The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Felipe Hickmann, animal scientist and PhD researcher from Université Laval, Canada, and UFRGS, in Brazil, explains how phytase supplementation influences environmental sustainability in pig production. He discusses life cycle assessment results, phosphorus utilization, manure management, and precision feeding strategies. Learn research gaps and practical implications for reducing environmental impacts through nutrition. Listen now on all major platforms and stay ahead in swine nutrition science! “More than 60% of environmental impact in pig production systems is linked to feed inputs, making nutrition the most influential lever for sustainability improvement.” Meet the guest: Dr. Felipe Hickmann https://www.linkedin.com/in/felipe-hickmann-963853a6/ is an animal scientist with extensive experience in pig and poultry production systems, nutrition, and sustainability. He earned his PhD in Animal Sciences through a joint program between UFRGS in Brazil and Université Laval in Canada, with research conducted in Australia, Canada, the United States, and Switzerland. His work focuses on nutrition strategies, manure management, and life cycle assessment in non-ruminant systems. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:34) Introduction (02:01) Feed impacts (02:55) Phytase research (05:02) Phosphorus levels (06:38) Manure handling (09:34) Precision feeding (11:45) Final Questions The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) * Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - DietForge (https://dietforge.ai/) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this special episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, we bring you the second part of our crossover conversation with The Swine it Podcast Show Canada. Co-host Dr. Ruurd Zijlstra continues the discussion with Dr. Anja Strathe from the University of Copenhagen, focusing on transition diets, fiber strategies, milk production, and feeding management during lactation. Learn practical insights to support sow performance and long-term longevity. Listen now on all major platforms! If you follow the swine industry in Canada or want to stay close to what is happening there, check out The Swine it Podcast Show Canada. Listen now on all major platforms: https://swineitpodcast.ca/ "My focus is also a lot on can we do something through nutrition of the sow that improves either milk yield or milk quality." Meet the guest: Dr. Anja Varmløse Strathe https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-v-strathe-6556a716/ is an Associate Professor in Porcine Nutrition at the University of Copenhagen. She has worked with sow nutrition for over a decade in Denmark and the U.S. Dr. Anja earned her MSc in Agronomy and PhD from the University of Copenhagen. Her focus includes fundamental studies on sow physiology and applied nutrition research in partnership with the swine industry. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:50) Introduction (02:10) Fiber in transition diets (04:09) Lactation period (06:33) Piglet nutrition strategies (08:57) Sow body condition (11:06) Creep feeding (14:05) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) * Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - DietForge (https://dietforge.ai/) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Drs. Augspurger and Borg share highlights of the U.S. Soy-sponsored symposium featured at the upcoming ASAS Midwest Section meeting. The Science and Commercial Application of Soybean Meal in Today’s Pig Diets includes the latest research, but with a primary emphasis on practical applications, including an economic assessment in commercial environments. You will also hear about a new financial modeling tool designed for swine nutritionists to better understand the economic value of these insights on their operations. Listen now on all major platforms. "This symposium brings forward new knowledge about the use of soybean meal in swine nutrition and health applications. It features an impressive list of speakers discussing the development of the corn-soy diet for pigs, soybean meal quality, net energy values, practical applications, and economics." Dr. Nathan Augspurger, United Soybean Board "This financial modeling tool can help swine nutritionists go beyond the formulation desk — it’s an all-inclusive, integrated web-based digital model that estimates the financial value of nutritional strategies in order to maximize growth potential and profitability." Dr. Bart Borg, Passel Farms Meet the guests: Bart Borg, Ph.D., Vice President of Feed and Nutrition, Passel Farms, Ames, IA Barton Borg, VP, Passel Farms, leads the feed manufacturing and nutrition team. Prior to this role, he spent nine years as the director of nutrition for Standard Nutrition Services and 14 years as the director of feed operations for Murphy Brown LLC. During his time with Murphy Brown, Bart was involved in nutrition, ingredient procurement, feed manufacturing, R&D activities, and ISO22000 implementation. Nathan Augspurger, Vice President, Animal Nutrition and Health, United Soybean Board Nathan Augspurger serves as Vice President of Animal Nutrition and Health with the United Soybean Board, where he manages strategic Checkoff investments in animal nutrition and health research to drive demand, enhance reputation, and increase the value of soybean products for producers and farmers. With an educational background in monogastric nutrition, Nathan brings diverse industry experience spanning nutrition research, commercial technical service, and product development in both feed additives and animal health. This comprehensive perspective enables Nathan to bridge research innovation with practical applications that deliver measurable value across livestock production systems. