In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Anastasia Vlasova, Associate Professor at The Ohio State University, explains how nutrition shapes the gut microbiome and immune responses in pigs. She discusses gnotobiotic piglet models, diet-driven microbiome diversity, fiber and protein balance, and how nutritional programs may influence pathogen load and disease severity. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"Nutrition is the main driver of microbiome development, composition, and immune function in swine production systems."

Meet the guest: Dr. Anastasia Vlasova is an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University, where her work focuses on rotavirus and coronavirus pathogenesis, epidemiology, virology, and swine models for infectious disease research. She holds a DVM and PhD and has over 20 years of experience at Ohio State studying host, pathogen, microbiome, and immunity interactions. Learn more from Dr. Anastasia Vlasova on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:35) Introduction
• (03:55) Piglet models
• (06:54) Nutrition effects
• (08:41) Fiber diversity
• (11:24) Pathogen load
• (11:40) Diet responses
• (12:51) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Fortiva

- Gilt

- DietForge

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Barentz

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Kynna Crawford, Graduate Research Assistant at South Dakota State University, discusses how Plackett-Burman designs can help screen nursery diet ingredients for early post-weaning feed intake. She explains why low intake after weaning contributes to stress and mortality, how screening trials can evaluate multiple ingredients in a single study, and how the approach can support both research and commercial nursery nutrition decisions. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"A single screening trial can help identify which nursery ingredients deserve deeper research for early post-weaning feed intake."

Meet the guest: Kynna Crawford is a Master's student in Animal Sciences at South Dakota State University, where her work focuses on swine nutrition and nursery pig management. Her research examines strategies to alleviate weaning stress, including dietary approaches and screening tools to identify ingredients that may promote early feed intake. Learn more from Kynna Crawford on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:43) Introduction
• (02:16) Research background
• (03:23) Weaning stress
• (04:56) Study design
• (07:19) Main effects
• (09:28) Industry applications
• (11:49) Closing thoughts

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

* Fortiva

* Kemin

- Barentz

- Gilt

- DietForge

- Essential Ag Solutions

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Daniel Brugger, Associate Professor at the University of Helsinki, continues the discussion on precision trace mineral nutrition for swine. Building on the previous episode, he explains the practical barriers to implementation, including research gaps, the lack of reliable biomarkers, feed-mixing limitations, genetic considerations, and the reasons why micronutrients are the next frontier in sustainable pig nutrition. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"Microminerals represent the next major opportunity for improving sustainable swine nutrition through greater feeding precision and better scientific understanding."

Meet the guest: Dr. Daniel Brugger is Associate Professor of Companion and Monogastric Production Animal Nutrition at the University of Helsinki, where he leads the Helsinki Monogastric Nutrition Lab. His research focuses on sustainable nutrition for pigs, including trace elements, nutritional physiology, feed ingredients, and environmental sustainability. Listen to The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast featuring Dr. Daniel Brugger on all major platforms.

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:22) Introduction
• (01:42) Research gaps
• (02:57) Biomarker challenges
• (04:22) Feed technology
• (04:43) Outdated requirements
• (06:28) Genetics comparison
• (09:04) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Fortiva

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Barentz

- Gilt

- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Daniel Brugger, Associate Professor at the University of Helsinki, explains why precision feeding of trace elements is becoming essential for sustainable swine production. The discussion covers current mineral safety margins, environmental impacts, economic considerations, and why improving micronutrient management is the next step toward more sustainable pig nutrition. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"Any overfeeding of trace elements leads to emissions into manure, which eventually returns to agricultural land and influences long-term environmental sustainability."

Meet the guest: Dr. Daniel Brugger is Associate Professor of Companion and Monogastric Production Animal Nutrition at the University of Helsinki, where he leads the Helsinki Monogastric Nutrition Lab. His research focuses on sustainable nutrition for pigs, including trace elements, nutritional physiology, feed ingredients, and environmental sustainability. Listen to The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast featuring Dr. Daniel Brugger on all major platforms.

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:45) Introduction
• (03:27) Trace element research
• (04:48) Current feeding margins
• (06:14) Sustainability impact
• (07:23) Economic sustainability
• (08:40) Future mineral supply
• (09:41) Closing thoughts

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

* Fortiva

* Kemin

- DietForge

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Barentz

- Gilt

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Samuel Berrio, a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Minnesota, discusses research on the timing of zinc supplementation during sow gestation. He explains how early- and late-gestation supplementation were compared for reproductive performance, piglet outcomes, and wean-to-finish survival, while balancing mineral excretion concerns. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Late-gestation zinc supplementation improved wean-to-finish survival while reducing the need for full-period supplementation."

Meet the guest: Dr. Samuel Berrio is a Graduate Research Assistant and master's student in Animal Sciences at the University of Minnesota, where he focuses on swine nutrition and sustainability. Originally from Colombia, he earned his veterinary degree from CES University and has experience in genetic nucleus farms and swine research. Learn more from Dr. Samuel Jaramillo on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:58) Introduction
• (02:59) Zinc treatments
• (04:16) Gestation timing
• (05:34) Study results
• (08:08) Zinc excretion
• (10:43) Farm implementation
• (12:32) Closing thoughts

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

* Fortiva

* Kemin

- Barentz

- DietForge

- Essential Ag Solutions

- The Owner's Box

- Elevate

- WiseVAs

- Zentrix Insights

- ZentrixOS

- Gilt

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Natalie Diether, Assistant Professor of Gut Microbiome at Dalhousie University, discusses the complex shifts in the gut microbiome in pigs during weaning. She explains how stress, diet, and microbial function interact, and what producers should know when selecting feed additives. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Stress impairs gut barrier function, increasing permeability and inflammation, making pigs more vulnerable post-weaning."

Meet the guest: Dr. Natalie Diether is an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University, specializing in gut microbiome research. She holds a Ph.D. and an M.Sc. in Animal Sciences from the University of Alberta, where she used multi-omics tools to study interactions among diet, gut microbes, and host metabolism. Her work focuses on nutritional strategies to improve pig health during vulnerable periods, such as weaning. Learn more from Dr. Natalie Diether on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (02:12) Introduction
• (03:19) Microbial shifts post-weaning
• (05:58) Choosing functional additives
• (06:51) Matching additive to function
• (08:59) Understanding microbiome needs
• (10:29) Microbial shifts explained
• (11:31) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Fortiva

- Barentz

- DietForge

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Gilt

- The Owner's Box

- Elevate

- WiseVAs

- Zentrix Insights

- ZentrixOS

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Anna Johnson from Iowa State University and Emma Coursey from the University of Illinois discuss research evaluating welfare resources during the late finishing stage on commercial swine farms. They explain how feeder management, water use, space allocation, and pig health influence welfare outcomes and practical on-farm management. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Small resource issues can become larger welfare problems when multiple stressors interact across finishing barns."

Meet the guests:

Dr. Anna Johnson is the Morrill Professor of Animal Behavior and Welfare at Iowa State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from Texas Tech University and completed her master's degree in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on practical solutions that improve farm animal welfare, including sow productive lifetime, animal-human interaction, environmental enrichment, and Precision Livestock Farming.

Emma Coursey is pursuing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine after earning a bachelor's degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University. Her academic interests include swine health, production, and animal welfare, with research experience evaluating welfare resources in commercial finishing pigs.

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (02:29) Introduction
• (03:49) Study purpose
• (05:29) Barn observations
• (06:18) Tail biting
• (07:59) Feeder adjustments
• (10:49) Proactive monitoring
• (13:29) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Fortiva

- Barentz

- DietForge

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Zentrix Insights

- WiseVAs

- ZentrixOS

- The Owner's Box

- Elevate

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sarah Pearce, Research Animal Physiologist with USDA ARS, explains why stress can act as a nutrient thief in pigs. She discusses gastrointestinal health, barrier integrity, inflammation, feed efficiency, stress interactions, and emerging biomarkers that may help predict performance challenges before they occur. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"Stress can steal calories and nutrients because energy normally used for growth is redirected toward immune activation, gut repair, and other costly survival responses."

Meet the guest: Dr. Sarah Pearce earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from Iowa State University and currently serves as a Research Animal Physiologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Her research focuses on gastrointestinal physiology, nutrition, stress biology, immune function, and productivity in pigs and poultry. Learn more from Dr. Sarah Pearce on the Swine Nutrition Black Belt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (02:22) Introduction
• (03:07) Stress redirects nutrients
• (04:34) Multiple stressors
• (06:24) Gut barrier
• (07:28) Biomarker prediction
• (08:38) Research tools
• (09:22) Closing thoughts

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

* Fortiva

* Kemin

- DietForge

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Barentz

- The Owner's Box

- Elevate

- WiseVAs

- ZentrixOS

- Zentrix Insights

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Cierra Kozole, PhD candidate in Swine Nutrition at the University of Guelph, explains how methionine supports lactating sows beyond milk protein synthesis. She discusses updated requirement estimates, source comparisons, methylation demand, and why modern sow genetics may require more precise amino acid strategies. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Methionine supports protein synthesis while also serving critical functions through methylation pathways that influence multiple biological processes."

Meet the guest: Cierra Kozole is a PhD candidate in Swine Nutrition at the University of Guelph in Canada. Her doctoral research focuses on refining estimates of methionine requirements for primiparous lactating sows, including evaluating methionine sources, nutrient partitioning, methylation reactions, and the links among amino acid supply, milk production, and sow protein retention. Learn more from Cierra Kozole on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:24) Introduction
• (02:29) Requirement estimates
• (03:37) Methionine pathways
• (04:44) Source comparison
• (05:53) Methionine partitioning
• (08:33) Genetic influences
• (11:54) Closing thoughts

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

* Fortiva

* Kemin

- DietForge

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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Eugene Rodberg from Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health discusses how feed ingredients, fat quality, feed hygiene, and water management influence swine performance. He explains the importance of ingredient sourcing, oxidation control, clean feed systems, and water line sanitation to support animal health and productivity during seasonal challenges. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Feed quality depends on ingredient sourcing, laboratory verification, and maintaining hygiene throughout delivery systems until nutrients reach livestock consumption points."

Meet the guest: Eugene Rodberg is Senior Product Manager at Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health with more than 30 years of experience in feed additives, vitamins, enzymes, and organic acids. An Iowa State University graduate, Eugene has worked across feed-ingredient marketing, sales, and nutrition solutions focused on livestock performance and feed-quality management. Listen to Eugene Rodberg on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms!

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Dr. Gabi Doughan: Why Water Quality Matters | Ep. 183

Dr. Roman Moreno: Fat Use in Swine Diets | Ep. 194

What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:09) Introduction
• (01:59) Ingredient quality
• (03:17) Feed hygiene practices
• (03:59) Feed ingredient quality
• (05:19) Fat quality insights
• (07:27) Water management
• (09:55) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Fortiva

- DietForge

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Barentz

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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