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By Alice McFarlane

Swine disease

Research focused on swine infections

Mar 30, 2026 | 3:20 PM

A bacterial pathogen that can cause respiratory disease, meningitis, and sudden death in post-weaned piglets can cause significant animal health challenges and economic losses for producers. 

Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) is investing in new research aimed at addressing Streptococcus suis. The project is led by Dongyan Xu Niu at the University of Calgary.  

The three-year study will explore ways to control Streptococcus suis by engineering bacteria to deliver bacteriophage-derived enzymes that can specifically target and break down the pathogen.  

Researchers will identify the enzymes, integrate them into Lactobacillus strains, and evaluate their ability to protect piglets from infection, potentially improving piglet health while reducing reliance on antimicrobials. 

SIP Chair Mark Ferguson said the project is the latest funded under SIP’s Advancing Swine Research Call for Proposals. SIP will invest up to $150,000. The total project cost is $419,580. 

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“Strategic research investments like this help ensure Canadian producers have access to innovative tools and solutions to address priority health challenges in the barn,” Ferguson said.  

Projects are selected through a review process based on industry input and scientific expertise, ensuring research outcomes are relevant, impactful, and positioned to deliver value back to producers and processors, according to Daniel Ramage, General Manager of SIP. 

“This project reflects the type of collaborative, forward-looking research we aim to support through the Advancing Swine Research Call for Proposals,” Ramage said. “By bringing together leading researchers and industry priorities, we’re helping advance solutions that strengthen the long-term resilience and competitiveness of Canada’s pork sector.” 

The Advancing Swine Research Call for Proposals supports one to three-year projects running from 2025 to 2028 and is a collaborative effort with research institutions across Canada. 

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com