In this special New Year episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Thomas Gillespie from Performance Health P.C. explores how mentorship shapes growth, confidence, and decision-making in swine veterinary practice. He reflects on the experiences that guided his career, the value of thoughtful support, and the skills veterinarians can strengthen to help others succeed. Gain a perspective on building meaningful professional relationships in the year ahead. Listen now on all major platforms.

"Offering support, guidance, and steady feedback creates conditions that encourage growth and strengthen decision making during demanding stages of veterinary practice."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Thomas Gillespie earned his DVM from Purdue University and built a decades-long career focused on swine health, practice ownership, and global consulting. His work spans epidemiology, production medicine, and leadership within AASV, including service as president and long-term committee involvement. He brings extensive experience mentoring veterinarians as they navigate complex professional decisions. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:51) Introduction
• (03:37) Mentorship meaning
• (04:29) Career influences
• (06:29) Time management
• (12:36) Listening skills
• (13:40) Guiding decisions
• (16:19) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Elanco

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Elisa De Conti, research assistant at Iowa State University and member of the FieldEpi team, explains how E. coli detection is being improved under real field conditions. She discusses diagnostic workflows, virulence factor identification, and how field data integration enhances the understanding of pathogenic isolates. Discover how these advances strengthen swine health monitoring and decision-making. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Once you have the PCR done, we can see which virulence factors are present and understand if that isolate can cause disease."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Elisa De Conti is a research assistant at Iowa State University and part of the FieldEpi team. She completed her DVM in Brazil and finalized her M.S. studying E. coli detection, now pursuing a Ph.D. on PRRSV with a focus on field epidemiology. Her work connects diagnostic data and field-level applications for improved swine health monitoring.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:07) Introduction
• (02:11) E. coli diagnostics
• (03:22) Virulence factor testing
• (05:00) Pathotype classification
• (06:51) Surveillance data trends
• (09:19) Meta-analysis findings
• (13:51) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Elanco

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. Jishu Shi from Kansas State University explains the latest scientific outlook on African swine fever and why vaccine development remains a major global challenge. She clarifies the differences among swine fevers, the limits of current immunization protocols, and the diagnostic risks producers must watch for. Listen now on all major platforms!

"African swine fever and classical swine fever present similar clinical signs even though the viruses differ greatly in biology and long-term control implications."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Jishu Shi is a Professor and Director of the Center on Biologics Development and Evaluation at Kansas State University, specializing in vaccine immunology for major swine diseases. With experience in both academia and the animal health industry, she focuses on developing novel vaccines and diagnostic assays for classical swine fever and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:10) Introduction
• (01:37) Guest background
• (02:33) ASF overview
• (04:15) Vaccine issues
• (06:57) Mutation concerns
• (12:07) Diagnostic needs
• (14:06) Closing insights

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Elanco

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. Marie-Louise Hansen from the University of Copenhagen discusses her research on umbilical outpouchings in pigs. She explains their prevalence, pathology, and the challenges they pose for animal welfare and production. Dr. Hansen also shares insights from intervention trials and future directions for research. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Umbilical outpouchings remain a significant challenge in swine herds because they are not only hernias but also abscesses, cysts, and tissue proliferations."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Marie-Louise Hansen is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen and a veterinarian with extensive field and research experience. Her PhD work focused on umbilical outpouchings in pigs, investigating their prevalence, pathology, and potential prevention methods. She brings valuable insights into swine health challenges that impact production and welfare. 

Click here to learn more!

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:01) Introduction
• (02:03) Umbilical outpouchings
• (03:33) Research insights
• (05:04) Pathology evaluation
• (07:41) Management strategies
• (10:19) Gender differences
• (13:37) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Elanco

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. Chris Rademacher from Iowa State University discusses integrated pest management and its impact on swine health. He explains how insect infestations can quickly damage carcass value, the role of surveillance and entomology, and how producers can prevent costly outbreaks. Learn practical steps for environmental management, chemical control, and proactive strategies. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Insect carcass infestations can cause up to 7 or $15 per carcass of damage when it's really bad."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Chris Rademacher serves as a Clinical Professor, ISU Swine Extension Veterinarian, and Associate Director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center. With decades of experience in swine health and production, he focuses on practical solutions for disease prevention and management. 

Click here to learn more!

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:40) Introduction
• (02:00) Insect management
• (03:40) Carcass damage
• (06:00) Pest surveillance
• (08:00) Environmental control
• (09:47) Chemical strategies
• (15:10) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Elanco

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, Rick Hernandez from Purdue University discusses the challenges of transporting pigs and how microclimate conditions impact welfare and productivity. He shares research findings on heat stress, ventilation, and why standardized measures are needed to better monitor transport conditions. Learn about practical solutions and future technologies to safeguard swine health during transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

"If you look at the physiological indicators after transportation, you're going to find higher creatine kinase, higher blood lactate, higher skin temperature, and blood cortisol."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Rick Hernandez, a veterinarian from Colombia, is a PhD candidate at Purdue University specializing in swine welfare and genetics. His research explores welfare challenges across farms, transport, and slaughter, focusing on practical strategies to improve both animal well-being and production outcomes. Dedicated to applied science, he works to make research accessible for producers, veterinarians, and caretakers. 

