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

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Ana Paula Silva from Iowa State University shares insights on the POMP (PRRS Outbreak Management Program) and how it helps producers manage PRRS outbreaks more effectively. She explains the program’s approach to tracking outbreak data, measuring recovery, and optimizing health interventions. Learn how participation can benefit your operation and improve industry-wide disease management. Listen now on all major platforms!

"POMP is an ongoing epidemiological platform that collects data on PRRS outbreaks, helping producers track and understand their herd’s recovery."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Ana Paula Serafini Poeta Silva is a Research Scientist at Iowa State University’s Field Epidemiology Team. She earned her Ph.D. in Population Animal Medicine at Iowa State, focusing on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae surveillance and control strategies. Her work focuses on epidemiology and disease management in swine production.

Click here to learn more!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:16) Introduction
• (02:26) PRRS outbreak tracking
• (04:33) Key health interventions
• (06:24) Industry data sharing
• (09:11) Producer participation benefits
• (12:01) Team collaboration
• (13:49) 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. Xiaomei Yue from the University of Minnesota explores the role of oral fluid sampling in swine disease surveillance. She discusses its growing adoption, benefits, and challenges, including industry variations in sampling frequency and handling. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Oral fluid sampling is simple, effective, and less stressful for pigs, making it an excellent diagnostic tool for disease monitoring."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Xiaomei Yue is a postdoctoral associate at the University of Minnesota, specializing in animal health economics. With a Ph.D. from Wageningen University & Research, she focuses on the economic and production effects of disease surveillance in swine herds. As part of the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project, she analyzes industry data to improve disease monitoring and prevention.

Click here to read the full research article!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:01) Introduction
• (03:38) Understanding oral fluids
• (05:21) Industry adoption trends
• (06:41) Sampling & handling variations
• (09:31) Surveillance data insights
• (10:36) Oral fluid samples
• (12:17) 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. Elisa Crisci, from North Carolina State University, who joins us to discuss groundbreaking approaches in the fight against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv). Dr. Crisci shares insights into the "Predict and Protect" project, aiming to enhance disease forecasting and vaccine efficacy prediction using interdisciplinary methods and technologies. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Our interdisciplinary project combines epidemiological modeling and in vitro vaccine testing to predict PRRS outbreaks and recommend targeted strategies."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Elisa Crisci, Assistant Professor of Virology at North Carolina State University, holds a Ph.D. in Animal Medicine and Health from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a DVM from the University of Bologna. With extensive expertise in pig immunology and virology, she leads groundbreaking research on PRRS management, combining predictive vaccine systems and epidemiological modeling.

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:46) Introduction
• (01:53) PRRS virus overview
• (02:54) Predict and protect model
• (03:59) Vaccine insights
• (05:29) Challenges in vaccine updates
• (07:02) Diagnostic tools in focus
• (11:49) 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. Tara Prezioso, a PhD candidate at the University of Illinois, explores how network modeling is improving disease prevention in the swine industry. She explains how movement data from farms, feed mills, and processing facilities can help predict and mitigate outbreaks like PEDV and ASF. Listen now on all major platforms!

"By analyzing movement data, we can identify high-risk pathways for disease transmission and develop targeted prevention strategies."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Tara Prezioso is a PhD candidate in veterinary epidemiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with a DVM from North Carolina State University and an MPH. With 16 years of veterinary experience, she specializes in foreign animal disease prevention and statistical modeling in livestock systems. Her research focuses on using network modeling to predict and control disease outbreaks in swine populations.

Click here to read the full research article!

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:36) Introduction
• (02:58) Network modeling in swine
• (05:10) Movement data applications
• (07:36) PEDV data
• (09:27) Understanding average path length
• (12:36) Future research directions
• (14:30) 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. Joel Sparks, a veterinarian at AMVC Management Services, shares insights from a PRRS case. He discusses key lessons in biosecurity, herd management, and the diagnostic challenges encountered when dealing with different viral strains. Tune in on all major platforms!

"Biosecurity and husbandry are essential foundations of good animal care. Air, water, and feed quality should never be overlooked."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Joel Sparks, a veterinarian at AMVC Management Services, brings years of swine health expertise to his role, focusing on herd health and biosecurity. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University and a B.S. in Animal Sciences from Michigan State University.

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:41) Introduction
• (02:17) Biosecurity & husbandry
• (02:44) Clinical case
• (07:26) Diagnostic process
• (08:02) Viral recombination
• (10:51) Virus containment strategies
• (15:15) 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