In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Antonio Velarde from IRTA explains how animal welfare at slaughter influences stress, handling, and meat quality in pigs. He highlights transport challenges, stunning methods, and the importance of staff training and facility design. Dr. Velarde also discusses the One Welfare concept, which links animal and human well-being. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Handling practices, facility design, and environmental conditions play a central role in reducing fear and stress, especially when animals are moved through unfamiliar spaces.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Antonio Velarde is Head of the Animal Welfare Program at IRTA and a European specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics, and Law. His work focuses on welfare at slaughter, animal behavior, and practical improvements across production systems. He also contributes to European initiatives and the One Welfare concept. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:08) Introduction
• (04:46) Welfare importance
• (06:28) Stress impact
• (07:31) Transport stress
• (15:54) Staff training
• (19:24) Stunning methods
• (25:33) Final Questions

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

* DietForge

- dsm-firmenich

- Topigs Norsvin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Laya Alves from the University of São Paulo, in Brazil, discusses how animal welfare regulations are evolving globally and their impact on pig production systems. She explains challenges in group housing, pain management, and euthanasia decisions, while highlighting the role of training and management in improving outcomes and economic sustainability. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Translating welfare requirements into daily farm routines without compromising economic sustainability remains one of the biggest challenges faced by producers globally today."

Meet the guest: Dr. Laya Alves is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, focusing on animal welfare in pig production, including pain management, euthanasia, and economic decision making. Her work integrates welfare science with practical farm management and sustainability. She collaborates globally to develop applied tools for producers. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:18) Introduction
• (03:29) Welfare evolution
• (05:30) Housing systems
• (12:30) Pain management
• (19:35) Euthanasia importance
• (29:22) Economic impacts
• (32:40) Final Questions

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

* DietForge

- Topigs Norsvin

- 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. Max Rothschild, Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University, explains how genetics and genomics have transformed swine production. He explores genomic selection, key gene discoveries, and the role of gene editing in improving disease resistance and productivity. Practical insights on litter size, meat quality, and industry adoption are also discussed. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Genetic improvement in swine production accelerated significantly once molecular tools enabled identification of DNA level variation influencing growth, reproduction, and meat quality across commercial populations."

Meet the guest: Dr. Max Rothschild earned his PhD in Animal Breeding from Cornell University and has spent over four decades at Iowa State University advancing swine genetics and genomics. His research focuses on genetic improvement, disease resistance, and molecular tools for swine production. A leader in pig genome research, his work has shaped modern breeding strategies. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:02) Introduction
• (01:44) Genetics background
• (04:35) Genomic progress
• (08:03) Genetics vs genomics
• (10:10) Litter size genes
• (17:00) Gene editing role
• (25:32) Final Questions

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

* DietForge

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- Topigs Norsvin

- 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. Heather Wilson from VIDO at the University of Saskatchewan explains how intrauterine vaccination is being developed as a new option for swine health. She shares how formulation, adjuvants, and delivery methods influence immune responses and what early trials reveal about safety and reproductive performance. Listen now on all major platforms.

"The idea was that an intrauterine vaccine might avoid a tolerance response and instead create an active immune response."

Meet the guest: Dr. Heather Wilson is a Senior Scientist and Program Manager at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan. Her work centers on vaccine formulation and delivery in pigs, including the development of intrauterine vaccination to support reproductive health and passive protection of piglets. Her background spans biochemistry, immunology, and functional pathogenomics. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:19) Introduction
• (03:29) Intrauterine concept
• (07:03) Pathogen focus
• (08:49) Reproductive safety
• (14:34) Immune comparison
• (21:07) Key findings
• (23:14) Final three questions

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

* Swine Veterinary Partners

* DietForge

- Topigs Norsvin

- 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. Yan Huang from University of Arkansas explores how genetics, nutrition, and stress management shape pork quality. He explains how molecular pathways influence fat deposition, muscle growth, and meat flavor while balancing production efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The most important driver of pork quality. Feed plays a very important role in the meat quality."

Meet the guest: Dr. Yan Huang is an Associate Professor in Nutritional Skeletal Muscle Biology at the University of Arkansas. With academic experience across China, South Korea, and the United States, his work focuses on the genetic and molecular regulation of muscle growth and fat deposition in swine. His research connects genetics, nutrition, and pork quality to improve production efficiency and consumer satisfaction. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:06) Introduction
• (03:21) Pork quality factors
• (05:46) Genetic selection
• (09:04) Muscle metabolism
• (10:16) Animal welfare
• (15:24) Intramuscular fat
• (22:14) Final three questions

