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

- 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, 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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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. John O'Doherty from University College Dublin continues to explain how preserved grain strategies can improve gut health, nutrient digestibility, microbial stability, and post-weaning performance in pigs. He discusses low-protein diets, maternal nutrition, feed consistency, and the future of biologically aligned swine feeding systems focused on sustainability and efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The future of swine nutrition lies not in adding more complexity, but in better alignment between the pig, the diet, and the system as a whole."

Meet the guest: Dr. John O'Doherty is a Full Professor of Monogastric Nutrition at University College Dublin, where his research focuses on microbiome-directed nutrition, gastrointestinal biology, microbial ecology, immune function, and sustainable livestock production. He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and holds 11 patents. Learn more from Dr. John O'Doherty on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:20) Introduction
• (02:26) Preserved grains
• (03:48) Low-protein diets
• (05:17) Maternal nutrition
• (06:55) Feed quality
• (08:39) Future nutrition
• (10:36) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Fortiva

- Barentz

- 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. John O'Doherty, Full Professor of Monogastric Nutrition at University College Dublin, explains how digestive health in pigs depends on nutrient flow, stomach function, and feed quality. He discusses weaning challenges and microbiome stability to improve gut health and performance. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Gut health is fundamentally a nutrient flow problem before it is a pathogen problem."

Meet the guest: Dr. John O'Doherty is a Full Professor of Monogastric Nutrition at University College Dublin, where his research focuses on microbiome-directed nutrition, gastrointestinal biology, microbial ecology, immune function, and sustainable livestock production. He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and holds 11 patents. Learn more from Dr. John O'Doherty on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:13) Introduction
• (02:14) Nutrient flow and gut health
• (03:49) Weaning digestive challenges
• (05:24) Replacing zinc oxide
• (07:19) Stomach function
• (09:21) Grain to gut concept
• (12:41) Closing thoughts

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

* Fortiva

* Kemin

- Barentz

- 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, we revisit a conversation with Dr. Marco de Mik, Senior Consultant at Schothorst Feed Research, who explores how to enhance gastrointestinal health in piglets for optimal growth. He shares his expertise on how feed formulation, stomach function, and gastrointestinal health directly impact the pig’s growth and development. Learn how to balance nutrient absorption, reduce diarrhea risks, and optimize feed performance. Tune in on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"The stomach is the first barrier to kill bacteria, and it’s crucial for storage, digestion, and antibacterial functions. All of these contribute to overall gastrointestinal health."

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.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:30) Introduction
• (02:51) Weaning challenges
• (03:59) Role of the stomach
• (06:40) Effective feed ingredients
• (09:19) Inert fiber in diets
• (10:39) Importance of fiber size
• (12:32) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

* Fortiva

- DietForge

- Barentz

- Essential Ag Solutions

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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Drs. David Rosero and Bart Borg discuss the introduction of a new online financial model that estimates the economic value of nutritional strategies to maximize growth potential and profit per pig. Feed4Profit, developed by Iowa State University in collaboration with U.S. Soy, integrates multiple user inputs, including diet formulation, predicted growth performance, and future pricing for ingredients and pigs.

“Users can design feeding programs with different ingredients, model the performance response, and compare the forecasted income and feed costs over a 12-month period.” David Rosero, PhD, Iowa State University

“Seasonal changes in pig performance is one example of how nutritional strategies can impact profitability. This tool can help nutritionists analyze the financial impact of adjusting these feeding programs, while still meeting minimum nutritional requirements.” Bart Borg, PhD, Passel Farms

Meet the guests:

Dr. David Rosero, PhD, Assistant Professor, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

David Rosero is an assistant professor of animal science at Iowa State University. His research program focuses on conducting applied research on swine nutrition and the practical application of smart farming. He previously served as the technical officer for The Hanor Company, overseeing nutrition, research, and innovation efforts.

Dr. Bart Borg, PhD, Vice President of Feed and Nutrition, Passel Farms, Ames, IA

Barton Borg, VP, Passel Farms, leads the feed manufacturing and nutrition team. He spent 14 years as director of feed operations for Murphy Brown LLC and was involved in nutrition, ingredient procurement, feed manufacturing, R&D activities, and ISO22000. Bart has held positions in the swine production and feed supply industries and manages a family farming business.

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Dr. Goodband & Dr. Mendoza: Listen to the Pigs - Performance Impact of Increasing Soybean Meal With and Without DDGS | Ep. 177

Dr. Bart Borg and Dr. Nathan Augspurger: A Preview of the Soybean Meal Application Symposium | Ep. 208

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:58) Introduction
• (02:07) Profit modeling
• (03:23) Economic integration
• (05:08) Tool availability
• (08:04) Feeding decisions
• (09:52) Tool applications
• (12:21) Closing thoughts

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

* United Soybean - Feed4Profit

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

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