In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Taina Lopes, a postdoctoral fellow at Auburn University, explores how nutrition may influence immune responses to Newcastle disease in poultry. She breaks down the impact of viral shedding, immunization challenges, and the role of nutrients like vitamin D and zinc in immune support. Learn how immunity and nutrition intersect in poultry health. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Nutritional needs of the immune system differ from those for production and growth in poultry."

Meet the guest: Dr. Taina Lopes holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Animal Science from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil, with a veterinary degree focused on avian pathology and poultry production. Now a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pathobiology at Auburn University, her research centers on immune response modulation, viral shedding, and bioinformatics in poultry.

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What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:07) Introduction
• (02:17) Newcastle disease basics
• (06:15) Immunity gaps
• (08:42) Future vaccine on immunization
• (10:27) Immune system nutrition
• (14:02) Microminerals and immunity
• (16:59) 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

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In this second part of the episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Michael Lilburn from Ohio State University continues exploring the complexities of zinc nutrition in poultry. He explores transporters, immune function, microbiome interactions, and the limitations of current zinc research methodologies. Dr. Lilburn also discusses the effectiveness of organic vs. inorganic zinc sources. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The role of trace minerals on the microbiome may not show clear cause and effect, but could influence population uniformity."

Meet the guest: Dr. Michael Lilburn is an Emeritus Professor at Ohio State University and a past president and Fellow of the Poultry Science Association. His extensive work in skeletal metabolism and trace mineral nutrition has informed decades of poultry nutrition research.

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What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:15) Introduction
• (01:10) Zinc absorption pathways
• (02:23) New technologies insights
• (03:29) Zinc accumulation
• (05:43) Microbiome interactions
• (09:03) Organic x inorganic
• (11:09) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Kerry

- Anitox

- BASF

- Poultry Science Association

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: Poultry Nutrition Podcast Show

Instagram: Poultry Campus

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In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Michael Lilburn, Emeritus Professor at Ohio State University, explores the complex role of zinc in poultry nutrition. He discusses historical context, metabolic functions, enzyme interactions, and ongoing misconceptions around zinc requirements. Gain science-backed insights into digestibility and bioavailability. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Zinc plays catalytic and structural roles depending on the protein and the amino acid it's bound to."

Meet the guest: Dr. Michael Lilburn is an Emeritus Professor at Ohio State University and a past president and Fellow of the Poultry Science Association. His extensive work in skeletal metabolism and trace mineral nutrition has informed decades of poultry nutrition research.

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What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:26) Introduction
• (02:30) Guest background
• (05:00) Zinc metabolic roles
• (06:21) Skeletal development
• (11:58) Phytase and zinc
• (15:26) Digestibility and bioavailability
• (16:54) Closing thoughts

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

* Kerry

* Kemin

- Anitox

- BASF

- Poultry Science Association

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: Poultry Nutrition Podcast Show

Instagram: Poultry Campus

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In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Juan Gabriel Espino, specialist in monogastric animal nutrition, discusses the role of mathematics in poultry nutrition and the application of nonlinear models in growth prediction for pullets and broilers. He explains how the Gompertz function can be used as a powerful tool to improve feed phase management, optimize nutrient strategies, and better understand animal growth dynamics. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The Gompertz model provides a nonlinear description of animal growth, accurately capturing key stages for better nutrition planning."

Meet the guest: Juan Gabriel Espino is a veterinarian specializing in monogastric animal nutrition, with a focus on efficient diet formulation and feed optimization strategies on poultry and swine. He holds a Master's degree in Animal Production and Nutrition from the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala and has additional training in Avian Medicine from the University of Georgia.

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
• (01:13) Introduction
• (02:22) Gompertz function
• (04:19) Nonlinear growth insights
• (06:17) Nutrient application strategy
• (09:23) Growth stage identification
• (11:20) Benefits of using the function
• (17:17) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Kerry

- Poultry Science Association

- Anitox

- BASF

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: Poultry Nutrition Podcast Show

Instagram: Poultry Campus

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In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Birger Svihus from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences breaks down how particle size affects broiler feeding behavior. He shares insights into how birds select feed particles, their preferences for fines, and the implications for feed formulation. Find out how a closer look at pecking patterns could change the way we think about poultry nutrition. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The bird is pecking more than once per second. So it's an extremely rapid rate of pecking."

