In this episode of the Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Bob Rowland from the University of Illinois shares key insights on the genetics behind PRRS resilience in pigs. He discusses the development of CD163-edited pigs and how understanding virus-host interactions can support future strategies. Discover how genome research is contributing to swine health innovation. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We all know that CD163 is the receptor for PRRS, and when we knocked it out, the pigs were completely resistant—no infection, no antibodies, no virus replication."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Bob Rowland is Professor and Head of the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. He holds a Ph.D. and has led major research on genetic resistance to PRRSV, PCV, and ASFV. With over 160 publications, he brings vast expertise in virus-host interaction and genome editing in pigs.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:01) Introduction
• (02:23) Genetic PRRS resistance
• (05:17) CD163-edited pigs
• (07:06) Genome editing impact
• (08:05) Stress and inflammation
• (09:08) Future disease targets
• (12:36) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Anna Forseth, Director of Animal Health at the National Pork Producers Council, discusses the ongoing efforts to enhance live swine traceability. She provides an update on the status of the mandatory traceability standards, reviewing the progress of the process and where things currently stand with USDA approval. Dr. Forseth highlights actionable steps producers can take now to prepare for future regulations. Tune in on all major platforms!

"The goal is to create a more effective and efficient system, identifying gaps in traceability from both state and federal levels."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Anna Forseth is the Director of Animal Health at the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). With a DVM from Colorado State University and a master's degree in veterinary preventive medicine from Iowa State University, she specializes in preharvest swine health issues, including foreign animal disease prevention and swine welfare.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:17) Introduction
• (02:24) Swine traceability
• (04:03) Traceability system gaps
• (05:16) Regulatory system
• (07:12) Petition to USDA
• (08:49) Steps for producers
• (10:25) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

In this special rerun episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, we revisit our conversation with Dr. John Patience, Professor Emeritus of Animal Science at Iowa State University, who shares findings from a case study evaluating the financial impact of different health statuses on pig performance. From mortality rates to feed conversion efficiency, discover how health challenges affect profitability and learn strategies to mitigate losses. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Producers understand sick pigs hurt profitability, but we evaluated the exact financial costs under varying health conditions."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. John Patience, Professor Emeritus of Animal Science at Iowa State University, brings decades of expertise in swine nutrition and management. With a Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry from Cornell University, Dr. Patience has led innovative research addressing practical problems in the swine industry.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:04) Introduction
• (01:12) Career highlights
• (02:19) Economics of pig farming
• (03:00) Health challenges
• (04:32) Mortality and growth rates
• (05:23) Economic impact on farms
• (08:21) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Erin Kettelkamp from Swine Vet Center shares key strategies for improving transport biosecurity in swine operations. She explains how using real-time data, GPS tracking, and trailer movement records helps identify biosecurity risks earlier and improve response to potential disease threats. Dr. Kettelkamp highlights the importance of internal controls, layered audits, and addressing data gaps in the middle of the transport process. Listen now on all major platforms!

"As we move into an era of data and technology, we carry tracking devices daily. Now we can integrate that data into usable platforms and be more proactive."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Erin Kettelkamp earned her DVM from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. Now a veterinarian at Swine Vet Center in Minnesota, she specializes in biosecurity consulting, field research, and swine production support.

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

Rob Hannam: Digital Biosecurity Solutions | Ep. 134

Dr. Tara Prezioso: Network Analysis of Swine Farms | Ep. 150

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:49) Introduction
• (01:22) Guest background
• (02:24) Transport biosecurity systems
• (04:24) Trailer sanitation auditing
• (06:33) Data gaps and technology
• (10:43) Geofencing applications
• (13:14) Closing thoughts

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

- Farm Health Guardian

* Boehringer Ingelheim

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jack Dekkers from Iowa State University explores the genetics of disease resilience in pigs. He explains how measuring stress hormones like cortisol in hair can serve as a powerful tool to identify animals better equipped to handle health challenges. Discover how these heritable traits can support smarter breeding strategies and promote stronger, healthier herds. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Disease resilience is the ability of a pig to cope with infection, recover, and continue growing."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Jack Dekkers, C.F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University, received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Wageningen Agricultural University and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in Animal Breeding. His research focuses on the genetic improvement of feed efficiency and health in pigs and poultry.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:20) Introduction
• (02:04) Disease resilience focus
• (03:06) Gene editing limitations
• (04:35) Stress hormones in hair
• (08:09) Genetics of stress response
• (11:10) Publishing genetic findings
• (13:42) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Marcello Melini from the University of Minnesota shares his research on alternative sampling strategies for monitoring PRRSv and other swine pathogens. He explains the potential of tongue tip fluids and other specimen types to improve pathogen detection and sequencing in grow-finish pigs. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Tongue tips may provide an overview of pathogen presence within a swine population."

