In this episode, Dr. Robert Knox from the University of Illinois breaks down key factors impacting fertility in the breeding herd. He explains how estrus expression in weaned sows drives herd performance, why conception failures occur even in well-managed systems, and what litter size trends mean for pigs born alive. Dr. Knox also discusses fixed time AI, gilt development targets, and practical ways producers can reduce variation and improve reproductive consistency. Listen now on all major platforms.

"In a perfect world, non-pregnant females would return to estrus 21 days after breeding, but in reality, only about half express estrus, creating a significant challenge."

Meet the guest: Dr. Robert Knox is a professor and swine extension specialist in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois. His work focuses on applied swine reproductive management, fertility diagnostics, estrus behavior, and reproductive efficiency in commercial systems. Dr. Knox supports producers worldwide by translating research into practical solutions for swine production.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:45) Introduction
• (02:33) Guest background
• (04:27) Estrus behavior
• (07:41) Fertility failures
• (25:45) Fixed time AI
• (33:16) Data analysis
• (35:43) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* dsm-firmenich

* Adisseo

- DietForge

- SunHy

- Cargill

- BinSentry

- Biofractal

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this special episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, marking World Veterinary Day, Dr. Joseph Connor, founder of Carthage Veterinary Service, discusses the industry’s vision for PRRS eradication in the US swine herd. Drawing on lessons from the pseudorabies eradication program, he outlines the role of biosecurity, regionalization, surveillance, pig movement management, and stakeholder alignment in making PRRS elimination a reality. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Alignment among producers, veterinarians, and regulators is the non-negotiable foundation of any effective disease eradication program.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Joseph F. Connor is the founder of Carthage Veterinary Service in Carthage, Illinois. With over 45 years in swine veterinary consulting, he has served as vice president of health services for PIC, mentored generations of swine veterinarians, and contributed to eradication program development across the US swine herd. He holds a DVM from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in Production Medicine from the University of Minnesota.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:30) Introduction
• (04:40) PRRS current status
• (09:17) Pseudorabies eradication
• (12:52) Eradication framework
• (15:34) Pig movement challenges
• (20:53) Grow-finish biosecurity
• (28:15) Final questions

The Swine it Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Adisseo

* dsm-firmenich

- Cargill

- Biofractal

- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Mary Lisa Kasakamu, Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, discusses how thermal comfort and heat stress impact sow welfare in group housing systems. She breaks down the role of rubber mats, floor temperature, sow behavior, and practical challenges such as lameness and pen hygiene. Listen now on all major platforms.

“Rubber mats can reduce lameness, but the question is whether they also contribute to heat stress in group housed sows.”

Meet the guest: Mary Lisa Kasakamu is a PhD student and Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, focusing on animal health, welfare, and precision animal management in swine systems. Her research examines thermal comfort, heat stress, and housing design impacts on sow behavior and well being.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:50) Introduction
• (06:35) Thermal comfort focus
• (09:10) Research insights
• (13:19) Rubber mats impact
• (14:17) Hygiene challenges
• (16:07) Lameness evaluation
• (21:47) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* dsm-firmenich

* Adisseo

- Cargill

- Biofractal

- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Dr. Francisco Domingues, Global Head of Swine Nutrition and Health at Anitox, explains how feed can act as a fomite for major swine pathogens. He reviews evidence on PED, ASF, PRRS, and Seneca virus, and outlines practical strategies to strengthen feed biosecurity, validate mitigation tools, and standardize protocols across systems. Learn how to reduce risk and protect herd stability. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Feed represents a daily and high volume exposure route, increasing the probability of pathogen introduction when preventive controls are inconsistent or insufficient.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Francisco Domingues is a veterinarian with an MSc and PhD in swine nutrition and more than twenty years of global experience in technical services, feed mill operations, farm management, and biosecurity. As Global Head of Swine Nutrition and Health at Anitox, he leads R&D and technical support initiatives focused on strengthening swine production systems.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:29) Introduction
• (03:09) Feed as vector
• (05:03) Key viral threats
• (10:23) Feed hygiene
• (17:06) Implementation challenges
• (17:35) Risk based ROI
• (22:21) Final Questions

The Swine it Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

Anitox

* Adisseo

- dsm-firmenich

- Cargill

- Biofractal

- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine it Podcast Show

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Stephen Hall, pig production consultant and data analyst, explains the One-Pig Analysis within the 3E lifecycle and linear productivity frameworks. He outlines why linear productivity matters, where science and technology misalign with commercial needs, and how alignment should begin at farm level. Stephen also explores how far linear productivity extends across the lifecycle. Listen now on all major platforms.

