In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Natalie Diether from Dalhousie University discusses the complex gut microbiome shifts 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 M.Sc. in Animal Sciences from the University of Alberta, where she used multi-omics tools to study the interaction between diet, gut microbes, and host metabolism. Her work focuses on nutritional strategies that improve pig health during vulnerable periods like weaning. 

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:19) Introduction
• (02:14) Microbial shifts post-weaning
• (04:53) Choosing functional additives
• (05:46) Matching additive to function
• (07:54) Understanding microbiome needs
• (09:24) Microbial shifts explained
• (10:38) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

- Barentz

- Keys Manufacturing

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Fortiva

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Gabi Doughan from Iowa State University explores the overlooked yet critical role of water quality in swine production. She breaks down the science behind biofilms, water line disinfection strategies, and how pathogens can persist in poorly maintained systems. Learn practical steps for monitoring and improving water systems to protect pig health and performance. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Pigs actually will consume 2 to 2 and a half times their amount of water versus their feed by volume."

Meet the guest: Dr. Gabi Doughan is a swine veterinarian and Technical Project Specialist at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She holds a DVM, a Master’s in Veterinary Preventative Medicine, and a PhD in Population Sciences in Animal Health, all from Iowa State. Her research focuses on water biosecurity, water quality, and biofilm management in swine production systems

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Dillon Mellick: Nutrition in Pathogen Control | Ep. 148

Dr. Andrew Yersin: Probiotics vs Antibiotics | Ep. 176

What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:25) Introduction
• (01:50) Water quality
• (03:06) Monitoring methods
• (04:00) Water’s impact on health
• (05:57) Disinfection steps
• (07:12) Treating sow farms
• (10:21) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

- Fortiva

- Barentz

- Keys Manufacturing

- Essential Ag Solutions

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sung Woo Kim from NC State University explains how the β-mannanase enzyme functions in swine diets. He breaks down the science behind non-starch polysaccharides, their impact on digestibility, and how enzyme supplementation supports gut health and performance. Learn when and how to use mannanase effectively. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Mannanase reduces viscosity by turning polysaccharides into oligosaccharides, removing both thickness and allergenic compounds from mannan in swine diets."

Meet the guest: Dr. Sung Woo Kim earned his M.S. in Animal Nutrition and B.S. in Animal Sciences from Seoul National University and his Ph.D. and postdoctoral from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Now a WNR Distinguished Professor at North Carolina State University, his work centers on improving swine nutrition through enzyme technologies and gut health.

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:19) Introduction
• (02:36) Mannanase enzyme function
• (02:59) Digestibility mechanism
• (05:03) Intestinal health benefits
• (06:19) Nutrient utilization strategy
• (08:29) Feed formulation use
• (10:08) Closing thoughts

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

BASF

* Kemin

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Fortiva

- Barentz

- Keys Manufacturing

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Young Dal Jang from the University of Georgia explores the effects of high-dose probiotics on nursery pigs. Dr. Jang discusses his research on the optimal levels of Bacillus subtilis, emphasizing the balance between efficacy and cost in enhancing swine health and growth performance. Don’t miss the chance to revisit this conversation and gain practical tips and fresh insights on improving swine nutrition with probiotics. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Adding ten times higher doses of probiotics did not show any beneficial effect compared to the recommended level."

Meet the guest: Dr. Young Dal Jang, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia, specializes in non-ruminant nutrition with a focus on swine. He earned his PhD in Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry from Seoul National University. Dr. Jang has extensive experience in swine nutrition research, having served as a postdoctoral researcher and research associate at the University of Kentucky. Previously, he was an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls for six years.

Click here to read the full research article!

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:00) Introduction
• (02:22) Research on high-dose probiotics
• (03:29) Probiotics' on post-weaning diarrhea
• (05:10) Growth performance study
• (08:23) Recommended levels vs. high doses
• (10:13) Next steps in probiotic research
• (12:25) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

- Keys Manufacturing

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Fortiva

- Barentz

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Regiane Santos from Schothorst Feed Research discusses the growing concern of mycotoxins in pig diets and their varying impact based on climate and pig growth phases. She explains how certain emerging mycotoxins are being overlooked and how they can impair gut health and development. Learn what to monitor, how to adapt your strategy, and why early-stage pigs are most vulnerable. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We’re seeing feed intake drop and poor intestinal development even at what we consider safe levels of enniatins."

Meet the guest: Dr. Regiane Santos earned her Ph.D. in Animal Reproduction from the State University of Ceará and completed post-doctoral studies in Toxicology and Reproductive Biology at Utrecht University. She is currently a Senior Researcher and Innovation Coordinator at Schothorst Feed Research. Her expertise spans reproductive physiology and the effects of toxins in animal systems, with a focus on swine nutrition. 

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:01) Introduction
• (01:31) Key mycotoxins in pigs
• (02:49) Weaning sensitivity
• (05:11) DON’s effects
• (06:29) Lesser-known toxins
• (08:24) Mycotoxin-related symptoms
• (10:27) Closing thoughts

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

- Barentz

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Fortiva

- Kemin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. R. Dean Boyd continues to address soybean meal net energy values and their impact on swine nutrition. He breaks down why energy estimates often differ between university trials and commercial barns and highlights the concept of “productive energy” in pig production. Dr. Boyd also shares valuable resources for those seeking to explore this topic further.  Listen now on all major platforms!

"We found that the level of energy the pig seems to find in the commercial environment was much higher than the academic environment."

Meet the guest:

Dr. R. Dean Boyd, Ph.D., is the head of Animal Nutrition Research, LLC, and serves as an adjunct professor in Animal Science at both North Carolina State and Iowa State Universities. Dr. Boyd has held key academic positions and led large-scale nutrition programs for the Hanor Company and Triumph Foods group. His research focuses on energy systems, amino acid nutrition, and ingredient evaluation in swine production.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: 

LinkedIn: Dr. R. Dean Boyd

Email: [email protected]

Click here to read the full research articles:

Soybean meal NE value for growing pigs is greater in commercial environments

Amino acid levels and energy specifications in SBM for poultry and pigs

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:06) Introduction
• (01:36) Energy value differences
• (03:06) Academic vs. field data
• (06:42) Trial insights
• (07:51) Concept of productive energy
• (08:58) Research sources
• (11:01) Closing thoughts

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

- Kemin

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Barentz

- Fortiva

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. R. Dean Boyd explores the principles behind soybean meal net energy in swine diets. He explains why traditional book values may underestimate their actual energy contribution and highlights how recent estimates can better reflect modern pig performance. This discussion breaks down the science behind energy systems and explains why updating these values is important for today’s production. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The story of soybean net energy is really the tale of two sides of the same coin. Book values, which are equation-based, underestimate what the pig’s response actually is."

Meet the guest: Dr. R. Dean Boyd, Ph.D., is the head of Animal Nutrition Research, LLC, and serves as an adjunct professor in Animal Science at both North Carolina State and Iowa State Universities. Dr. Boyd has held key academic positions and led large-scale nutrition programs for the Hanor Company and Triumph Foods group. His research focuses on energy systems, amino acid nutrition, and ingredient evaluation in swine production.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: 

LinkedIn: Dr. R. Dean Boyd

Email: [email protected]

Click here to read the full research articles:

Soybean meal NE value for growing pigs is greater in commercial environments

Amino acid levels and energy specifications in SBM for poultry and pigs

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

What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:34) Introduction
• (01:14) Guest background overview
• (02:56) Soybean meal energy
• (04:47) Differences between estimates
• (05:38) Pig body changes
• (07:48) Comparing public estimates
• (10:02) Closing thoughts

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

- Fortiva

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Barentz

- Kemin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Robert Goodband from Kansas State University and Dr. Omarh Mendoza of The Maschhoffs discuss the results and commercial implications of a collaborative study that focused on determining the minimum soybean meal inclusion with and without DDGS to optimize growth, performance, and carcass characteristics in both growing and finishing pig diets. Listen and watch!

"As we increased soybean meal in the diet, we saw improvements in average daily gain and feed efficiency, particularly in late finishing. The data suggests that soybean meal has a greater net energy content than what we have used for book values in the past.” – Dr. Goodband

“Even though a formulation on paper makes sense, the pigs are telling us that something is missing. As nutritionists, we need to be careful when formulating our diets and make sure we are considering information like this.” – Dr. Mendoza

Meet the guests:

Dr. Robert Goodband is a distinguished professor and swine extension specialist at Kansas State University. He obtained his bachelor's degree from Penn State and his master's and doctorate in swine nutrition at KSU. Bob teaches swine science and nutrition courses and serves as an academic advisor. He has mentored hundreds of graduate and undergraduate students and published 450 refereed journal papers, 11 book chapters, and over 1,000 extension publications.

Dr. Omarh Mendoza, originally from Sonora, Mexico, holds a bachelor’s in animal sciences from the University of Sonora. He earned his master’s and doctorate in animal sciences with a focus on swine nutrition and production from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He is currently the director of nutrition at The Maschhoffs, LLC, where he oversees nutritional programs, quality assurance, and nutrition research. He has also co-authored numerous scientific publications.

Connect with our guests on Social Media: Dr. Goodband & Dr. Mendoza

Dr. Rosero & Dr. R. Dean Boyd: Overcoming Summer Dip: Use of Soybean Meal to Maximize Carcass Weight | Ep. 131

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

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
• (02:06) Soybean meal trial overview
• (03:04) Feed efficiency results
• (04:22) High protein trade-offs
• (06:16) Value to production systems
• (08:36) Applying results commercially
• 09:30) Closing thoughts

The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by:

U.S. Soy

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Andrew Yersin from Kemin Industries discusses the key differences between antibiotics and probiotics in swine health management. He explains the practical considerations for choosing between them, the importance of performance data, and how to evaluate product efficacy under field conditions. Learn how to optimize decisions based on farm-specific needs and outcomes. Listen now on all major platforms!

"An antibiotic is a substance. It kills bacteria. A probiotic is a living organism. It changes the gut environment."

Meet the guest: Dr. Andrew Yersin earned his Ph.D. in Path-physiology from North Carolina State University and holds an M.S. in Reproductive Physiology and a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Maryland. Currently the Senior VP of Worldwide Quality Assurance and Monogastric Technical Services at Kemin Industries, Dr. Yersin focuses on swine nutrition quality systems, alternative health strategies, and operational metrics.

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Dr. Jerry Spears: Chromium in Swine Feed | Ep. 123

Dr. David Rosero: Fat Quality in Swine Diets | Ep. 143

Dillon Mellick: Nutrition in Pathogen Control | Ep. 148

What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:15) Introduction
• (00:30) Guest background
• (01:39) Antibiotics vs probiotics
• (04:15) Label and mode function
• (05:53) Decision-making factors
• (08:22) Setting KPI in trials
• (09:52) Closing thoughts

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

Kemin

- Fortiva

- Essential Ag Solutions

- Barentz

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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LinkedIn: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Marco de Mik, Senior Consultant in Swine Nutrition, shares insights on enhancing gastrointestinal health for a strong start in piglets. He explains why understanding particle size in feed is essential for supporting gut function, especially during the weaning phase. Learn how feed form and fiber type can make a difference in piglet performance.  Listen now on all major platforms!

"Average particle size is not as effective as focusing on the outer layers of the particles."

Meet the guest: Dr. Marco de Mik holds a veterinary medicine degree from Utrecht University and an M.Sc. in Animal Nutrition from Wageningen University. With over a decade of experience in swine nutrition, he currently works as a Senior Consultant at Schothorst Feed Research. He specializes in feed formulation, animal physiology, and metabolism. Marco is also a resident of the European College of Veterinary Comparative Nutrition.

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What you will learn: 

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:18) Introduction
• (02:12) Measuring particle size
• (04:41) Particle size for young animals
• (06:06) Role of coarse particles
• (07:10) Diet recommendations
• (08:16) Feed form considerations
• (10:27) Closing thoughts

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

- Barentz

- Kemin

- Fortiva

- Essential Ag Solutions

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

LinkedIn: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast