Karen Schwean-Lardner

Karen Schwean-Lardner is a professor at the University of Saskatchewan, working with turkeys, broilers and laying hens. Her work is often multi-dimensional, using production, behaviour and physiological indicators, to examine how various management practices impact both the welfare and productivity of birds.  Karen completed her B.Sc. (thesis – equine behaviour), M.Sc. (thesis – Alternative Housing Systems for Laying Hens) and her Ph.D. (Impact of Daylength on Broiler Production and Welfare) at the University of Saskatchewan. During the time of and after completing her Ph.D., she managed the University of Saskatchewan Poultry Research and Teaching Centre, giving her considerable experience in the production aspects of poultry production. She is also heavily involved in teaching poultry sciences, including production and management behaviour and welfare of poultry and other livestock species.

Animal and Poultry Science

Poultry welfare
Poultry management
Poultry production
Turkeys
Broilers
Laying hens

B. Sc. (Agr), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 1984. Department of Animal & Poultry Science, Animal Science Major. 
M. Sc., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 1995. Poultry welfare and management
Ph. D., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 2011. Broiler welfare and management

Buchynski, K., B. Hargis and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2024. Perch use in 11-week-old turkey hens: impact on performance, health and behavior. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. Accepted April 1 2024.

Hammond, A., K. Buchynski, T. Shynkaruk, T. Crowe and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2024. Are turkey hens affected by light flicker? Effects on performance and health. Poultry Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.103747

McPhee, S., T. Shynkaruk, K. Buchynski, T. Crowe and K. Schwean-Lardner. How does visible light flicker impact laying hen pullet behaviour, fear, and stress levels? Poultry Science Accepted March 29 2024

Hammond, A., K. Buchynski, T. Shynkaruk, J. Brown, T. Crowe and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2024. Do flickering lights impact turkey hen behavior, stress and fear? Poultry Science 103, 103699 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.103699

McPhee, S., T. Shynkaruk, K. Buchynski, D. Beaulieu, J. Brown, T. Crowe, and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2024. Do flickering LED lights reduce productivity of layer pullets and hens? Poultry Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.103456

Jhetam, S., T. Shynkaruk, K. Buchynski, A.G. Van Kessel, T.G. Crowe and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2023. Stocking density within chick transport boxes: effects on leghorn chick stress and box microclimate. Journal of Applied Poultry Research https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2023.100400

Adler, C., S. Duhra, T. Shynkaruk and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2023. Validation of a low-cost accelerometer to measure physical activity in 30 to 32-d-old male Ross 708 broilers. Poultry Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.102966

Shynkaruk, T., K. Long, C. LeBlanc and K. Schwean-Lardner. June 2023. Impact of stocking density on the welfare and productivity of broiler chickens reared to 34 d of age. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 32 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2023.100344

Remonato Franco, B., T. Shynkaruk, T. Crowe, B. Fancher, N. French, S. Gillingham and K. Schwean-Lardner. November 2022. Light color and the commercial broiler: effect on behavior, fear and stress. Poultry Science 101 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.102052.

Struthers, S., K. Buchynski, J. Chew, S. Gomis, E. Herwig, T. Shynkaruk and K. Schwean-Lardner. December 2022. Specialized beak blunting feeders and their potential as an alternative to current beak treatment methods in leghorn pullets. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 31 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2022.100285

Franco, B.M.R., T. Shynkaruk, T. Crowe, B. Fancher, N. French, S. Gillingham and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2022. Light wavelength and its impact on broiler health. Poultry Science 101 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.102178

Chew, J., T. Widowski, E. Herwig, T. Shynkaruk and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2022. The effect of light intensity, strain, and age on the behavior, jumping frequency and success, and welfare of egg-strain pullets reared in perchery systems. Animals https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123353

Jhetam, S., K. Buchynski, T. Shynkaruk and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2022. Evaluating the effects of stocking density on the behavior, health, and welfare of turkey hens to 11 weeks of age. Poultry Science 101:101956 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.101956           

Jhetam, S., K. Buchynski, T. Shynkaruk and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2022. Stocking density effects on turkey hen performance to 11 weeks of age. Poultry Science 101:101874 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.101874

Shynkaruk, T., K. Buchynski and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2022. Lighting programme as a management tool for broilers raised without antibiotics – impact on productivity and welfare. British Poultry Science https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2022.2083943

Remonato Franco, B., M.L. Leis, M. Wong, T. Shynkaruk, T. Crowe, B. Fancher, N. French, S. Gillingham and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2022. Light color and the commercial broiler: effect on ocular health and visual acuity. Frontiers in Physiology https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.855266

Struthers, S., T. Fiss, H.L. Classen, S. Gomis, E. Herwig and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2022. The impact of infrared beak treatment on turkey tom and hen beak length and performance to 12 weeks of age. Poultry Science 101:101737 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.101737

Struthers, S., T. Fiss, H.L. Classen, S. Gomis, R. Dickinson, T.G. Crowe, E. Herwig and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2022. The effect of infrared beak treatment on the welfare of turkeys reared to 12 weeks of age. Poultry Science 101:101728 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.101728

Remonato Franco, B., T. Shynkaruk, T. Crowe, B. Fancher, N. French, S. Gillingham and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2022. Does light color during brooding and rearing impact broiler productivity? Poultry Science 101 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.101937

Frerichs, C., K. Beaulac, T.G. Crowe and K. Schwean-Lardner. 2022. The influence on behaviour and physiology of white-feathered end-of-cycle hens during simulated transport. Poultry Science 101:101599 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2021.101599

Sadvakassova, G., M. Ghaly, J. Chew, H. Poorhemati, K. Beaulac, T. Shynkaruk, T. Widowski, K. Schwean-Lardner and S. Komarova. 2022. Research Note: Effect of light intensity of calcium homeostatis in pullets.  Poultry Science https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.101982

Aviagen Inc.
Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan
Chicken Farmers of Canada
Egg Farmers of Saskatchewan
Egg Farmers of Alberta
Egg Farmers of Canada
Canadian Poultry Research Council
NSERC

Poultry Related Courses:

ANSC 440.3 Poultry Production and Aquaculture

VLAC 310 Animal Production and Management II (Poultry Section)
Animal Science 212 Livestock and Poultry Production (Poultry Section)

Welfare Related Courses:

ANSC 811 Welfare of Agriculture Animals 
ANBI 411 Social Behaviour of Domestic Anim 
Undergraduate Thesis Supervision
ANSC 492.3 and 494.6