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

* Swine Veterinary Partners

* DietForge

- dsm-firmenich

- Topigs Norsvin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this special re-run episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, we bring back our conversation with Fred Kuhr, Director of Production at Dykhuis Farms, who 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 Production Director at Dykhuis Farms Inc. and has spent nearly five decades working in large-scale swine production systems across the United States. His career includes leadership roles focused on production management, team development, and operational efficiency. Work today centers on integrating digital tools and real-time data to support barn teams and improve production outcomes. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:27) Introduction
• (04:57) Barn-level tech adoption
• (07:02) Real-time data use
• (08:50) Employee training shifts
• (12:27) Reducing staff turnover
• (17:07) Digital tools systems
• (27:09) Final three questions

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

* DietForge

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

- Topigs Norsvin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this special episode celebrating International Women's Day of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, we bring Dr. Isabela Bez, a veterinarian and PhD student in Brazil, who explains how temperature and light regimes influence sow reproductive performance. She discusses seasonal infertility, climate adaptation, and why environmental monitoring inside barns is critical for herd efficiency. The episode highlights practical management strategies to reduce reproductive losses and improve outcomes. Listen now on all major platforms.

"Environmental factors are actually very important on sow reproduction, and sometimes these are the factors that producers tend to not pay attention."

Meet the guest: Dr. Isabela Bez is a veterinarian and PhD student in Animal Science at Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), Brazil. Her work focuses on swine reproduction, nutrition, and animal welfare, with strong expertise in environmental effects on sow performance. She collaborates with international farms and research groups to improve reproductive efficiency through applied science. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:40) Introduction
• (03:33) Research insights
• (04:46) Seasonal infertility
• (13:02) Genetics influence
• (15:50) Management factors
• (20:10) Long-term consequences
• (26:55) Final three questions

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

* DietForge

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

- Topigs Norsvin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Joshua Selsby from Iowa State University explains how heat stress affects swine biology and why now is the ideal time to prepare for next summer’s challenges. He breaks down its effects on muscle function, immune responses, and long-term metabolic outcomes. Learn how early planning can protect herd performance when temperatures rise again. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Heat stress leads to a cascade of biological damage, beginning with metabolic disruption and expanding across multiple organ systems."

Meet the guest: Dr. Joshua Selsby is a Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University. With over 15 years of research on skeletal muscle physiology and heat stress, he focuses on understanding how thermal stress disrupts swine metabolism, immune function, and muscle integrity.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:33) Introduction
• (03:43) Heat stress triggers
• (06:47) Muscle metabolic shifts
• (14:47) Sex response differences
• (16:36) Systemic inflammation
• (23:58) Most at-risk population
• (29:28) Final three questions

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

* Swine Veterinary Partners

* DietForge

- Topigs Norsvin

- 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, Katlyn McClellan, PhD Candidate at South Dakota State University and swine nutrition researcher, explains how late gestation phase feeding can improve sow nutrient status, farrowing outcomes, and piglet survival. She discusses anemia in modern prolific sows, limitations of traditional bump feeding, and practical strategies for implementation. Learn research-driven insight for nutrition and production professionals. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Phase feeding is built on the idea that sow nutrient needs are not static through gestation, especially during the last third when biological demands increase.”

Meet the guest: Katlyn McClellan is a PhD Candidate at South Dakota State University, specializing in swine nutrition. Her research focuses on sow nutrient status, anemia, and feeding strategies during the late gestation phase to support modern prolific sow productivity. Katlyn holds a Master of Science from South Dakota State University and a Bachelor of Science from California State University, Fresno. 

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:40) Introduction
• (02:09) Phase feeding basics
• (04:14) Sow anemia issues
• (07:18) Key study outcomes
• (08:30) Multi-cycle effects
• (12:33) Practical adoption
• (21:52) Final Questions



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

- dsm-firmenich

* Swine Veterinary Partners

* DietForge

- Topigs Norsvin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. James Kober, a consulting swine veterinarian and founder of West Michigan Livestock Consulting, explores the often-overlooked impact of water quality on pig health and productivity. He shares decades of field experience on how water issues can influence intake, disease, and mortality across production phases. Discover practical strategies for improving water systems on-farm. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Water issues in sows can impact reproduction, particularly by lengthening wean-to-service intervals."

Meet the guest: Dr. James Kober earned both his B.S. in Animal Science and DVM from Michigan State University. With over three decades dedicated exclusively to swine, he now works as an independent consulting veterinarian and founder of West Michigan Livestock Consulting. Drawing from field experience, Dr. Kober focuses on optimizing swine health through water management and disease control.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:31) Introduction
• (06:43) Water quality impact
• (08:54) Water testing
• (10:53) Fixing water systems
• (12:31) Water-linked disease risks
• (17:54) Practical on-farm tips
• (19:38) Final three questions

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

* DietForge

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

- Topigs Norsvin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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