Click here to learn more!

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:04) Introduction
• (02:28) Pig transport stress
• (04:55) Microclimate impact
• (04:43) Welfare indicators
• (08:32) Standardized measures
• (11:58) Ventilation solutions
• (14:59) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Elanco

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. Guilherme Cezar from Iowa State University shares insights from the Dynamic Pig Health Project, which tracks how multiple pathogens interact and impact pig performance. He explains how co-infections influence mortality rates, what diagnostic data reveals, and why pathogen timing plays a critical role in disease outcomes. Learn practical strategies to strengthen biosecurity and reduce losses. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Batches shedding higher levels of PCV2 and Lawsonia showed mortality above 15%, showing how co-infections sharply increase pig losses."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Guilherme Cezar earned his DVM in Brazil and holds a Master’s in Veterinary Preventive Medicine from Iowa State University, where he is now pursuing his Ph.D. His research focuses on swine diseases, epidemiology, and the dynamics of pathogen interactions in pig production. He coordinates the Swine Disease Reporting System and leads applied research projects in the field. 

Click here to read the full research article!

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Dr. Pablo Piñeyro: PCV4 & Co-infections | Ep. 139

Dr. Reid Philips: PRRS Vaccine Efficacy | Ep. 143

Dr. Tyler Bauman: PRRS Control in Grow-Finish Pigs | Ep. 156

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:01) Introduction
• (02:51) Dynamic Pig Health Project
• (05:19) Diagnostic strategies
• (08:01) Mortality risk factors
• (09:16) Farm-level impacts
• (10:36) Targeting key pathogens
• (13:10) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Elanco

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. Mariana Kikuti from the University of Minnesota explains how PRRSV variant classification is structured and how it supports more effective monitoring of disease outbreaks in swine herds. She shares how lineage and variant tracking improve virus identification and situational awareness. Discover how real-time data enables smarter decision-making in swine health. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We want to report monthly, close to real-time, what we're seeing in the field regarding circulation of different PRRSV variants."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Mariana Kikuti is an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine. With a background in veterinary public health and epidemiology, she specializes in monitoring PRRS virus variants and improving disease awareness across the U.S. swine industry. 

Click here to learn more!

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

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:54) Introduction
• (02:13) Variant classification explained
• (05:50) PRRSV monitoring systems
• (07:43) Risk prediction modeling
• (08:24) Regional virus tracking
• (09:20) Variant risk criteria
• (13:09) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Elanco

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. Thomas Gillespie, a swine veterinarian and owner of Performance Health PC, explores how past disease eradication efforts shaped today’s biosecurity protocols. He shares lessons learned from decades in the field and reflects on the industry's capacity to eliminate current threats. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Biosecurity practices are things we know; we just need to make them work."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Thomas Gillespie is a swine veterinarian and owner of Performance Health PC. With over four decades of veterinary experience, including international consulting, he has led significant disease control efforts, including pseudorabies eradication. 

Click here to read the full research article!

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

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:10) Introduction
• (03:29) Pseudorabies history
• (06:30) Biosecurity practices
• (07:59) Veterinarian-led disease control
• (08:60) Managing diseases
• (10:54) Encouraging producer participation
• (12:21) Closing thoughts

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

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Elanco

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. Ryan Dilger, University of Illinois and Dr. Brooke Smith with Cargill, discuss the research they conducted on soybean meal, revealing its mitigating effects on respiratory disease, specifically, the ability of soy-derived components to improve immune function and viability of PRRSv-infected pigs and the mechanisms for immunity and resilience to SRD by key soy-bioactives. Listen and watch! 

“Nutrition, like everything, is only part of the picture, but remains a potentially underutilized tool for supporting health-challenged pigs.” — Brooke Smith, DVM, PhD, Veterinary Nutrition Lead, Cargill Animal Nutrition - Pork Solutions

“The body of work to date shows consistent mechanistic evidence that soy bioactives modulate host immunity and inflammation in ways that are relevant to swine respiratory disease.” — Ryan N. Dilger, PhD, Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁s:

Brooke Smith, PhD/DVM, completed her PhD in swine nutrition and health interactions, focusing on soy isoflavones on growth performance and clinical responses to PRRSv infection in weaned pigs. Post-DVM, she is Veterinary Nutrition Lead for Cargill’s North American Pork Technical Service Team, developing nutritional approaches to help support disease-challenged pigs.

Ryan N. Dilger, PhD, Animal Sciences Department Professor and Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. His research includes the interaction of nutrition, immunology, and neuroscience, and can be broadly categorized into practical nutrition and health issues and fundamental nutrition and developmental questions using the pig as a model to improve human health and well-being.

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Dr. Gaines & Dr. Borg: Soybean Meal Net Energy Higher in Commercial Settings | Ep. 141

Dr. Goodband & Dr. Mendoza: Listen to the Pigs - Performance Impact of Increasing Soybean Meal With and Without DDGS | Ep. 177

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:43) Introduction
• (02:33) Research update
• (03:23) Soy bioactive role
• (06:31) Immune response
• (11:13) Nutrition in disease
• (13:26) Practical producer advice
• (16:33) Closing thoughts

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

U.S. Soy

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

LinkedIn: Swine Campus