The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jane Wongchanla, a PhD candidate at the University of California, Davis, explains how L-glutamate and L-aspartate support gut integrity in weaned pigs. She explains their role as functional amino acids, their impact on gut integrity and metabolism, and their potential to reduce antibiotic reliance in swine production. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"Functional amino acid supplementation showed effects similar to antibiotics while changing immune and metabolic responses in weaned pigs."<...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Larry Rueff, Founder of Swine Veterinary Services, and Dr. Darryl D'Souza, Executive General Manager at SunPork Group, discuss immunocastration in boars and gilts. They explain performance gains, carcass quality, welfare benefits, sustainability, and the effects of global adoption on producer competitiveness. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Immunocastration can improve pig welfare, reduce feed demand, and support stronger production efficiency without leaving market value behind."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁s:

Dr. Larry Rueff is a veterinarian and the founder of Swine Veterinary Services, with more than...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Lucas Ferreira, a Research Assistant at the University of Minnesota, discusses trailer contamination risks at packing plants. He shares research on pathogen prevalence, seasonal trends, driver biosecurity practices, and factors contributing to contamination during transport. He highlights opportunities to strengthen biosecurity and reduce disease transmission across swine operations. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Trailer washing gaps allow harvest plant contamination to increase pathogen risk before equipment returns to farms or wash facilities."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Lucas Ferreira is a veterinarian from Brazil currently pursuing a mas...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Joaquim Segalés, Full Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and researcher at IRTA CReSA, explains Spain’s African swine fever situation. He discusses disease surveillance, containment efforts, biosecurity challenges, economic consequences, and the ongoing risk of spread. Listen now on all major platforms!

"African swine fever control can fall behind disease movement, but Spain’s outbreak remains relatively well concentrated for now."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Joaquim Segalés is a Full Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a researcher at IRTA CReSA in Spain. His w...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Lukas Schwarz, from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in Austria, discusses the potential of birch polypore mushrooms as a novel strategy to support post-weaning diarrhea management in pigs. He shares research findings on gut barrier function, microbiome changes, and alternatives to zinc oxide and antibiotics. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Birch polypore decoction changed tissue conductance within seconds and showed a strong gut closure response in post-weaning diarrhea research."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Lukas Schwarz is a Post-Doc at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vi...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jana Morgan, Senior Key Account Veterinarian at Boehringer Ingelheim, explains large-scale PCV2 surveillance across U.S. swine systems. She highlights dominant genotypes, consistency across regions, and the role of vaccination in herd stability. Dr. Morgan connects sequencing insights to practical disease control strategies. Listen now on all major platforms!

"If we can protect against the most recent PCV2 genotype, then those production parameters should continue to improve, leading to better outcomes for producers as they move forward."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Jana Morgan earned her BS and DVM from Io...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Amanda Reever, Veterinarian and Director of Research at Suidae Health & Production, explains how a collaborative sire line trial fairly compared boar lines under commercial conditions. She discusses collaboration with genetics companies, trial controls, data sharing, benchmarking, and how producers can use evidence to make better sire line decisions. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Genetics decisions should be backed by transparent trial data that shows whether comparisons were truly apples to apples and relevant to each farm system."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Amanda Reever is a Veterinarian and...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Maria Hakimi, PhD student at Iowa State University, explains the history of swine dysentery, the complexity of identifying Brachyspira species, and current insights into antimicrobial resistance and genomics. She highlights diagnostic advances and research gaps affecting disease understanding and control in modern swine systems. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research articles:

Genomic insights into the population structure, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae from diverse geographical regions

Antimicrobial susceptibility of U.S. porcine...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Edison Magalhaes from Iowa State University presents findings from a large-scale retrospective cohort study evaluating the causal impact of full-dose PRRS immunization on nursery mortality. Using production data and advanced analytical methods, he explains how confounding factors changed the interpretation of results and highlights practical lessons for veterinarians and producers making data-driven decisions. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"Raw production data can mislead immunization decisions when confounding factors hide the...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Brent Sexton, Associate Veterinarian at Suidae Health & Production, explains how communication shapes farm execution. He discusses veterinarian roles, client relationships, audience alignment, communication preferences, and practical AI use that supports clear messages without replacing professional judgment. Listen now on all major platforms!

