College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Animal Science

Affiliations

Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine

Animal Behavior & Welfare Group, Michigan State University

Program

Dr. Swanson’s program is focused on addressing social responsibility in the food system and its relationship to animal welfare, the role of animals in society, and scientific investigations in farm animal behavior. She provides leadership and guidance for outreach efforts on the development of science-based recommendations for the continuous improvement of animal well-being including educational programming, serving as an expert resource to translate relevant scientific knowledge to commodity organizations, food retailers and other members the public. Her faculty assignment include interactions with MSU research, teaching, and extension faculty across campus and the state in various animal welfare and behavior-related programs, the identification of funding opportunities and facilitation of multi-disciplinary and/or multi-state extension, research and teaching proposals. Her work with government and regulatory agencies includes serving as the Taskforce Chair for the annual review and revision of the Michigan Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices for the Care of Farm Animals under the Michigan Right to Farm Act.

Outreach / Extension

Dr. Swanson’s outreach includes leadership and guidance for the development of science-based recommendations for the continuous improvement of the well-being of farm animals. This includes educational programming, serving as an expert resource to translate relevant scientific knowledge to commodity organizations, food retailers and other members the public. Her outreach also encompasses the development and review of animal care guidelines and standards, and the corresponding assessment and audit tools. Professional interactions include research, teaching, and extension faculty across campus and the state in various animal welfare and behavior-related programs. Her work also engages government and regulatory agencies and personnel. Dr. Swanson currently serves as the Taskforce Chair for the annual review and revision of the Michigan Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices for the Care of Farm Animals issued under the Michigan Right to Farm Act; and has recently participated in the development of guidelines/standards for livestock raised in urban environments.

Teaching

ANS 401 Ethical Issues in Animal Agriculture

Recent Publications

Swanson, J.C., L.T. Chapin and F.C. Hankenson. 2017. Agricultural Animals. In: Management of Animal Care and use Programs in Research, Education, and Testing. 2nd Edition. Ed. R.H. Weichbrod, G.A. Thompson, and J.N. Norton. pp. 531-558. CRC Press, FL.

Wolf, C.A., G.T. Tonsor, M.G.S. McKendree, D.U. Thomson and J.C. Swanson. 2016. Public and farmer perceptions of dairy cattle welfare in the United States. J. of Dairy Science 99: 5892 - 5903.

Campbell, DLM, MM Makagon, JC Swanson and JM Siegford. 2016. Perch use by laying hens in a commercial aviary. Poultry Science 95:1736 -1742.

Mench, JA, JC Swanson and C. Arnot. 2016. The Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply: A unique public-private partnership for conducting research on the sustainability of animal housing systems using a multi-stakeholder approach. J. Animal Science 94:1296 - 1308.

Lee, HC, M.A. Erasmus, I. Kang, J.C. Swanson. 2016. Mitigation of Pale, Soft, Exudative (PSE) turkey using hot-boning, quarter sectioning, and crust-freeze-air-chilling of breast fillets. Poultry Science 95:138-143.

Campbell, DLM, SL Goodwin, MM Makagon JC Swanson, JM Siegford. 2016. Failed landings after laying hen flight in a commercial aviary over two flock cycles. Poultry Science, 95:188-197.

Campbell DLM, MM Makagon, JC Swanson, JM Siegford. 2016. Laying hen movement in a commercial aviary: enclosure to floor and back again. Poultry Science, 95:176-187.

Campbell, DLM, MM Makagon, JC Swanson and JM Siegford. 2016. Litter use by laying hens in a commercial aviary: Dust-bathing and piling. Poultry Science, 95:164-175.

Erasmus, MA, HC Lee, I. Kang and JC Swanson*. 2015. Relationship between temperament and post-mortem muscle characteristics in turkeys of two genetic strains. Poultry Science 94: 2018 – 2026.

Daigle, C., B. Rodenburg, L. Blohuis, J. Swanson and J. Siegford. 2015. Individual consistency of feather pecking behavior in laying hens: once a feather pecker always a feather pecker? Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2: 1-12. http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2015.00006/abstract

Swanson, J.C.*, J.A. Mench and D. Karcher. 2015. Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply: An introduction. Poultry Science 94: 473 -474.

Zhao, Y, TA Shepherd, J Swanson, JA Mench, DM Karcher, H Xin. 2015. A comparative evaluation of three egg production systems: Housing characteristics and management practices. Poultry Science 94: 475 -484.

Daigle, C., B. Rodenburg, L. Blohuis, J. Swanson and J. Siegford. 2014. Use of dynamic and rewarding environmental enrichment to alleviate feather pecking in non-cage laying hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 161: 75-85.

Erasmus, M and J.C. Swanson*. 2014. Temperamental turkeys: reliability of behavioural responses to four tests of fear. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 157: 100-108.

Swanson, J.C.*, Y. Shin, P. Thompson, R. Bawden and J.A. Mench. 2011. Integration: Valuing Stakeholder input in setting priorities for socially sustainable egg production. Poultry Science 90: 2110- 2121.