Balancing Welfare and Productivity in Swine Care | Kurt Preugschas, DVM

About the Guest Kurt was born and raised on a pig farm near Barrhead, Alberta, which sparked his passion for swine production and medicine. He graduated with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2010 from WCVM in Saskatoon. After graduation, he went directly into swine medicine and has worked in swine practices in Manitoba and Alberta. In 2019, Kurt started a new swine veterinary practice, Precision Veterinary Services inc., based in Red Deer, Alberta. He and his wife Tanja have their home near Lacombe with their 4 children. Kurt takes part in various committees and associations to stay abreast of industry news and innovation. He is a director of the Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop, and has been a director of the Canadian Association of Swine Veterinarians for multiple years and is currently the Past President. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? How animal welfare is more than just pain management—it’s about creating a productive and healthy environment for pigs. The balance between consumer demands, producer responsibilities, and the role of veterinarians in driving welfare standards. Practical management strategies that can improve welfare, including managing out-of-feed events and using simple enrichment tools like hanging chains. How targeted anti-inflammatory treatments and strategic vaccination programs can significantly boost productivity and pig welfare. Kurt’s “golden nugget”