"AI can support veterinary communication when professional judgment guides the message, verifies accuracy, and keeps the final response authentic."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Brent Sexton is an Associate Veterinarian at Suidae Health & Production, where he supports swine producers through herd health, disease prevention, and farm...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Angela Bosco-Lauth from Colorado State University discusses zoonotic disease risks affecting swine production, including Japanese encephalitis virus and H5N1 influenza. She explores topics including wildlife reservoirs, swine surveillance, immunization challenges, biosecurity strategies, and emerging global threats, such as African swine fever. Learn how prevention and surveillance remain critical for protecting swine health. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Japanese encephalitis virus remains a growing concern because mosquito transmission and wildlife reservoirs create multiple opportunities for future spillover into domestic swine populations.”

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Magdiel Soriano, Assistant Extension Professional in Swine at the University of Missouri, explains how TN visa professionals support U.S. swine operations. He shares survey insights on workforce education, skills, and motivations, highlighting strategies to improve training, integration, and retention. Learn how labor research can strengthen productivity and long-term workforce stability. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"The TN visa program allows trained professionals from Mexico and Canada to contribute to specialized...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Mariah Post, Research Assistant at Iowa State University, explains practical biosecurity strategies to reduce disease outbreaks in wean-to-finish systems. Key measures include managing indirect contact, improving workflow compliance, and focusing on simple, effective practices like designated parking and bench entry. The discussion highlights training, auditing, and resource allocation for better outcomes. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article!

"We found that having designated parking areas in the farms really decreases the odds...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Eduarda Braga, a veterinarian and researcher at Iowa State University, explores the genotypic landscape of PCV2 in the United States. She explains circulating genotypes, genetic diversity, capsid selection pressures, and implications for disease surveillance in swine production. Learn how these patterns support better health monitoring decisions. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to learn more (pages 18-19).

"PCV2 D is clearly the dominant genotype in recent years. So around 2014 onwards, it became the most prevalent and remains...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Joaquin Alvarez Norambuena, PhD student at the University of Minnesota, explains why influenza remains a constant challenge in swine production. He discusses virus evolution and practical biosecurity strategies, including hand sanitation, mask use, and personnel protocols. He also highlights implementation gaps on farms and long-term control limitations. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Influenza remains a challenging virus due to continuous mutation and reassortment events, which create persistent risks for swine populations across production systems."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Joaquin Alvarez Norambuena earned his veterinary degree from th...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Rienske Mortier, swine veterinarian at Prairie Livestock Veterinarians in Canada, shares how critical thinking and data analysis improve herd health decisions. She explains how to use farm data, avoid common analysis mistakes, and measure intervention results effectively. Dr. Mortier highlights the value of structured thinking in modern swine production. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Swine production generates a lot of useful data, which creates a real opportunity to understand what is happening in the herd and make better decisions over time."

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Guillermo Vidal, Full Professor at the University of Murcia, explains the lung gut axis and its role in swine health. He highlights how immune communication between systems influences disease outcomes, including respiratory and intestinal interactions. Dr. Vidal shows how probiotics and early-life interventions can affect health. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Probiotic administration through feed demonstrated measurable immune changes in lung tissue, including increased IgA cells and modulation of immune response against pathogens.”

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Guillermo Vidal earned a DVM and PhD and is a Full Professor at t...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Taylor Engle, veterinarian at Minton Veterinary Services, shares practical strategies to improve nursery pig start-ups. He explains how minimizing stressors, optimizing barn environments, and encouraging early feed intake can strengthen pig health and performance. Get key insights, including sanitation, preparation, and management practices that prevent disease challenges. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Minimizing stress during weaning, transportation, and placement creates a stronger foundation for pig health, reducing disease pressure and supporting consistent performance across the entire nursery phase."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Taylor Engle is a veterinarian a...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Ana Paula Silva, epidemiologist and research scientist at Iowa State University, explains how manure pumping and land application influence PRRS outbreak risk in grow finish systems. She shares findings on timing, proximity, and management strategies that affect disease spread. Learn how adjusting operational decisions can support better biosecurity outcomes. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Manure pumping events across grow finish systems showed a measurable increase in PRRS outbreak probability within five weeks, highlighting operational practices as critical disease drivers in commercial production environments."<...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Brian Richert from Purdue University and Dr. