In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sarah Pearce from the USDA explores the importance of intestinal integrity in swine and its impact on animal health and performance. She explains how stressors, such as weaning and heat, can impair gut function and highlights nutritional strategies that help maintain barrier function. Learn practical insights into feed additives and preventative gut health solutions. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Intestinal integrity refers to a physical and biochemical barrier that prevents the harmful passage of molecules."

Meet the guest: Dr. Sarah Pearce is a Research Animal Physiologist at the USDA with a Ph.D. and M.S. in Nutritional Sciences from Iowa State University, and a B.S. from the University of Arizona. Her research focuses on gastrointestinal physiology, particularly exploring non-antibiotic nutritional strategies to maintain intestinal health under stress.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:29) Introduction
• (02:21) Intestinal integrity defined
• (03:34) Gut's role in health
• (04:36) Swine stressor impacts
• (05:51) Nutritional support options
• (07:26) Biotics and butyrate
• (07:59) Closing thoughts

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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. John Patience, Professor Emeritus of Animal Science at Iowa State University, continues to explore the latest trends in swine nutrition, focusing on mortality reduction, fiber's role in gut health, and protein digestibility. Dr. Patience highlights key areas of research that are shaping the future of pig health and performance, with a special emphasis on practical applications. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We’re seeing more attention paid to mortality, which is crucial for improving performance and reducing costs in pig farming."

Meet the guest: Dr. John Patience is Professor Emeritus of Animal Science at Iowa State University, with decades of experience in swine nutrition and research. His career spans roles in extension, industry, and research management, including directing the Prairie Swine Centre in Canada. Dr. Patience’s work has advanced practical solutions for swine nutrition, particularly in energy supply, dietary fiber, and improving pig management.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:38) Introduction
• (02:05) Trends in mortality reduction
• (01:45) Mortality tracking
• (05:53) Role of fiber in health
• (07:11) Evaluating protein digestibility
• (09:06) Negative trends
• (10:08) Closing thoughts

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

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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. John Patience, Professor Emeritus of Animal Science at Iowa State University, discusses significant trends in swine nutrition and management over the last decade. From improvements in housing, nutrition, and genetics to addressing ongoing challenges in disease control, Dr. Patience provides valuable insights into the evolution of the swine industry. Discover how swine nutrition has transformed and the future directions that experts should keep an eye on. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Birth weight improvements are key because 50% of mortality occurs in piglets weighing less than 1.75 pounds."

Meet the guest: Dr. John Patience is Professor Emeritus of Animal Science at Iowa State University, with decades of experience in swine nutrition and research. His career spans roles in extension, industry, and research management, including directing the Prairie Swine Centre in Canada. Dr. Patience’s work has advanced practical solutions for swine nutrition, particularly in energy supply, dietary fiber, and improving pig management.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:27) Introduction
• (01:10) Guest background
• (02:38) Managing weaning pigs
• (04:12) Improving piglet birthweight
• (06:46) Impact of weaning age
• (07:30) Feed intake post-weaning
• (09:17) Closing thoughts

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

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- Keys Manufacturing

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- Fortiva

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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Natalie Diether from Dalhousie University discusses the complex gut microbiome shifts in pigs during weaning. She explains how stress, diet, and microbial function interact, and what producers should know when selecting feed additives. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Stress impairs gut barrier function, increasing permeability and inflammation, making pigs more vulnerable post-weaning."

Meet the guest: Dr. Natalie Diether is an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University, specializing in gut microbiome research. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Animal Sciences from the University of Alberta, where she used multi-omics tools to study the interaction between diet, gut microbes, and host metabolism. Her work focuses on nutritional strategies that improve pig health during vulnerable periods like weaning.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:19) Introduction
• (02:14) Microbial shifts post-weaning
• (04:53) Choosing functional additives
• (05:46) Matching additive to function
• (07:54) Understanding microbiome needs
• (09:24) Microbial shifts explained
• (10:38) Closing thoughts

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

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- Barentz

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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Gabi Doughan from Iowa State University explores the overlooked yet critical role of water quality in swine production. She breaks down the science behind biofilms, water line disinfection strategies, and how pathogens can persist in poorly maintained systems. Learn practical steps for monitoring and improving water systems to protect pig health and performance. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Pigs actually will consume 2 to 2 and a half times their amount of water versus their feed by volume."

Meet the guest: Dr. Gabi Doughan is a swine veterinarian and Technical Project Specialist at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She holds a DVM, a Master’s in Veterinary Preventative Medicine, and a PhD in Population Sciences in Animal Health, all from Iowa State. Her research focuses on water biosecurity, water quality, and biofilm management in swine production systems

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Dillon Mellick: Nutrition in Pathogen Control | Ep. 148

Dr. Andrew Yersin: Probiotics vs Antibiotics | Ep. 176

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:25) Introduction
• (01:50) Water quality
• (03:06) Monitoring methods
• (04:00) Water’s impact on health
• (05:57) Disinfection steps
• (07:12) Treating sow farms
• (10:21) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin

- Fortiva

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- 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. Sung Woo Kim from NC State University explains how the β-mannanase enzyme functions in swine diets. He breaks down the science behind non-starch polysaccharides, their impact on digestibility, and how enzyme supplementation supports gut health and performance. Learn when and how to use mannanase effectively. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Mannanase reduces viscosity by turning polysaccharides into oligosaccharides, removing both thickness and allergenic compounds from mannan in swine diets."

Meet the guest: Dr. Sung Woo Kim earned his M.S. in Animal Nutrition and B.S. in Animal Sciences from Seoul National University and his Ph.D. and postdoctoral from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Now a WNR Distinguished Professor at North Carolina State University, his work centers on improving swine nutrition through enzyme technologies and gut health.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:19) Introduction
• (02:36) Mannanase enzyme function
• (02:59) Digestibility mechanism
• (05:03) Intestinal health benefits
• (06:19) Nutrient utilization strategy
• (08:29) Feed formulation use
• (10:08) Closing thoughts

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

BASF

* Kemin

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- Fortiva

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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Young Dal Jang from the University of Georgia explores the effects of high-dose probiotics on nursery pigs. Dr. Jang discusses his research on the optimal levels of Bacillus subtilis, emphasizing the balance between efficacy and cost in enhancing swine health and growth performance. Don’t miss the chance to revisit this conversation and gain practical tips and fresh insights on improving swine nutrition with probiotics. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"Adding ten times higher doses of probiotics did not show any beneficial effect compared to the recommended level."

Meet the guest: Dr. Young Dal Jang, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia, specializes in non-ruminant nutrition with a focus on swine. He earned his PhD in Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry from Seoul National University. Dr. Jang has extensive experience in swine nutrition research, having served as a postdoctoral researcher and research associate at the University of Kentucky. Previously, he was an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls for six years.

Click here to read the full research article!

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:00) Introduction
• (02:22) Research on high-dose probiotics
• (03:29) Probiotics' on post-weaning diarrhea
• (05:10) Growth performance study
• (08:23) Recommended levels vs. high doses
• (10:13) Next steps in probiotic research
• (12:25) Closing thoughts

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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Regiane Santos from Schothorst Feed Research discusses the growing concern of mycotoxins in pig diets and their varying impact based on climate and pig growth phases. She explains how certain emerging mycotoxins are being overlooked and how they can impair gut health and development. Learn what to monitor, how to adapt your strategy, and why early-stage pigs are most vulnerable. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We’re seeing feed intake drop and poor intestinal development even at what we consider safe levels of enniatins."

Meet the guest: Dr. Regiane Santos earned her Ph.D. in Animal Reproduction from the State University of Ceará and completed post-doctoral studies in Toxicology and Reproductive Biology at Utrecht University. She is currently a Senior Researcher and Innovation Coordinator at Schothorst Feed Research. Her expertise spans reproductive physiology and the effects of toxins in animal systems, with a focus on swine nutrition.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:01) Introduction
• (01:31) Key mycotoxins in pigs
• (02:49) Weaning sensitivity
• (05:11) DON’s effects
• (06:29) Lesser-known toxins
• (08:24) Mycotoxin-related symptoms
• (10:27) Closing thoughts

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𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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