician wearing a lab coat and safety glasses confirms parameters on a screen

Developing new swine virus tests

Animal Health Laboratory (AHL)

AHL confirmed two new-to-Ontario diseases and developed in-house tests to prepare for future outbreaks. Having in-house testing capacity helps ensure AHL is prepared for testing needs to support Ontario swine producers.

Staying Ahead of the Next Disease
a soybean in a field

Exploring on-farm soybean processing to make Ontario pig farms more economically resilient

Dr. Lee-Anne Huber

Exploring full-fat soybeans as a cost-effective, antibiotic-free pig feed. A feeding trial will assess growth, health, meat quality and gut health through fecal microbiome analysis.

Improving Growth Without Antimicrobials
OSullivan and Farzan review the contents of a binder together in a technologically advanced swine barn

Ontario Swine Research Centre

Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO) provides the places and spaces where research thrives.

Cutting-edge research prevents disease and keeps Ontario's food systems safe—from farm to table.

Explore the Ontario Swine Research Centre

Additional services and resources

Supporting diagnostics and surveillance

The Animal Health Laboratory (AHL) at U of G specializes in determining the health of livestock, poultry, horses and pets through a wide array of tests, and in turn provides disease surveillance data for the province of Ontario.

U of G researchers use the Research Isolation Unit for studies. The unit is managed by the U of G Central Animal Facility.

In the news

  • Livestock Research Innovation Corporation: Nutrition at Farrowing: Making the Case for a Blended Gestation-Lactation Diet (no date)
  • Farmtario: Cold Weather Raises PED Threat for Ontario Swine Farms (Dec. 2025)
  • Pig Progress: Pig Enrichments Analysed in New Quality of Life Handbook (Feb. 2025)
  • The Rural Voice: Increasing Milk Production in Gilts (Dec. 2024)
  • National Hog Farmer: Utilizing Yeast in Sow Diets to Optimize Piglet Growth (Sept./Oct. 2024)
  • Farms.com: Scientists Explore Alternatives to Antibiotics and Zinc Oxide to Address Postweaning Diarrhea (Sept. 2024)
  • Ontario Pork: Leading Swine Research for Future Generations (May 2024)
  • Farmtario: Newly-Infected Pigs Most Likely to Yield Lab Test Answers (Apr. 2024)
  • Pig Progress: Farm Visit Ontario (Canada) – Research Farm with the Latest Novelties and Farm Visit Ontario Part 2: A Look Inside the Sow House (Apr. 2024)
  • Better Pork and Livestock Research Innovation Corporation: Using Research to Solve Practical Swine Industry Problems (Feb. 2024)
  • Farmtario: New Pork Research Barn Called a ‘Game Changer’ (Sept. 2023)
  • Farms.com: Pork Producers Tour New Swine Research Centre (Sept. 2023)
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This website is managed by the University of Guelph. Views expressed here are the views of the University and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Ontario.