In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Gustavo Lima, PhD candidate at Iowa State University, explains how soybean meal net energy is evaluated using growth assays and calorimetry. He discusses caloric efficiency, validation under commercial conditions, and differences between controlled and real-world environments. Gustavo also highlights practical implications for diet formulation and ingredient valuation. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Indirect calorimetry provides a precise estimation of ingredient energy, yet validation under production conditions remains essential for accurate application in real systems.”

Meet the guest: Gustavo Lima is a PhD candidate in Animal Science at Iowa State University, specializing in swine nutrition, ingredient evaluation, and energy metabolism. With over 15 years of experience across Latin America, his work focuses on soybean meal utilization, caloric efficiency, and applied research for commercial production systems.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:30) Introduction
• (01:48) Soybean energy focus
• (02:50) Net energy ratio
• (04:13) Caloric efficiency
• (05:38) Growth assays use
• (06:13) Commercial validation
• (07:11) Closing thoughts

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

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- Barentz

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- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Anja Strathe, Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen, explores nutritional strategies for sows during the transition from gestation to lactation. She explains physiological challenges, oxidative stress, and the role of fiber, amino acids, and mineral balance in improving farrowing outcomes and piglet survival. Learn how targeted nutrition supports sow performance and lactation success. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Dietary fiber inclusion during the transition period plays a crucial role in preventing constipation and supporting gut health, which directly influences farrowing outcomes."

Meet the guest: Dr. Anja Strathe is an Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in swine nutrition, physiology, and mathematical modeling. Her research focuses on nutrient utilization, sow performance, and environmental impacts in swine production systems. She has contributed extensively to understanding sow metabolism and lactation efficiency.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:09) Introduction
• (02:03) Transition importance
• (03:39) Piglet survival
• (04:29) Fiber role
• (05:20) Metabolic balance
• (06:51) Key nutrients
• (09:34) Closing thoughts

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

* Fortiva

* Kemin

- DietForge

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- Essential Ag Solutions

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this special re-run episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, we bring back our conversation with Dr. Luciana Rossi, Associate Professor at the University of Milan, who discusses alternatives to antibiotics in swine nutrition. She explores antimicrobial resistance, the role of functional ingredients, and the potential of biochar in improving gut health and sustainability. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Biochar, a vegetable charcoal produced by pyrolysis, has shown potential in reducing diarrhea incidence and improving gut health in weaning piglets."

Meet the guest: Dr. Luciana Rossi is an Associate Professor at the University of Milan, specializing in animal nutrition, biotechnology, and innovative feed strategies. Her work focuses on functional ingredients, edible vaccines, and alternatives to antimicrobials to improve swine health and sustainability. Her research advances nutritional solutions that reduce disease risk and environmental impact.

Click here to read the full research article!

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:23) Introduction
• (03:14) Alternatives to antibiotics
• (03:41) Antimicrobial resistance concerns
• (05:31) Functional feed ingredients
• (07:50) Biochar in swine diets
• (11:02) Sustainability in swine nutrition
• (12:53) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Fortiva

- Essential Ag Solutions

- DietForge

- Barentz

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Amy Petry from the University of Missouri discusses how dietary fiber and enzyme technologies influence energy utilization in swine diets. She explains the complexity of fiber, the role of xylanase in reducing digesta viscosity and improving nutrient accessibility, and why production context matters across growth and sow systems. Dr. Petry also covers practical considerations for balancing feed efficiency, diet cost, and performance expectations. Listen now on all major platforms.

"Enzyme objectives must be defined clearly, whether targeting digestibility, feed efficiency, or energy utilization."

Meet the guest: Dr. Amy Petry is an Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri with training in physiology, biochemistry, statistics, and swine nutrition. She earned her Ph.D. from Iowa State University. Her research focuses on improving fiber utilization, understanding diet and physiology interactions, and optimizing energy and nutrient supply in swine systems.

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Jordyn Studer: Choline Chloride in Pigs and Alternatives | Ep. 173

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:29) Introduction
• (02:22) Fiber complexity
• (03:34) Fiber trade-offs
• (04:59) Enzyme considerations
• (06:39) Alternative options
• (07:49) Future research
• (09:19) Closing thoughts

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

- Barentz

* Kemin

* Fortiva

- Essential Ag Solutions

- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Katelyn Gaffield from Kansas State University and graduate researcher Sierra Collier discuss a nationwide survey evaluating soybean meal quality and consistency. They share key findings on crude protein stability, variation in fat content, trypsin inhibitor levels, and implications for swine diet formulation. The discussion highlights opportunities for improved communication between producers and processors. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Trypsin inhibitor levels ranged widely from very low values to levels that could negatively impact nursery pig performance when included in diets at higher concentrations.” - Dr. Katelyn Gaffield

Meet the guests:

Dr. Katelyn Gaffield is an Assistant Research Professor in Swine Nutrition at Kansas State University. Her work focuses on soybean meal quality, nutrient consistency, and large scale ingredient evaluation to support precise diet formulation and improve swine production efficiency.

Sierra Collier is a graduate researcher at Kansas State University specializing in soybean meal evaluation and trypsin inhibitor effects in nursery pigs. Her research supports improved ingredient quality assessment and practical applications for swine nutrition programs.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:02) Introduction
• (02:22) Survey overview
• (03:26) Sample scale
• (04:20) Nutrient consistency
• (04:45) Fat variation
• (05:13) Trypsin levels
• (07:15) Closing thoughts

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

* Fortiva

* Kemin

- 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. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.

Click here to read the full research article!

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:11) Introduction
• (01:49) Research focus
• (02:37) Sweetener overview
• (03:51) Trial design
• (05:39) Mechanisms explained
• (07:25) Diarrhea reduction
• (10:03) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Fortiva

- Essential Ag Solutions

- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Urbano Ruiz, Professor at the University of São Paulo, explains how amino acid and phosphorus digestibility change as pigs grow. He shares research showing major differences across production phases and highlights the impact of fiber and physiology on nutrient use. Learn how age specific nutrient matrices can improve performance and sustainability. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Adopting different nutrient matrices for pigs according to age can be very important for swine production efficiency.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Urbano Ruiz is a Professor at Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Brazil. For over 15 years, his research has focused on swine nutrition, including nutrient digestibility, alternative ingredients, feed additives, and sustainable pig production. His work evaluates amino acids, phosphorus, fiber, and energy utilization across growth stages.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:58) Introduction
• (02:14) Age digestibility changes
• (03:09) Research trial design
• (04:31) Amino acids results
• (06:12) Fiber effects explained
• (09:51) Practical implications
• (12:48) Closing thoughts

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

* Fortiva

* Kemin

- 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. Young Dal Jang, Assistant Professor of Non Ruminant Animal Nutrition at the University of Georgia, explains how early life nutrition and creep feeding influence weaning transition and lifetime performance. He discusses milk yield limits, diet complexity, soybean meal risks, and the role of probiotics in gut development and inflammation control. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Increasing weaning weight and supporting gut microbiota development at weaning helps piglets recover faster from stress and return to normal growth patterns.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Young Dal Jang is an Assistant Professor of Non Ruminant Animal Nutrition at the University of Georgia. He earned his PhD in Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry from Seoul National University and has extensive research experience in young pig and sow nutrition. His work focuses on early life nutrition, creep feeding, and post weaning performance.

Click here to read the full research article!

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:12) Introduction
• (02:23) Early nutrition impact
• (04:21) Creep feeding basics
• (06:53) When creep works
• (09:38) Diet complexity effects
• (11:46) Soybean meal risks
• (13:12) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Fortiva

- Essential Ag Solutions

- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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