In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Derald Holtkamp from Iowa State University explains how the global swine benchmarking project compares biological and financial performance across countries. He discusses annual reports, market data, quarterly updates, and why producers should focus on relative country positions rather than isolated numbers. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to learn more!

"Quarterly benchmarking updates can make global swine data more current by adjusting prices, feed ingredients, and exchange rates."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Derald Holtkamp is a Professor of Swine Production Medicine at Iowa State University. He earned both his M.S. and D.V.M. from Iowa State University, where his work has focused on swine production medicine, production economics, biosecurity, outbreak investigations, and global benchmarking. His research supports practical, data-driven strategies that improve swine health and production systems worldwide. Learn more from Dr. Derald Holtkamp on The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:29) Introduction
• (02:19) Global benchmarking
• (03:58) Asian data
• (05:43) Quarterly updates
• (07:29) Representative farms
• (09:09) Data interpretation
• (12:48) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Gilt

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Erin Kettelkamp from Swine Vet Center reviews common biosecurity audit findings from the Spring 2026 outbreak season across the Midwest. She explains how PRRS pressure exposed filtration leaks, transport gaps, smoke testing needs, and daily execution issues that can weaken even strong biosecurity investments. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Basic biosecurity execution can determine whether a filtration investment delivers real protection or leaves costly gaps exposed."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Erin Kettelkamp is a consulting swine veterinarian with Swine Vet Center in northern Illinois. She specializes in herd health, biosecurity, and disease prevention across all phases of swine production, with applied field research focused on disease prevention and practical biosecurity solutions. Learn more from Dr. Erin Kettelkamp on The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:56) Introduction
• (02:03) Outbreak audits
• (03:32) Biosecurity basics
• (03:56) Filter maintenance
• (05:50) Transport gaps
• (07:02) Execution audits
• (13:14) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Gilt

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Berenice Munguia-Ramirez from Iowa State University explains how active participatory surveillance can improve foreign animal disease preparedness. She discusses producer participation, sampling frequency, testing costs, and laboratory capacity for detecting ASF or CSF at low prevalence. Listen now on all major platforms!

Active Participatory Surveillance for Early Detection of Notifiable Pathogens: A Case Study of the U.S. Swine Industry

Pilot Assessment of RNA Stabilization Methods for Influenza A Virus in Swine Oral Fluids

"Frequent sampling and producer participation can make active participatory surveillance sensitive enough to detect disease at very low prevalence."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Berenice Munguia-Ramirez earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Sonora Institute of Technology in México and a Master of Science in Veterinary Preventive Medicine from Iowa State University. Doctoral studies at Iowa State University focused on improving swine disease diagnostics using oral fluids and swine epidemiology. Learn more from Dr. Berenice Munguia-Ramirez on The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:01) Introduction
• (01:46) Surveillance history
• (04:14) Participatory surveillance
• (06:38) Detection drivers
• (08:39) Surveillance costs
• (11:26) Laboratory capacity
• (14:38) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Gilt

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

Instagram: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Mariah Post, Research Assistant at Iowa State University, explains how oral fluid testing can support Salmonella surveillance. She discusses culture results, serotyping, PCR enrichment, antimicrobial resistance testing, and when oral fluids complement fecal samples. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Growing Salmonella from oral fluids can help swine teams move from simple detection to serotyping and antimicrobial resistance insight."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Mariah Post is a Research Assistant at Iowa State University and a member of the Field Epidemiology (FieldEpi) team, where she conducts research on swine health surveillance and disease prevention. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. investigating the association between biosecurity practices and PRRSV outbreaks. Dr. Post earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in Brazil and completed an M.S. focused on Salmonella detection using oral fluid samples. Listen to The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast featuring Dr. Mariah Post, available on all major platforms.

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Dr. Eduarda Braga: Mapping PCV2 Genotypes in the U.S. | Ep. 209

Dr. Edison Magalhaes: Causal Impact Of PRRS Dosing | Ep. 214

Dr. Jana Morgan: PCV2 Surveillance Insights | Ep. 217

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:34) Introduction
• (02:24) Characterizing Salmonella
• (05:14) PCR enrichment
• (07:20) Sample choice
• (08:59) Industry adoption
• (09:51) Future validation
• (11:12) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Gilt

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

Instagram: Swine Campus

Facebook: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Bhanu Telugu, Associate Professor at the University of Missouri, explains how livestock biotechnology can support animal health and human medicine. He discusses the CRISPR tool, base editing, disease models, and regulatory barriers that shape how gene-edited pigs may reach the industry. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Complex gene editing can remove dozens of genomic barriers in one generation, supporting broader applications in livestock biotechnology."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Bhanu Telugu is an Associate Professor in the Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri. His work focuses on animal biotechnology, stem cell biology, gene editing, livestock disease models, and biomedical applications using pigs. He earned a PhD in Animal Sciences from the University of Missouri and completed postdoctoral training in stem cell biology. Learn more from Dr. Bhanu Telugu on The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:12) Introduction
• (02:16) CRISPR applications
• (03:58) Editing tools
• (06:29) Organ transplantation
• (09:10) Pig disease models
• (12:12) Biotechnology regulation
• (14:15) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Gilt

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

Instagram: Swine Campus

Facebook: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jane Wongchanla, a PhD candidate at the University of California, Davis, explains how L-glutamate and L-aspartate support gut integrity in weaned pigs. She explains their role as functional amino acids, their impact on gut integrity and metabolism, and their potential to reduce antibiotic reliance in swine production. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"Functional amino acid supplementation showed effects similar to antibiotics while changing immune and metabolic responses in weaned pigs."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Jane Wongchanla is a PhD candidate in Animal Biology at the University of California, Davis. Her research uses pig models to study how L-glutamate and L-aspartate affect intestinal barrier integrity, immune signaling, metabolism, growth performance, and antibiotic reliance. With a veterinary medicine background from Kasetsart University, she connects nutrition, immunology, and applied swine health. Learn more from Dr. Jane Wongchanla on The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:32) Introduction
• (02:10) Amino acid roles
• (03:41) Weaning gut stress
• (05:07) Intestinal energy
• (06:47) Diet supplementation
• (08:02) Antibiotic comparison
• (11:12) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Gilt

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

Instagram: Swine Campus

Facebook: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Larry Rueff, Founder of Swine Veterinary Services, and Dr. Darryl D'Souza, Executive General Manager at SunPork Group, discuss immunocastration in boars and gilts. They explain performance gains, carcass quality, welfare benefits, sustainability, and the effects of global adoption on producer competitiveness. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Immunocastration can improve pig welfare, reduce feed demand, and support stronger production efficiency without leaving market value behind."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁s:

Dr. Larry Rueff is a veterinarian and the founder of Swine Veterinary Services, with more than 40 years of swine industry experience in veterinary medicine, research barns, employee training, and animal welfare. 

Dr. Darryl D'Souza is Executive General Manager at SunPork Group and a meat scientist focused on innovation, value chains, and sustainable pork production. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:23) Introduction
• (02:33) Boar performance
• (03:43) Gilt growth
• (04:23) Australian perspective
• (07:28) Animal welfare
• (10:29) Global competitiveness
• (15:13) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Gilt

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

Instagram: Swine Campus

Facebook: Swine Campus

TikTok: Swine Campus

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Lucas Ferreira, a Research Assistant at the University of Minnesota, discusses trailer contamination risks at packing plants. He shares research on pathogen prevalence, seasonal trends, driver biosecurity practices, and factors contributing to contamination during transport. He highlights opportunities to strengthen biosecurity and reduce disease transmission across swine operations. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Trailer washing gaps allow harvest plant contamination to increase pathogen risk before equipment returns to farms or wash facilities."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Lucas Ferreira is a veterinarian from Brazil currently pursuing a master's degree at the University of Minnesota. His work focuses on swine pathogen epidemiology, detection, control, and prevalence, with an emphasis on science-driven solutions that improve herd health and biosecurity. Learn more from Dr. Lucas Ferreira on The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (02:12) Introduction
• (03:01) Trailer contamination
• (05:14) Positive trailers
• (06:55) Washing gaps
• (07:42) Plant biosecurity
• (10:02) Driver training
• (13:24) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Gilt

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- WiseVAs

- ZentrixOS

- Zentrix Insights

- The Owner's Box

- Elevate

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

Instagram: Swine Campus

Facebook: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Joaquim Segalés, Full Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and researcher at IRTA CReSA, explains Spain’s African swine fever situation. He discusses disease surveillance, containment efforts, biosecurity challenges, economic consequences, and the ongoing risk of spread. Listen now on all major platforms!

"African swine fever control can fall behind disease movement, but Spain’s outbreak remains relatively well concentrated for now."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Joaquim Segalés is a Full Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a researcher at IRTA CReSA in Spain. His work focuses on veterinary microbiology, infectious diseases, and swine health research. Learn more from Dr. Joaquim Segalés on The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:59) Introduction
• (02:04) Spain ASF status
• (03:59) Wild boar cases
• (04:50) Export impact
• (06:13) Carcass removal
• (08:00) Immunization insights
• (11:32) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

* Gilt

- The Owner's Box

- Elevate

- WiseVAs

- ZentrixOS

- Zentrix Insights

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

Instagram: Swine Campus

Facebook: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Lukas Schwarz, from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in Austria, discusses the potential of birch polypore mushrooms as a novel strategy to support post-weaning diarrhea management in pigs. He shares research findings on gut barrier function, microbiome changes, and alternatives to zinc oxide and antibiotics. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Birch polypore decoction changed tissue conductance within seconds and showed a strong gut closure response in post-weaning diarrhea research."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Lukas Schwarz is a Post-Doc at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in Austria and Deputy Head of the University's Senate. His work spans swine clinical practice, herd health, teaching, research, and veterinary parasitology, with a focus on supporting swine farmers and veterinarians. Learn more from Dr. Lukas Schwarz on The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:46) Introduction
• (03:36) Birch polypore research
• (05:14) Gut barrier function
• (06:16) Trial insights
• (09:26) Microbiome shifts
• (12:53) Patent pathway
• (15:06) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

* Gilt

- The Owner's Box

- Elevate

- WiseVAs

- ZentrixOS

- Zentrix Insights

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

Instagram: Swine Campus

Facebook: Swine Campus

TikTok: Swine Campus