In this episode, I had the pleasure of welcoming a very special guest who brings us a different perspective on the use of pigs. Dr. Dylan Olver is an assistant professor of the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan and is dedicated to the research of pigs as a biological model for humans. In this episode, he discusses the details of using pigs and mice in research, what is the relationship between cardiac, vascular and neurological changes in pigs, how the use of these animals can improve human medicine and, consequently, the lives of people who need transplants. Dr. Olver also shows how it is possible to apply some of the knowledge obtained through these studies in pig production. 

“When pigs are born at a low birth weight, even if they have been refed or regained weight at a faster rate so they are on par with their normal birth weight littermates or their normal weight littermates, abnormalities persist even when their body weight has been restored to normal.”

What you’ll learn:

(00:00) Highlight

(03:31) Benefits of using pigs instead of rodents

(06:43) Applying a cognitive test to pigs

(09:58) Exercise impact on pigs

(12:39) Diabetes, cognition, and blood flow studies

(18:15) The long-term effects of inflammation and antioxidant defense on cognition

(21:20) The impact of selective breeding on cardiovascular function in pigs

(24:10) Stress response in large pigs

(26:17) Study on birth weight and its effect on cardiac function

(32:03) Insights on insulin sensitivity and nitric oxide molecule

(33:55) Discussion on complications due to low birth weight

(35:21) Introduction to the Osaba Swine

(38:28) Key take-home messages

(40:13) The three final questions

Meet the guest:

Dr. Dylan Olver

Experience

Current: Assistant Professor of the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan

Background

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cardiovascular & Microcirculation Groups (University of Missouri-Columbia )

Ph.D., Neurovascular Research Lab (The University of Western Ontario)

M.Sc., Exercise Nutrition Research Lab (The University of Western Ontario)

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- Nutrition Partners

- Precision Veterinary Services

- Protekta

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Instagram: Swine it Canada 🇨🇦

LinkedIn: Swine it Podcast Canada