"Lifecycle analysis turns existing farm data into insight that directly informs better husbandry decisions."

Meet the guest: Stephen Hall is a pig production consultant, journalist, and international data analyst with over five decades of experience across farm production, genetics, and performance recording. As the developer of the 3E One-Pig Analysis and Gilt Watch Together, his work focuses on precision husbandry, lifecycle analysis, and sustainable productivity.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:39) Introduction
• (05:24) 3E One-Pig Analysis
• (07:29) Parity retention
• (17:19) Precision economics
• (19:49) Gilt development
• (25:40) Science alignment
• (34:48) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Adisseo

- DietForge

- dsm-firmenich

- Cargill

- Biofractal

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Dr. Declan Schroeder, Professor of Virology at the University of Minnesota, explains how viability PCR improves virus detection in swine systems. He discusses how this molecular approach distinguishes intact virus particles from residual genetic material, helping evaluate biosecurity risks, feed contamination, and mitigation strategies. Dr. Schroeder also highlights how the method supports better decision-making in disease prevention. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Quantitative PCR methods allow detection down to extremely low genomic copy numbers, making viability PCR one of the most sensitive virus detection approaches available."

Meet the guest: Dr. Declan Schroeder is a Professor of Virology in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine at the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on molecular virology, genomics, and virus detection across animal and environmental systems, including swine health challenges such as PRRSV, PEDV, and influenza. His work explores advanced diagnostic tools that improve virus detection and biosecurity decision-making in production systems.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:25) Introduction
• (04:25) Viability PCR explained
• (13:06) Sample handling importance
• (15:46) Biosecurity applications
• (21:32) Feed matrix effects
• (24:59) Detection sensitivity
• (36:33) Final Questions

The Swine it Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

- dsm-firmenich

* Adisseo

* Vaxxinova

- DietForge

- AB Vista

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Bill Cumbie, Founder and CEO of Pancopia and an environmental engineer, explains how biological water treatment can turn swine wastewater into cleaner water and stronger farm margins. Drawing from NASA-funded research and municipal wastewater expertise, he shares how FreshFlush reduces ammonia, improves barn air quality, and increases pork production. Discover how waste can become a resource. Listen now on all major platforms!

Erratum: Mortality was reduced by 31%, not 36% as mentioned.

“If a farmer cannot afford to install a system that cleans the environment without risking bankruptcy, implementation will never occur regardless of environmental benefit.”

Meet the guest: Bill Cumbie, P.E., is the Founder and CEO of Pancopia, where he develops biological nutrient and water systems for livestock operations. With over four decades of experience in environmental engineering, including municipal wastewater leadership and NASA-funded research, his work focuses on ammonia reduction, nitrogen recovery, and improving swine production efficiency.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:04) Introduction
• (04:16) Animal wastewater opportunity
• (05:15) Thin farm margins
• (06:33) Mortality reduction data
• (09:06) Lagoon ammonia challenge
• (11:23) Funding and scale-up
• (16:22) Final Questions

The Swine it Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

Pancopia™

* Vaxxinova

* Adisseo

- dsm-firmenich

- DietForge

- AB Vista

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Dr. Pedro Medel, Director at Innovabiotics, discusses how organic acids and monoglycerides support swine production as systems move away from antibiotics and zinc oxide. He explains dose strategies, hygiene control across the full feed chain, and how combining additives improves gut health and bacterial control. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Organic acids are able to maintain the hygiene in all the points of the pork production, not only in one specific point.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Pedro Medel holds a PhD in Animal Nutrition from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and serves as Director at Innovabiotics in Spain. With extensive experience in feed additives, experimental research, and regulatory projects in the European Union, his work focuses on swine nutrition, gut health, and feed hygiene strategies.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:28) Introduction
• (03:34) Organic acids' role
• (05:51) Dose differences
• (10:08) Full chain hygiene
• (12:11) Monoglycerides explained
• (15:17) Implementation strategy
• (24:25) Final Questions

The Swine it Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

Eastman

* Adisseo

* Vaxxinova

- dsm-firmenich

- DietForge

- AB Vista

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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