In this special New Year episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Mary Louise Penrith from the University of Pretoria explains the global importance of pigs and how transdisciplinary research strengthens biosecurity. She highlights cultural and economic factors shaping pig production and shares practical approaches to improve health and value chains. Start the year with global insight that benefits swine professionals. Listen now on all major platforms.

"Pigs remain essential in many regions because they support household income, strengthen food security, and sustain cultural practices in places where few other livestock opportunities exist."

Meet the guest: Dr. Mary Louise Penrith is an Extraordinary Professor in Veterinary Tropical Diseases at the University of Pretoria and a global authority on African swine fever, pig health, and animal health policy. She has authored extensive scientific literature and serves as President of the Global African Swine Fever Research Alliance. Her work focuses on practical disease management, biosecurity, and sustainable pig systems. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:02) Introduction
• (02:17) Global pig roles
• (06:15) Disease risks
• (10:14) Biosecurity challenges
• (19:16) Practical measures
• (23:13) Transdisciplinary work
• (32:02) Final three questions

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

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Derald Holtkamp from Iowa State University unpacks the critical role of biosecurity in modern swine production. He explains how hazard analysis, critical control points, and outbreak investigations can identify gaps and prevent costly failures in disease management. Learn how technology, barn design, and staff training shape stronger defenses against health threats. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The whole idea is to identify those biosecurity hazards that are putting the farm at most risk."

Meet the guest: Dr. Derald Holtkamp is a Professor in the Department of Veterinary Diagnostics and Production Animal Medicine at Iowa State University. His research centers on biosecurity, disease risk assessment, and the economics of animal health, with over 250 invited presentations worldwide. With extensive industry and academic experience, he provides practical insights into managing infectious swine diseases. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:12) Introduction
• (02:52) Biosecurity hazards
• (06:33) Critical control points
• (11:45) Outbreak investigations
• (16:42) Structural barn design
• (23:11) Closing recommendations
• (27:02) Final three questions

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

- dsm-firmenich

* Swine Veterinary Partners

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this special rerun episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt explores how sensor-based technologies, behavioral science, and data validation are shaping smarter disease prevention strategies. Learn how air filtration, human compliance, and regional risk can impact your operation. Listen now on all major platforms!

"There’s no silver bullet. We need to apply biosecurity measures consistently."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt earned his D.M.V. and M.Sc. from the University of Montreal and his Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Minnesota. He is a professor at the University of Montreal, associate director of the World Veterinary Education in Production Animal Health, and a global leader in biosecurity research. His work focuses on infectious disease control in swine production.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:46) Introduction
• (04:31) Biosecurity insights
• (07:57) Tech for compliance
• (14:35) Human behavior training
• (20:57) Influenza threat overview
• (27:12) Emerging zoonotic threats
• (40:19) Final three questions

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

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Kevin Vilaca, partner veterinarian at South West Vets, discusses the development of a regional influenza vaccine for pigs. He explains how surveillance, collaboration, and modeling after human seasonal vaccines led to a more proactive approach to swine influenza control. Discover how regional monitoring, regulatory cooperation, and adaptive vaccination are reshaping herd health management. Listen now on all major platforms!

"A good surveillance program gives you the power to choose the right strains and act before outbreaks happen."

Meet the guest: Dr. Kevin Vilaca graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College and holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a Master’s Degree in Epidemiology from the University of Guelph. As a partner at South West Vets in Stratford, Ontario, he focuses on swine medicine with a strong interest in vaccines, viral pathogens, and proactive disease control strategies that reduce the economic impact on producers.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:10) Introduction
• (03:13) Influenza challenges
• (07:02) Regional vaccine concept
• (09:25) Results and benefits
• (13:10) Surveillance updates
• (20:25) Future vaccine outlook
• (25:28) Final three questions

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

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Felipe Hickmann from Laval University explores how nutritional strategies and manure management impact biogas production in pig farming. He breaks down the science behind anaerobic digestion at low temperatures and explains how dietary adjustments affect methane production and environmental sustainability. Learn how producers can reduce emissions and improve resource efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Lowering crude protein can reduce nitrogen in manure, but only if animal intake doesn’t compensate by increasing feed consumption."

Meet the guest: Dr. Felipe Hickmann is a PhD research assistant at Laval University, specializing in swine and poultry sustainability. With extensive experience in manure management, nutritional strategies, and precision livestock technologies, he contributes to improving environmental outcomes in animal agriculture.

Click here to read the full research article!

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:13) Introduction
• (03:33) Biogas production basics
• (05:20) Manure nutrient variability
• (10:56) Ammonia inhibition issues
• (14:53) Crude protein impact
• (23:23) Research insights
• (30:24) Closing thoughts

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

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Elisa Crisci, Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University, shares details on the USDA-funded PreProPRRSV project. She explains how a new immune biobank system helps predict immune responses to PRRSV strains, aiming to guide swine veterinarians in selecting more effective strategies. Learn how this tool supports precision health management in the face of high viral mutation rates. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The PreProPRRSV project aims to provide veterinarians with tools to reduce disease burden through prediction and proactive strategies."

Meet the guest: Dr. Elisa Crisci is an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University, specializing in swine virology and immunology. With over 20 years of experience, she focuses on host-virus interactions, PRRS, influenza, vaccine response, and the use of pigs as biomedical models. Her work is shaping how viral diseases are understood and managed in swine production. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:06) Introduction
• (03:46) PreProPRRSV project
• (05:41) PRRSV challenges
• (07:56) Biobank testing
• (11:06) PRRS strain classification
• (15:31) Update challenges in PRRS
• (21:16) Final three questions

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

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Danyel Dalto, research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, shares insights on increasing dietary vitamins and their effects on gilts and sows. He explains its effects on reproductive performance, piglet immunity, and vaccine response, highlighting implications for future feeding strategies. Listen now on all major platforms!

"By increasing the dietary vitamin levels during gestation, the study not only avoided the reduction in piglets born alive but also increased their average birth weight by over 20%.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Danyel Bueno Dalto is a veterinarian from Brazil who earned his Master’s and Ph.D. in Animal Science from Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Currently a research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, his work focuses on swine nutrition, particularly the metabolism of vitamins and trace minerals. 

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Dr. Jon Bergstrom: Vitamin D in Swine Diets | Ep. 95

Dr. Marie-Pierre Létourneau Montminy: Mycotoxins & Mineral Metabolism | Ep. 100

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:07) Introduction
• (03:52) Vitamin metabolism research
• (08:21) Reproductive performance results
• (12:27) Piglet growth response
• (21:37) Supplementation strategies
• (24:37) Vitamin D and C trials
• (31:09) Final three questions

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

 dsm-firmenich

* Swine Veterinary Partners

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Jenelle Hamblin, Director of Swine Health at Manitoba Pork, discusses the essential components of disease preparedness planning for the swine industry. She shares key lessons from Manitoba’s successful Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) elimination efforts and outlines strategies for collaboration between producers, veterinarians, and industry partners. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Biosecurity doesn’t stop at the farm. We need to think about prevention in transport, high-traffic facilities, and throughout the value chain."

Meet the guest: Jenelle Hamblin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and a Master’s in Animal Sciences from the University of Manitoba. With experience spanning Manitoba Agriculture and Manitoba Pork, she has led swine health initiatives focusing on biosecurity, emergency management, and industry collaboration. As Director of Swine Health, she coordinates disease preparedness efforts that strengthen Canada’s swine sector.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:04) Introduction
• (04:32) Disease preparedness
• (05:50) Biosecurity strategies
• (07:44) Industry collaboration
• (11:54) Emergency planning
• (20:06) Biggest learnings
• (26:08) Final three questions

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

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jeroen Dewulf from Ghent University shares two decades of expertise in biosecurity and disease control in swine production. He explains why behavior change is key, how internal and external biosecurity differ, and how simple tools can guide farms toward measurable improvements. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"We want to make biosecurity a part of daily habits."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jeroen Dewulf is a full professor in Veterinary Epidemiology at Ghent University, where he also leads the Veterinary Epidemiology Unit. His research focuses on reducing antimicrobial use and improving biosecurity in swine production. With over 400 scientific publications, he is a global authority on disease prevention in animal agriculture.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:17) Introduction
• (04:07) Biosecurity behavior change
• (09:51) Benefits beyond disease
• (14:17) Internal vs. external biosecurity
• (17:17) On-farm implementation
• (20:17) Measuring biosecurity levels
• (28:43) Final three questions

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

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Fred Kuhr, Director of Production at Dykhuis Farms, shares how his nearly 50 years in swine production have shaped his approach to integrating real-time data, employee development, and modern technology into large-scale systems. He breaks down why simplifying alerts matters for barn-level performance. Listen now on all major platforms!

"If the information isn’t in your hands in real time, it’s hard to make the right decisions in swine production."

Meet the guest: Fred Kuhr is the Director of Production at Dykhuis Farms, overseeing 17,000 sows in a farrow-to-finish system in Michigan. With 49 years in swine production, his leadership has helped scale operations and elevate workforce training in companies like The Maschhoffs and Carthage System.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:14) Introduction
• (04:44) Barn-level tech adoption
• (06:49) Real-time data use
• (08:37) Employee training shifts
• (12:14) Reducing staff turnover
• (16:54) Digital tools systems
• (26:56) Final three questions

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

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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