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast Dr. Rosero & Dr. R. Dean Boyd: Overcoming Summer Dip: Use of Soybean Meal to Maximize Carcass Weight | Ep. 131 - https://www.wisenetix.co/blog/Overcoming-Summer-Dip-Use-of-Soybean-Meal-to-Maximize-Carcass-Weight Dr. Gaines & Dr. Borg: Soybean Meal Net Energy Higher in Commercial Settings | Ep. 141 - https://www.wisenetix.co/blog/Soybean-Meal-Net-Energy-Higher-in-Commercial-Settings Dr. Goodband & Dr. Mendoza: Listen to the Pigs - Performance Impact of Increasing Soybean Meal With and Without DDGS | Ep. 177 - https://www.wisenetix.co/blog/Performance-Impact-of-Increasing-Soybean-Meal-With-and-Without-DDGS What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:44) Introduction (02:09) Symposium focus (03:09) Speaker lineup (05:32) Financial decision-making tool (08:04) Practical applications (09:49) Tool availability (11:46) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: United Soybean (https://can.ussoy.org/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this special episode of the Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, we bring you a crossover with The Swine it Podcast Show Canada. Co-host Dr. Ruurd Zijlstra sits down with Dr. Anja Strathe from the University of Copenhagen to discuss practical sow feeding strategies, piglet birth weight, early gestation nutrition, and mortality around farrowing in hyperprolific systems. Dr. Strathe shares how research-based insights can help shape better nutritional decisions for sow herds. Listen now on all major platforms. If you follow the swine industry in Canada or want to stay close to what is happening there, check out The Swine it Podcast Show Canada. Listen now on all major platforms: https://swineitpodcast.ca/ "Piglet birth weight is really correlated to piglet mortality, and very small piglets require extensive management to survive in modern hyper prolific systems." Meet the guest: Dr. Anja Varmløse Strathe https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-v-strathe-6556a716/ is an Associate Professor in Porcine Nutrition at the University of Copenhagen. She has worked with sow nutrition for over a decade in Denmark and the U.S. Dr. Anja earned her MSc in Agronomy and PhD from the University of Copenhagen. Her focus includes fundamental studies on sow physiology and applied nutrition research in partnership with the swine industry. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:44) Introduction (01:14) Importance of sow nutrition (03:40) Improving piglet birthweight (05:44) Trials insights (09:12) Nutritional strategies (12:42) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) - DietForge (https://dietforge.ai/) - Pharmacosmos (https://www.pharmacosmos.us/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Chad Hastad from New Fashion Pork explains how mycotoxins and endotoxins influence enteric stability and post-weaning performance. He outlines key risk points in nursery flows, practical strategies to support mucosal integrity, and tools that help mitigate subclinical toxin pressure. Learn how prevention-based nutrition programs strengthen gut function and improve early pig care. Listen now on all major platforms! "Endotoxins directly affect the intestinal mucosa, weakening barrier function and allowing additional challenges to influence nutrient absorption." Meet the guest: Dr. Chad Hastad serves as Director of Research, Nutrition, and Operational Support at New Fashion Pork. His experience spans feed mill operations, consulting, and applied research focused on improving swine nutrition programs and production efficiency. His work centers on enteric stability, toxin management, and practical strategies that support high-performance nursery systems. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast Dr. Ashley Wagner: Nutritional Strategies for Stress | Ep. 166 https://www.wisenetix.com/blog/Nutritional-Strategies-for-Stress Dr. Josep Garcia Sirera: Managing Endotoxins in Swine | Ep. 171 https://www.wisenetix.com/blog/Managing-Endotoxins-in-Swine What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:47) Introduction (02:23) Enteric challenges (03:39) Toxin interactions (04:57) Protective strategies (07:47) Management insights (11:24) Biosecurity tools (15:35) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) * Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - DietForge (https://dietforge.ai/) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sam Gerrard, postdoctoral fellow at Virginia Tech, breaks down how immune challenges shift nutrient use in pigs and impact performance. The conversation covers reduced feed intake, immune-driven nutrient diversion, and how pair feeding models help separate disease effects from intake effects. Dr. Gerrard explains why understanding physiology during health challenges is critical for maintaining feed efficiency and animal welfare. Listen now on all major platforms. "The immune system diverts nutrients from lean tissue accretion toward defense, significantly altering metabolic priorities during immune challenges." Meet the guest: Dr. Sam Gerrard holds a DVM and a PhD in Nutritional Physiology and is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech. His work focuses on swine physiology, immune challenges, and nutrient allocation during disease. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:45) Introduction (02:43) Swine immune response (04:26) Feed intake impact (05:34) Pair-feeding explained (06:41) Different responses (09:33) Nutritional interventions (12:35) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) * Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - DietForge (https://dietforge.ai/) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Charlotte Lauridsen from Aarhus University explains how oxidative stress and inflammation affect pig health and productivity. She discusses how immune activity is shaped by metabolism, weaning, gut microbiota, and dietary interventions. Understand how early nutritional strategies can support immune function and reduce chronic challenges in piglets and sows. Listen now on all major platforms! "Reactive oxygen species increase when mitochondrial activity rises under high metabolic pressure, creating conditions that challenge cellular stability." Meet the guest: Dr. Charlotte Lauridsen https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-lauridsen-8bb98aa8/ is a professor and Head of the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Aarhus University, specializing in nutritional immunology in pigs. Her work explores how nutrients affect immune responses, oxidative stress, and inflammation, with emphasis on sow and piglet health during early life and weaning. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (01:12) Introduction (01:46) Guest background (02:50) Oxidative stress (05:07) Inflammation control (08:56) Immune diet tools (11:31) Biomarker use (14:16) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) - Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Chris Hostetler, Director of Animal Science at the National Pork Board, discusses the work of the Nutrient Utilization Consortium and its impact on the swine industry. He explains how updated data, multivariate diet formulation, and coordinated research are shaping the future of sustainable pork production. Discover how science-driven collaboration is improving nutrient efficiency and environmental outcomes. Listen now on all major platforms! "The biggest driver of sustainability for pork production is the feed that we feed the animals." Meet the guest: Dr. Chris Hostetler serves as the National Pork Board’s Director of Animal Science, where he oversees research in swine nutrition, genetics, and reproduction. With a background in academia and industry, he focuses on improving production efficiency and sustainability across the pork sector. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:56) Introduction (02:23) Nutrient utilization insights (03:57) Nutrient cycle connections (06:35) Consortium structure (07:56) Data gaps and updates (10:04) Practical use for nutritionists (13:46) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) - Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Taw Scaff from North Dakota State University discusses the importance of boar nutrition and its direct link to sperm quality and fertility. He explains how energy balance affects libido, semen volume, and motility, and why updating decades-old research is vital to match today’s genetics and technologies. Listen now on all major platforms! "Boars make up roughly 50% of the next generation, so if they’re not performing optimally, the herd’s reproduction suffers." Meet the guest: Dr. Taw Scaff earned his Ph.D. in Swine Nutrition and Reproduction from Purdue University, an M.S. in Animal Science, and a B.S. in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University. Now an Assistant Professor and Extension Swine Specialist at North Dakota State University, his work focuses on optimizing swine nutrition, reproduction, and management strategies. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:30) Introduction (01:17) Importance of boar nutrition (01:59) Sperm viability and nutrition (03:33) Energy levels and sperm health (04:52) Artificial insemination (06:10) Research gaps in boar studies (08:15) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Ashley DeDecker from Smithfield Foods discusses the economic and health importance of vaccine compliance in swine production. She explains how proper vaccine storage, administration, and handling can impact herd performance and profitability. Learn practical strategies to improve vaccine compliance and animal health on your farm. Listen now on all major platforms! "We sometimes start to forget about what it’s costing us, not just the cost of the vaccine, but the cost to care for that vaccine." Meet the guest: Dr. Ashley DeDecker https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-dedecker-718a5530/ earned her Ph.D. in swine behavior and stress physiology from the University of Illinois in 2011. She currently serves as Senior Director of Research and Extension at Smithfield Hog Production, overseeing applied research across all areas of swine production. Her work focuses on identifying cost-effective, science-based solutions that improve pig health and performance on farms. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:38) Introduction (01:38) Vaccine compliance (04:08) Industry challenges (06:03) Economic outcomes (08:08) Farm improvement steps (09:22) Handling techniques (11:46) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) - Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Ygor de Paula from the University of Saskatchewan explores precision feeding for immunocastrated pigs. He explains how nutrient adjustments can reduce inflammation, improve gut health, and optimize immune function. Discover how individualized feeding technologies influence the microbiome and energy balance in swine production. Listen now on all major platforms! "We found that individual precision feeding could reduce unnecessary energy loss to immune response and improve the microbiome." Meet the guest: Dr. Ygor de Paula https://www.linkedin.com/in/ygor-henrique-de-paula-4bb3a8b8/ is a veterinarian with a Master’s and Ph.D. in Animal Science from the Federal University of Lavras, Brazil, and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Saskatchewan. His research investigates how nutrition and enteric pathogens affect swine intestinal health, with a focus on immune response and microbiome modulation. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:44) Introduction (02:31) Precision feeding concept (05:19) Study hypothesis (05:52) Immunocastrated pigs focus (06:52) Main findings (10:17) Practical applications (11:49) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) - Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Anne Huting, a swine researcher at Schothorst Feed Research in the Netherlands, discusses the challenges and opportunities of raising pigs with intact tails. She explains how nutrition, management, and environment interact in tail-biting prevention, and highlights differences between European and U.S. practices. Learn practical strategies to identify risk factors and implement solutions on the farm. Listen now on all major platforms! "Tail biting is influenced by nutrition, management, and environment, making prevention a complex challenge that requires multifactorial solutions." Meet the guest: Anne Huting https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-huting-8ab0bb41/ is a swine researcher at Schothorst Feed Research in the Netherlands. She earned her Master’s degree in Animal Nutrition from Wageningen University and focuses on feedstuff evaluation, piglet nutrition, and strategies to prevent damaging behaviors. Click here to read the full research article: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1749 Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:42) Introduction (02:12) Tail biting insights (05:55) European swine practices (09:22) Management and environmental factors (10:55) Enrichment strategies (12:46) Protocols on farms (15:26) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) - Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of the Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Gustavo Lima, a PhD student at Iowa State University, shares research findings on high soybean meal inclusion in grow-finish pig diets. He discusses performance impacts, energy efficiency, and nitrogen excretion changes at varying inclusion levels. Learn how pigs adapt to higher soybean meal diets and the management considerations for producers. Listen now on all major platforms! "The pig needs to adapt to the diet. There will be a transition phase with lower feed intake, leaner pigs, and less back fat. Once adapted, they can handle higher soybean meal inclusion." Meet the guest: Gustavo Lima https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustavo-lima-a9867127/ is a PhD student in Animal Science at Iowa State University with over 15 years of swine production experience across Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. His research focuses on soybean meal inclusion, nutrient utilization, and ingredient characterization in grow-finish pigs. Click here to read the full research article: https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/103/Supplement_1/119/8138933 Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (01:08) Introduction (02:13) Soybean meal inclusion (03:23) Research hypothesis (06:06) Energy efficiency (08:15) Nitrogen excretion (09:08) Practical advice (10:30) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) - Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Nelson Arias from the University of Illinois shares recent research on the nutritional consistency of extruded full-fat soybeans across different US regions. He explains how minimal variation in amino acids, energy, and phosphorus digestibility can simplify diet formulation. Listen now on all major platforms! "We found that the differences in nutritional value and nutrient content of full-fat soybeans from various U.S. regions were minimal." Meet the guest: Nelson Camilo Ruiz Arias https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelson-camilo-ruiz-arias-06a50115a/ is a research academic at the University of Illinois, holding a master’s degree in nutritional science. His recent studies evaluated the nutritional value of extruded full-fat soybeans from various US regions, analyzing amino acids, energy, and phosphorus digestibility. Click here to read the full research articles: There are only minor differences among soybeans grown in different areas of the United States in nutrient composition and digestibility of amino acids by growing pigs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0377840125000926?via%3Dihub The growing area within the United States has only minor impact on digestible and metabolizable energy, and standardized total tract digestibility of phosphorus in full-fat soybeans fed to growing pigs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377840125001300?via%3Dihub Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (01:02) Introduction (02:29) Nutrient variation in soybeans (03:32) Practical formulation impact (04:14) Energy content comparison (05:25) Phosphorus availability (06:35) Recommendations for nutritionists (07:12) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) - Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Ashley DeDecker, Senior Director of Research and Extension at Smithfield Hog Production, explores the critical role of day one pig care in improving survival and performance. She shares insights on environmental management, drying strategies, and split suckling practices. Discover what truly matters for piglet success and where to focus your time and labor. Listen now on all major platforms! "When farrowing crates are optimal, drying piglets is considered an advanced care option." Meet the guest: Dr. Ashley DeDecker https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-dedecker-718a5530/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app , Senior Director of Research and Extension at Smithfield, brings over 13 years of expertise in swine production research. She holds a Ph.D. in Swine Behavior and Stress Physiology from the University of Illinois and a B.S. in Animal Science from Southern Illinois University. Her work focuses on improving swine behavior, welfare, and production practices at Smithfield. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:43) Introduction (01:57) Day one pig care (03:22) Drying techniques (04:16) Farrowing crate (06:53) Split suckling (09:43) Sow colostrum production (14:01) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) - Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://www.swinecampus.com/nutritionblackbelt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Roman Moreno, nutritionist at Seaboard Foods, shares his perspective on managing summer diets for pigs under heat stress. He explains how energy density, fat inclusion, and feed form strategies can influence growth performance and market outcomes. The conversation also covers ingredient cost challenges and the role of dietary additives in hot weather. Listen now on all major platforms! "When pigs get heat stress, they eat less than they should be eating to be productive." Meet the guest: Dr. Roman Moreno https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-moreno-5b5b70102/ earned his Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln after completing graduate studies in ruminant nutrition in Mexico. With more than a decade of experience as a nutritionist at Seaboard Foods, he focuses on practical feeding strategies that optimize pig performance under commercial conditions. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast Dr. Andrew Yersin: Probiotics vs Antibiotics | Ep. 176 https://www.wisenetix.com/blog/Probiotics-vs-Antibiotics Dr. Gabi Doughan: Why Water Quality Matters | Ep. 183 https://www.wisenetix.com/blog/Why-Water-Quality-Matters What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:56) Introduction (02:55) Summer diet importance (04:39) Energy intake strategies (06:52) Cost of fat (09:52) Balancing diet costs (14:58) Additives in diets (15:16) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://www.swinecampus.com/nutritionblackbelt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Diego Lopez from Kansas State University explores the nutritional potential of a cheese coproduct in swine diets. He explains its amino acid digestibility, fat content, and fiber contribution, along with practical considerations such as cost and formulation accuracy. Discover how this ingredient may support pig performance and nutrition strategies. Listen now on all major platforms! "The cheese coproduct we used in our study is mainly cheese and soybean meal, which ensures great amino acid digestibility." Meet the guest: Dr. Diego Lopez https://www.linkedin.com/in/diego-lopez-6a27131a0/ , Assistant Professor of Feed Science at Kansas State University, focuses on feed technology and quality with an emphasis on swine nutrition. Originally from Colombia, he earned his B.S. in Animal Science at the National University of Colombia, an M.S. in Swine Nutrition at the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. in Feed Science at Kansas State University. Click here to read the full research article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37026190/ Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:37) Introduction (02:11) Cheese coproduct (03:27) Digestibility and energy (04:12) Inclusion levels (05:12) Cost considerations (05:51) Practical challenges (08:05) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://www.swinecampus.com/nutritionblackbelt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sam Gerrard, postdoctoral fellow at Virginia Tech, explores how immune challenges affect swine physiology and nutrient utilization. He explains key differences in metabolic responses to bacterial and viral infections and how feeding strategies can improve outcomes. Learn how better nutrition during illness can reduce production losses and enhance welfare. Listen now on all major platforms! "The immune system diverts nutrients from lean tissue accretion toward defense, significantly altering metabolic priorities during immune challenges." Meet the guest: Dr. Sam Gerrard holds a DVM and PhD in Nutritional Physiology, and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Virginia Tech’s Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. His research focuses on how immune challenges affect nutrient partitioning in swine. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:45) Introduction (02:43) Swine immune response (04:26) Feed intake impact (05:34) Pair-feeding explained (06:41) Different responses (09:33) Nutritional interventions (12:35) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) * Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://www.swinecampus.com/nutritionblackbelt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Young Dal Jang from the University of Georgia continues to discuss the link between weaning weight and biomarkers in piglets. He explains how oxidative stress and gut health indicators impact performance and suggests targeted nutritional strategies to support low-weaning-weight pigs. Listen now on all major platforms! "Low weaning weight pigs had higher diamine oxidase and lactate levels, indicating issues in gut barrier function." Meet the guest: Dr. Young Dal Jang https://www.linkedin.com/in/youngdal-jang/ is an Assistant Professor of Non-Ruminant Nutrition at the University of Georgia. With a Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry from Seoul National University, his expertise centers on swine nutrition, particularly young pig and sow development. He previously held academic roles at the University of Kentucky and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Click here to read the full research article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40281954/ Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (01:07) Introduction (02:00) Biomarkers and pig health (03:50) Oxidative stress markers (04:52) Biomarker analysis methods (07:06) Nutritional support strategies (10:31) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) - Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://www.swinecampus.com/nutritionblackbelt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jeff Hansen from Elanco shares practical strategies to reduce heat stress in grow-finish pigs. He discusses how rising temperatures affect feed intake, growth, and carcass quality, and explains how nutritional tools, such as Skycis, and environmental adjustments can help maintain performance during high-stress periods. Listen now on all major platforms! "Technologies that reduce heat or metabolic stress in pigs deliver the greatest value during summer, when growth is challenged and profit potential is highest." Meet the guest: Dr. Jeffrey Hansen https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hansen-00b72322/ is a Swine Technical Consultant at Elanco Animal Health. He holds a Ph.D. in Swine Nutrition from Kansas State University, along with degrees in Animal Science and Nutrition from Texas A&M University. With a passion for pork fat quality, feed management, and production efficiency, Dr. Hansen brings decades of swine nutrition and technical expertise to the industry. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:48) Introduction (02:24) Managing heat stress (04:33) Physiological effects of heat stress (06:10) Strategies and adjustments (07:52) Nutritional solutions (10:34) Supporting pigs under stress (12:20) Closing thoughts The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: Elanco (https://www.elanco.com/us) * Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) - Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) - Essential Ag Solutions (https://essentialag.com/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://www.swinecampus.com/nutritionblackbelt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/