SRUC, Scotland
Emma Baxter is Reader/Associate Professor at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and a research scientist in SRUC’s Animal Behaviour and Welfare Team in Edinburgh.
She has almost 25 years of research experience specialising in the welfare and behaviour of pigs, covering challenges across the pig’s life cycle, including piglet survival, high-welfare farrowing systems and alternatives to CO2 stunning at slaughter.
Her work has a strong emphasis on translating research into practice through collaboration with industry.
At PRS27, she will explore what characterises a good and sustainable sow life and how welfare can support sow longevity and productivity.
University of Copenhagen
Ken Steen Pedersen is Professor of Porcine Health Management at the University of Copenhagen, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.
He is a specialist veterinarian, Dr. Med. Vet., PhD and Dipl. ECPHM, and leads the Porcine Health Management research group.
His main areas of interest are porcine health management and pigs, with a focus on herd health, disease control, welfare and production-related health challenges.
At PRS27, he will share the latest knowledge on sow mortality and the risk factors that influence sow survival and longevity in modern herds.
SEGES Innovation
Thomas Sønderby Bruun is Senior Specialist in Nutrition & Feeding at SEGES Innovation.
His work focuses on gilt and sow nutrition, applied reproduction and lifetime performance, with an emphasis on how feeding, metabolism and production biology can support robust, high-performing sows with longer productive lives.
At PRS27, he will present new knowledge on how the next generation of sows can be strengthened through a better understanding of the biological and nutritional factors behind longevity, productivity and lifetime performance.
University of Leipzig
Christoph Mülling is Professor of Veterinary Anatomy at the University of Leipzig and Head of the Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology.
His research activities include locomotion, biomechanics and pressure measurement systems in livestock, as well as claw and limb function.
Through research projects on movement, load distribution and species-appropriate husbandry, his work contributes to a deeper understanding of the physical factors that influence animal robustness and welfare.
At PRS27, he will bring perspectives on the biological and physical foundations for a long and robust sow life.
Teagasc
Laura Boyle is a Research Officer at Teagasc’s Moorepark Animal and Grassland Research Centre in Ireland. Her research interests include the interrelationship between animal health and animal welfare and the role animal welfare can play in reducing antibiotic use and strengthening the sustainability of animal agriculture.
Her current projects include work on high-welfare pig production, ear necrosis on Irish pig farms and rearing pigs without tail docking through risk assessment tools.
At PRS27, she will contribute to the session on improving sow survival, bringing a welfare and management perspective to how production systems can support more robust and resilient sows.
Gård & Djurhälsan
Kaisa Ryyty Sylvén and Anna Haglund are listed in the PRS27 programme as keynote speakers representing Gård & Djurhälsan in the session on Improving Sow Survival.
Together, they add a practice-oriented perspective to the programme, focusing on how advisory work, herd health and on-farm management can contribute to improved sow survival and longer productive lifetimes.
At PRS27, they will help connect the scientific discussions on sow longevity with practical experience from pig production and advisory settings.
University of Bern
Alexander Grahofer is associated professor and lecturer at the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and holds specialist diplomate qualifications in both porcine health management and animal reproduction.
His publication record includes research on farrowing management, colostrum traits, reproductive performance and clinical cases related to sow health. His work links veterinary science with practical herd management to improve sow and piglet health.
At PRS27, he will share new resevarch on managing sow health around farrowing and its significance for productivity, piglet survival and sow longevity.
Aarhus University
Marianne Kaiser is a tenure track assistant professor at Aarhus University, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. Her research focuses on pig health and immune response during critical and stressful periods such as farrowing, as well as diagnostic tools for use on pig farms and Precision Livestock Farming technologies for automatic monitoring.
She also studies the mechanisms behind Post-partum Dysgalactia Syndrome, which affects sow health, milk production and piglet survival.
At PRS27, she will present new knowledge on health and management around farrowing and their importance for a long and productive sow life.
Aarhus University
Takele Feyera is an assistant professor at Aarhus University, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.
His research centres on nutrition and nutritional physiology in pregnant and lactating sows and suckling piglets, particularly during the transition period around farrowing.
The main aim is to optimise nutrient utilisation in sows to improve colostrum and milk production, thereby supporting piglet survival and growth.
At PRS27, he will present the latest knowledge on lactation and how sow nutrition contributes to productivity, piglet vitality and long-term sow performance.
Kansas State University
Jason Woodworth is a Research Professor at Kansas State University and a recognised expert in swine nutrition and production systems.
His work focuses on feeding strategies that improve sow productivity, milk production and piglet performance, while supporting robust and efficient pig production. Through research and close collaboration with producers and industry partners, he contributes to the development of practical nutrition solutions for modern swine systems.
At PRS27, he will share the latest insights into nutrition and lactation management and their importance for piglet survival, sow health and long-term productivity.
Progris
Jes Callesen is a consultant and founder of Progris and a member of the PRS27 research committee.
He contributes a practical advisory perspective on reproduction, farrowing management and production optimisation in pig herds.
His role in the programme brings practice-oriented experience into the discussion of sow longevity, with a focus on how knowledge can be translated into concrete improvements in the herd.
At PRS27, he will share practical perspectives and management strategies that can strengthen sow performance and support piglet survival.
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