Meet the guest: Dr. Birger Svihus earned his Ph.D. in Poultry Nutrition from the Agricultural University of Norway, where he currently serves as a professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. His work focuses on cereal fiber, starch, feed structure, and digestive function in poultry. He’s published extensively and leads nutrition research across Europe.

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What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:13) Introduction
• (02:24) Particle size impact
• (03:33) Feeding behavior science
• (06:03) Beak capacity limits
• (08:48) Preference for fines
• (09:57) Size vs. nutrient delivery
• (11:26) 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. Oluyinka Olukosi from the University of Georgia shares key findings from his studies with reduced-protein diets in poultry diets. He explains the role of alternative protein sources, amino acid supplementation, and phase-specific feeding strategies in maintaining performance. Learn how these approaches impact both production and environmental outcomes. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Digestible amino acid formulation has allowed progressive crude protein reduction over time in poultry diets."

Meet the guest: Dr. Oluyinka Olukosi earned his Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from Purdue University after completing his degree at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. Now an Associate Professor at the University of Georgia, he researches ways to reduce nutrient excretion through strategic protein, amino acid, and enzyme use in poultry nutrition.

Click here to read the full research articles:

Assessment of two diet types in reduced-crude protein diets with or without phytase supplementation – implications on key phenotypic responses in 21-day-old broiler chickens

Growth performance and immune response of broilers during active Eimeria infection are modified by dietary inclusion of canola meal or corn-DDGS in reduced-protein corn-soybean meal diets

Phase-specific outcomes of arginine or branched-chain amino acids supplementation in low crude protein diets on performance, nutrient digestibility, and expression of tissue protein synthesis and degradation in broiler chickens infected with mixed Eimeria spp.

Growth, not digestibility, in chickens receiving reduced-protein diets is independent of non-specific amino-nitrogen sources when the essential-to-total-nitrogen ratio is constant and lower than 50%

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What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:01) Introduction
• (03:06) Reduced protein diets
• (05:06) Functional amino acids
• (07:23) Performance trade-offs
• (09:09) Starter vs finisher phase
• (12:18) Future formulation strategies
• (13:17) Closing thoughts

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

* Kerry

* Kemin

- Anitox

- 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. Cangliang Shen from West Virginia University explores how microbial contamination in poultry poses emerging challenges for food safety. He discusses the use of surrogate bacteria, thermal processing techniques, and sanitation protocols in real-world poultry feed operations. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We find that temperature up to 80°C can reach a three log reduction for the efficiency, which gives us hints for developing sanitation procedures and hazard plans for local industry facilities."

Meet the guest: Dr. Cangliang Shen earned his Ph.D. in Meat Science and Food Safety from Colorado State University, with earlier training in Veterinary Medicine. He is currently a Professor and Extension Specialist at West Virginia University, focusing on improving poultry meat and feed safety through microbiological research and hazard planning.

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
• (01:04) Introduction
• (03:27) Current research focus
• (04:38) Temperature thresholds effectiveness
• (06:50) Ingredient impact on safety
• (09:44) Hazard planning insights
• (13:11) Future research directions
• (14:55) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Kerry

- 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. Elijah Kiarie from the University of Guelph discusses the nutritional challenges of β-mannans in soybean meal and the value of β-mannanase supplementation in poultry diets. He breaks down the metabolic, immune, and microbiome effects of fiber and how enzyme technologies are advancing feed efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"β-mannanase supplementation helps neutralize β-mannans, improving nutrient absorption and reducing immune activation."

Meet the guest: Dr. Elijah Kiarie received his Ph.D. and postdoctoral training in monogastric nutrition from the University of Manitoba. He is a Professor at the University of Guelph and holds The McIntosh Family Professorship in Poultry Nutrition. His research bridges fundamental and applied science to advance poultry productivity through innovations in early-life nutrition, enzyme technologies, and sustainable feed strategies.

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What you'll learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:24) Introduction
• (03:51) Role of β-mannans
• (05:49) Immune system activation
• (07:25) β-mannanase supplementation
• (08:27) Enzyme technology role
• (09:20) Microbiota and fermentation
• (12:25) Closing thoughts

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

BASF

* Kerry

* Kemin

- Poultry Science Association

- Anitox

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: Poultry Nutrition Podcast Show

Instagram: Poultry Campus

LinkedIn: Poultry Campus