In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Ashley DeDecker, Senior Director of Research and Extension at Smithfield Hog Production, explores the critical role of day one pig care in improving survival and performance. She shares insights on environmental management, drying strategies, and split suckling practices. Discover what truly matters for piglet success and where to focus your time and labor. Listen now on all major platforms!"When farrowing crates are optimal, drying piglets is considered an advanced care option."Meet the guest: Dr. Ashley DeDecker, Senior Director of Research and Extension at Smithfield, brings over 13 years of expertise in swine production research. She holds a Ph.D. in Swine Behavior and Stress Physiology from the University of Illinois and a B.S. in Animal Science from Southern Illinois University. Her work focuses on improving swine behavior, welfare, and production practices at Smithfield.Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:09) Introduction(02:23) Day one pig care(03:48) Drying techniques(04:42) Farrowing crate(07:19) Split suckling(10:09) Sow colostrum production(14:27) Closing thoughtsThe Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:* Fortiva- Essential Ag Solutions- Keys Manufacturing- Kemin𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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Dr. Roman Moreno: Fat Use in Swine Diets | Ep. 194
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Roman Moreno, nutritionist at Seaboard Foods, shares his perspective on managing summer diets for pigs under heat stress. He explains how energy density, fat inclusion, and feed form strategies can influence growth performance and market outcomes. The conversation also covers ingredient cost challenges and the role of dietary additives in hot weather. Listen now on all major platforms!"When pigs get heat stress, they eat less than they should be eating to be productive."Meet the guest: Dr. Roman Moreno earned his Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln after completing graduate studies in ruminant nutrition in Mexico. With more than a decade of experience as a nutritionist at Seaboard Foods, he focuses on practical feeding strategies that optimize pig performance under commercial conditions. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!Dr. Andrew Yersin: Probiotics vs Antibiotics | Ep. 176Dr. Gabi Doughan: Why Water Quality Matters | Ep. 183What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:21) Introduction(03:20) Summer diet importance(05:04) Energy intake strategies(07:17) Cost of fat(10:17) Balancing diet costs(14:23) Additives in diets(15:41) Closing thoughtsThe Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: Kemin* Fortiva- Essential Ag Solutions- Keys Manufacturing𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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Dr. Diego Lopez: Cheese Coproduct in Swine Nutrition | Ep. 193
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Diego Lopez from Kansas State University explores the nutritional potential of a cheese coproduct in swine diets. He explains its amino acid digestibility, fat content, and fiber contribution, along with practical considerations such as cost and formulation accuracy. Discover how this ingredient may support pig performance and nutrition strategies. Listen now on all major platforms!"The cheese coproduct we used in our study is mainly cheese and soybean meal, which ensures great amino acid digestibility."Meet the guest: Dr. Diego Lopez, Assistant Professor of Feed Science at Kansas State University, focuses on feed technology and quality with an emphasis on swine nutrition. Originally from Colombia, he earned his B.S. in Animal Science at the National University of Colombia, an M.S. in Swine Nutrition at the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. in Feed Science at Kansas State University. Click here to read the full research article!Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:03) Introduction(02:37) Cheese coproduct(03:53) Digestibility and energy(04:38) Inclusion levels(05:38) Cost considerations(06:17) Practical challenges(08:31) Closing thoughtsThe Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: Keys Manufacturing* Fortiva- Kemin- Essential Ag Solutions𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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Dr. Sam Gerrard: Nutrient Utilization During an Immune Challenge | Ep. 192
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sam Gerrard, postdoctoral fellow at Virginia Tech, explores how immune challenges affect swine physiology and nutrient utilization. He explains key differences in metabolic responses to bacterial and viral infections and how feeding strategies can improve outcomes. Learn how better nutrition during illness can reduce production losses and enhance welfare. Listen now on all major platforms!"The immune system diverts nutrients from lean tissue accretion toward defense, significantly altering metabolic priorities during immune challenges."Meet the guest: Dr. Sam Gerrard holds a DVM and PhD in Nutritional Physiology, and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Virginia Tech’s Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. His research focuses on how immune challenges affect nutrient partitioning in swine.Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:11) Introduction(03:09) Swine immune response(04:52) Feed intake impact(06:00) Pair-feeding explained(07:07) Different responses(10:39) Nutritional interventions(12:41) Closing thoughtsThe Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:* Fortiva* Kemin- Essential Ag Solutions- Keys Manufacturing𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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Dr. Young Dal Jang: Piglet Biomarkers and Nutrition - Part 2 | Ep. 191
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Young Dal Jang from the University of Georgia continues to discuss the link between weaning weight and biomarkers in piglets. He explains how oxidative stress and gut health indicators impact performance and suggests targeted nutritional strategies to support low-weaning-weight pigs. Listen now on all major platforms!"Low weaning weight pigs had higher diamine oxidase and lactate levels, indicating issues in gut barrier function."Meet the guest: Dr. Young Dal Jang is an Assistant Professor of Non-Ruminant Nutrition at the University of Georgia. With a Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry from Seoul National University, his expertise centers on swine nutrition, particularly young pig and sow development. He previously held academic roles at the University of Kentucky and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.Click here to read the full research article!Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight(01:32) Introduction(02:25) Biomarkers and pig health(03:15) Oxidative stress markers(04:17) Biomarker analysis methods(06:31) Nutritional support strategies(09:56) Closing thoughtsThe Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:* Kemin* Fortiva- Keys Manufacturing- Essential Ag Solutions𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastInstagram: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt PodcastLinkedIn: The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Learn swine nutrition from the brightest minds of the global swine industry – in 9 minutes.If you are a swine nutritionist who wants to stay up to date with all that is working in the industry, but doesn’t know how to start, doesn’t have the time, or feel most courses out there don’t deliver, then you have come to the right place.The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is specially designed by and for professionals just like yourself. With it, you can effortlessly have access to the thoughts of the most brilliant minds in our industry – all while going about your routine and saving your time.
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