What will you learn: 

• (00:00) Introduction
• (01:08) Tongue tip sampling insights
• (02:19) Monitoring multiple pathogens
• (03:19) Sampling timing challenges
• (05:16) Sensitivity of detection methods
• (06:12) Specimen types
• (13:16) Closing thoughts 

Meet the guest:

Marcello Melini is a PhD candidate and graduate research assistant at the University of Minnesota, Department of Veterinary Population Medicine. With over 12 years of experience in swine health, Melini focuses on field applications and epidemiology of PRRSv. He holds a DVM and a Master’s in Applied Statistics from Guatemala.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

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

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jay Johnson from the University of Missouri explores the bioenergetics of heat stress in gestating sows and how it affects growth and fat deposition. He discusses energy partitioning, thermoregulation, and genetic strategies to improve thermal tolerance without compromising productivity. Listen now on all major platforms!

• (00:00) Introduction
• (01:15) Heat stress in sows
• (02:47) Energy demands insights
• (06:18) Parity and heat impact
• (06:41) Genomic selection models
• (10:38) Balancing welfare and output
• (12:15) Closing thoughts

"Gestating sows under heat stress grow faster than those in thermoneutral conditions, with much of that growth going into backfat."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Jay Johnson earned his Ph.D. from Iowa State University and is now an Associate Professor of Animal Welfare and Stress Physiology at the University of Missouri. His research focuses on heat stress, swine productivity, and practical welfare innovations through physiology and genomics.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

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

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Tyler Bauman, Veterinarian at The Maschhoffs LLC, discusses strategies for enhancing immunity in grow-finish pigs, focusing on the effectiveness of full-dose versus half-dose protocols in high-density pig production areas. He shares insights on lateral PRRS pressure, diagnostic approaches, and data-driven decision-making for improving swine health outcomes. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Lateral PRRS pressure varies by region, making it essential to tailor immunization protocols to local risk factors."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Tyler Bauman earned his DVM from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine (2016) and a BS in Animal Science from ISU (2010). As a Herd Veterinarian at The Maschhoffs LLC, he focuses on optimizing swine health strategies, particularly in grow-finish pigs.

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:07) Introduction
• (01:51) Managing lateral PRRS pressure
• (04:44) Diagnosing outbreaks
• (05:55) Evaluating mortality and ROI
• (07:43) Data-driven decision-making
• (10:37) Practical recommendations
• (12:10) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

Preparing ahead of time can greatly diminish the impacts of an outbreak. With the right tools in place, we can prepare, prevent, and minimize the effects of a Foreign Animal Disease outbreak. In this second part of the Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast special episode on disease preparedness, Dr. Anna Forseth, from the National Pork Producers Council, continues her exploration of African Swine Fever (ASF), outlining key priorities for addressing this critical challenge. She highlights industry-wide strategies such as bolstering biosecurity, advancing diagnostics, and enhancing traceability to protect herd health and ensure trade resilience. Listen now on your favorite platform to stay informed and proactive.

"Compliance with global standards offers countries the opportunity to resume trade after outbreaks, which is invaluable for exporters."

P.S.: This episode was recorded in November 2024, so any references to 'this year' are based on information from 2024. Please note that some details may have changed and may no longer be up-to-date.

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Anna Forseth is the Director of Animal Health at the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). In her role, Forseth is responsible for preharvest swine health issues, including foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness, biotech, and swine welfare. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Montana State University, a DVM from Colorado State University, and a master’s degree in veterinary preventive medicine from Iowa State University.

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:31) Introduction
• (03:20) African Swine Fever update
• (04:28) Biosecurity strategies
• (06:13) Preparedness efforts overview
• (08:11) Improving global ASF reporting
• (10:06) Key programs for producers
• (13:50) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

LinkedIn: Swine Campus

Preparing for a Foreign Animal Disease outbreak continues to be one of the most discussed topics in the pork industry. In this special episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, highlighting the critical importance of disease preparedness, Dr. Anna Forseth, Director of Animal Health at the National Pork Producers Council, delivers an essential update on African swine fever (ASF) and its implications for the global and U.S. pork sectors. From the current ASF status to prevention strategies and preparedness efforts, Dr. Forseth explores topics like surveillance, regulatory hurdles, and the role of immunization tools in managing the disease. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Since January of 2022, 62 countries reported ASF, including 11 new countries, reflecting its global spread.”

P.S.: This episode was recorded in November 2024, so any references to 'this year' are based on information from 2024. Please note that some details may have changed and may no longer be up-to-date.

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Anna Forseth is the Director of Animal Health at the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). In her role, Forseth is responsible for preharvest swine health issues, including foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness, biotech, and swine welfare. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Montana State University, a DVM from Colorado State University, and a master’s degree in veterinary preventive medicine from Iowa State University.

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:35) Introduction
• (02:41) African swine fever update
• (03:59) Global ASF statistics
• (05:53) U.S. ASF prevention efforts
• (08:25) Regulatory challenges in ASF
• (09:48) Vaccine potential for ASF
• (12:15) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

LinkedIn: Swine Campus