The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Theo van Kempen, an independent consultant with extensive swine nutrition and product development experience, explains how refeeding syndrome can affect newly weaned piglets. He discusses phosphate depletion, edema, intestinal health, oxygen delivery, and high-glycemic nursery diets, and presents nutritional strategies designed to reduce postweaning challenges. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

“Refeeding syndrome develops when feeding resumes after fasting, creating an acute phosphate deficiency as metabolism rapidly accelerates and cellular phosphate requirements increase.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Theo van Kempen holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition from the University of Illinois and has extensive experience in swine nutrition, digestive health, nutrient management, and feed product development. His career includes academic research at North Carolina State University and leadership positions in animal nutrition R&D. He currently works independently in product development, including nutraceutical and nutritional innovation. Listen to Dr. Theo van Kempen on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms!

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What you will learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(01:27) Introduction
(02:55) What refeeding syndrome is
(03:44) Fasting and phosphate loss
(04:31) High glycemic diets and insulin
(06:27) Health consequences
(10:12) Low glycemic nursery diets
(11:57) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin
* Fortiva

- DietForge
- Gilt
- 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. Emiline Sundman, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Iowa State University, discusses nutritional and environmental enrichment strategies for nursery pigs. She explains how enrichment influences feeding behavior, pig welfare, and early health indicators while addressing performance outcomes and commercial feasibility. Learn how feeder behavior could support earlier health detection. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"Enrichment can improve pig welfare even when it does not translate into better performance."

Meet the guest: Dr. Emiline Sundman is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Iowa State University. Her work examines animal welfare through behavioral and epidemiological approaches. She earned a PhD in Population Sciences in Animal Health and a master's degree in Animal Physiology with an ethology focus from Iowa State University. Her master's research explored biologically relevant environmental enrichment to improve swine livability.

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What you will learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(01:35) Introduction
(02:50) Enrichment study design
(05:18) Performance results
(06:35) Welfare implications
(08:21) Commercial feasibility
(10:09) Feeder behavior and health
(11:24) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin
* Fortiva

- DietForge
- Gilt
- Essential Ag Solutions
- Barentz

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Brian Kerr, Research Animal Scientist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, explains how lipid quality influences swine nutrition. He addresses key factors such as fatty acid profiles, free fatty acids, oxidation, digestibility, and their effects on feed intake and pig performance. Practical quality control strategies can help producers evaluate fat sources and maintain nutritional value. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research articles:
Aldehydes are key for assessing dietary lipid oxidation and subsequent effects on pig growth performance
Effects of peroxidized soybean oil on growth and energy digestibility in broilers

"Oxidized fat can lower feed intake through aldehydes that change odor and taste, ultimately reducing pig growth performance in commercial systems."

Meet the guest: Dr. Brian Kerr is a Research Animal Scientist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service. His work in swine and poultry nutrition examines lipid quality, fat digestibility, oxidation products, and the influence of feed ingredients on animal performance. Learn more from Dr. Brian Kerr on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(01:41) Introduction
(02:31) Lipid quality factors
(03:56) Free fatty acids
(06:41) Feed intake effects
(08:41) Quality control
(10:01) Future lipid research
(11:28) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin
* Fortiva

- Barentz
- DietForge
- Gilt
- Essential Ag Solutions

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Felix Njeri, PhD candidate at the University of Guelph, discusses alternative protein ingredients for nursery pigs. He explains why fiber, antinutritional factors, processing method, and protein structure affect digestibility, nutrient availability, and piglet performance. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"Cold pressing preserves the native protein structure, while heat and solvent extraction can reduce solubility and limit nutrient availability."

Meet the guest: Felix Njeri is a PhD candidate in Monogastric Nutrition at the University of Guelph. His work focuses on protein evaluation, feed formulation, feed enzymes, nutrient utilization, and strategies that improve protein and energy efficiency in poultry and swine systems while reducing nitrogen losses. Learn more from Felix Njeri 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
(02:33) Nursery insights
(04:32) Fiber effects
(06:58) Sunflower processing
(08:24) In vitro testing
(10:09) Validation steps
(12:40) Closing thoughts

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

* Fortiva
* Kemin

- Essential Ag Solutions
- Barentz
- DietForge
- Gilt

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Charlotte Lauridsen, Professor and Head of the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Aarhus University, discusses nutritional immunology in pigs. She explains how oxidative stress, inflammation, immune activation, gut microbiota, early feeding strategies, and biomarkers can help producers better understand and manage pig health. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Dietary strategies can help prevent oxidative stress and inflammation from getting out of control while supporting immune cell function."

Meet the guest: Dr. Charlotte Lauridsen is Professor and Head of the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Aarhus University. Her work focuses on nutritional immunology, including how fatty acids, vitamins, oxidative stress, inflammation, gut microbiota, and early-life nutrition influence sow and piglet health. She previously served as senior researcher, section leader, and professor at Aarhus University, and also held professor roles at Aalborg University. Learn more from Dr. Charlotte Lauridsen on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn: 
(00:00) Highlight
(01:36) Introduction
(02:10) Guest background
(03:14) Oxidative stress
(05:31) Inflammation control
(09:20) Immune diet tools
(11:55) Biomarker use
(14:40) Closing thoughts

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

* Kemin
* Fortiva

- DietForge
- Gilt
- Essential Ag Solutions
- Barentz

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Instagram: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Facebook: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
TikTok: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast