In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Alastair Thomas, Global Head Poultry Nutrition & Health at Anitox, shares expert insight on early-life bird health, pathogen behavior, and microbiome management. He explains why understanding microbial balance is essential in optimizing bird performance, especially during the critical first week. Learn practical ways to prevent opportunistic bacterial growth and manage feed strategies. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Try to get to a steady, balanced state where environmental challenges do not impact the microbiome."

Meet the guest: Dr. Alastair Thomas holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Bath and currently serves as the Global Head Poultry Nutrition & Health at Anitox. With over 15 years of experience, he leads a team of experts to deliver science-based solutions in animal health for pathogen control and poultry performance.

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What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:24) Introduction
• (02:40) Microbiome balance
• (04:30) Opportunistic pathogens
• (06:10) Tackling early bird challenges
• (08:30) Feed and gut health
• (11:57) Understanding flock health
• (13:33) Closing thoughts

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

Anitox

* Kemin

* Kerry

- BASF

- Poultry Science Association

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: Poultry Nutrition Podcast Show

Instagram: Poultry Campus

LinkedIn: Poultry Campus

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Lisa Bielke from North Carolina State University talks about how probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenics are changing the way we think about poultry health. She shares how tools like omics and machine learning are helping us better understand the gut microbiome, vertical transmission, and how birds recover from disease. Get a closer look at where poultry health is headed. Listen now on all major platforms!

"I've seen big changes in where things are going—prebiotics, synbiotics, phytobiotics—we're getting better at using them and understanding how they work."

Meet the guest: Dr. Lisa Bielke holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas and a B.S. from Texas A&M University. She currently serves as the Distinguished Scholar and Prestage Endowed Chair of Turkey Health Research at North Carolina State University. Her work centers on microbiology, omics technologies, and improving gut health in poultry.

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Dr. Ryan Arsenault: Gut Health in Poultry | Ep. 46

Dr. JT Pope: Innovative Feed Systems | Ep. 50

Dr. Wilmer Pacheco: Multi-Carbohydrase Enzyme for Poultry | Ep. 82

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:22) Introduction
• (02:32) Evolving nutritional strategies
• (04:24) Omics in poultry health
• (05:43) Manipulating microbiomes
• (06:36) Targeted outcomes
• (11:18) Big picture outlook
• (14:28) Closing thoughts

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

* Kerry

* Kemin

- Poultry Science Association

- Anitox

- BASF

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: Poultry Nutrition Podcast Show

Instagram: Poultry Campus

LinkedIn: Poultry Campus

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Mireille Arguelles-Ramos from Clemson University explores the potential of sorghum as a viable alternative to corn in poultry diets. She explains the nutritional benefits, performance implications, and the importance of selecting low-tannin cultivars. Learn how proper formulation can support ingredients replacement without compromising broiler performance. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Sorghum is an excellent source of energy and amino acids, offering a strong nutritional profile for poultry feed when properly formulated."

Meet the guest: Dr. Mireille Arguelles-Ramos earned her B.S. and M.S. in Animal Industry from the University of Puerto Rico and her Ph.D. in Animal and Poultry Science and Physiology from North Carolina State University. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at Clemson University, bringing over 14 years of expertise in poultry feed formulation.

Click here to read the full research article!

Comparative efficacy of tannin-free grain sorghum varieties for the control of necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium perfringens in broiler chickens

Effects of sorghum-based diets with phytase superdosing on broiler performance

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What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:02) Introduction
• (03:46) Poultry nutrition insights
• (05:02) Sorghum nutritional value
• (05:58) Tannin-free sorghum
• (06:40) Sorghum breeding
• (07:52) Inclusion levels in diets
• (10:17) Closing thoughts

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

* Kerry

* Kemin

- BASF

- Poultry Science Association

- Anitox

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: Poultry Nutrition Podcast Show

Instagram: Poultry Campus

LinkedIn: Poultry Campus

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Milan Sharma from Cornell University shares research on nutritional interventions to improve egg production in laying hens challenged with coccidiosis. He also discusses new findings on grape pomace as a potential bioactive feed ingredient for broilers. Learn how alternative feed sources could shape the future of poultry health and how supplementation can support egg production and gut health under disease pressure. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The most promising result we saw in improving egg production was with L-arginine and vitamin D3 and E in the disease model."

Meet the guest: Dr. Milan Sharma earned his M.S. from Mississippi State University and Ph.D. in Poultry Science from the University of Georgia. Now a Postdoctoral Associate at Cornell University, his work focuses on poultry gut health, disease models, and nutritional strategies in both layers and broilers.

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'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:32) Introduction
• (02:12) Coccidiosis in layers
• (03:03) Broiler-to-layer solutions
• (03:49) Arginine and vitamin E
• (08:05) Nutritional response analysis
• (09:17) Grape pomace for broilers
• (13:00) Closing remarks

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

* Kemin

* Kerry

- Anitox

- BASF

- Barentz

- Poultry Science Association

- Zinpro

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: Poultry Nutrition Podcast Show

Instagram: Poultry Campus

LinkedIn: Poultry Campus

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sara Llamas-Moya from Kerry shares how enzyme innovation transforms poultry nutrition. She explains end-to-end enzyme development, sustainability through proteases, and how enzyme specificity affects feed formulation. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Proteases support better products, better processes, and better planet outcomes for poultry producers globally."

Meet the guest: Dr. Sara Llamas-Moya holds a Ph.D. in Life Sciences from the University of Limerick and a Master’s in Food, Nutrition, and Health from University College Dublin. Currently serving as Global Scientific Affairs & Applications - Animal Performance Solutions at Kerry, she brings nearly two decades of experience in enzyme development and monogastric nutrition. Her work supports sustainable, performance-driven solutions in poultry nutrition.

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Dr. Kyle Smith: Organic Enzymes in Poultry Feed | Ep. 43

Dr. Ryan Arsenault: Gut Health in Poultry | Ep. 46

Dr. Wilmer Pacheco: Multi-Carbohydrase Enzyme for Poultry | Ep. 82

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:32) Introduction
• (03:14) Enzyme innovation
• (05:02) Sustainability focus
• (09:07) Protein utilization
• (11:32) Protease technology
• (13:49) Enzyme benefits
• (17:17) Closing thoughts

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

* Kerry

* Kemin

- Zinpro

- Anitox

- BASF

- Barentz

- Poultry Science Association

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: Poultry Nutrition Podcast Show

Instagram: Poultry Campus

LinkedIn: Poultry Campus

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Natalie Morgan from Curtin University explains why fiber is often the overlooked component in poultry diets and why it deserves more attention. She explains how soluble and insoluble fibers impact gut health, nutrient absorption, and enzyme efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Soluble fiber ferments and fuels beneficial bacteria, producing short-chain fatty acids that support gut health and reduce pathogen colonization."

What will you learn:

• (00:00) Introduction
• (00:54) Guest background
• (02:25) Fiber in poultry nutrition
• (03:28) Soluble vs. insoluble fiber
• (04:07) Fiber's impact on enzymes
• (09:25) Fiber research
• (10:56) Closing thoughts

Meet the guest:

Dr. Natalie Morgan received her B.Sc. in Animal Biology and Ph.D. in Poultry Nutrition from Nottingham Trent University. Now an Associate Professor at Curtin University in Australia, she specializes in dietary fiber and prebiotics in poultry diets, with extensive experience in enzyme application and microbiota studies. Her research aims to optimize nutrient absorption and gut health in poultry.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

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This episode marks a special milestone for The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast as we celebrate our 100th episode! Dr. John Boney from Penn State University shares key findings on nutrient segregation in commercial poultry houses. He outlines effective feed sampling strategies, the role of feed line design, and how feed pellet quality affects nutrient uniformity. Learn how commercial conditions can shape nutrition outcomes. Don’t miss this special episode—tune in to celebrate with us, available on all major platforms!

"Feed particle meaning fines and pellets can vary based on where you collect that sample in the house."

• (00:00) Introduction
• (02:25) Feed sampling strategy
• (04:30) Commercial house focus
• (06:30) Performance impact insights
• (08:00) Pellet quality comparison
• (09:28) Amino acid variation
• (11:46) Closing thoughts

Meet the guest:

Dr. John Boney earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Applied Poultry Nutrition and Feed Manufacturing from West Virginia University. Now an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Vernon E Norris Faculty Fellow of Poultry Nutrition at Penn State University, his research focuses on nutritional strategies to improve nutrient utilization, feed pathogen control, and feed processing outcomes to support efficient and welfare-friendly poultry production.

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

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In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Jordyn Studer, Technical Service Specialist at Barentz, explains the crucial role of choline in poultry diets. She outlines its key metabolic pathways, common dietary sources, and how new alternatives are reshaping nutritional strategies. Discover how these innovations enhance feed efficiency, handling, and performance outcomes. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Choline can be acetylated into acetylcholine, which plays a large role in the nervous system."

Meet the guest: Jordyn Studer earned her M.S. in Poultry Science from Virginia Tech and her B.S. in Animal Sciences from Purdue University, where she specialized in animal agribusiness with a poultry emphasis. Currently a Technical Service Specialist at Barentz, she focuses on improving efficiency and nutritional strategies in poultry production.

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

What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:22) Introduction
• (02:50) Choline metabolism roles
• (05:33) Dietary choline sources
• (06:52) Choline benefits
• (08:25) Replacement dose strategies
• (10:25) Upcoming broiler research
• (12:24) Closing thoughts

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

Barentz

* Kemin

* Kerry

- Poultry Science Association

- Zinpro

- Anitox

- BASF

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: Poultry Nutrition Podcast Show

Instagram: Poultry Campus

LinkedIn: Poultry Campus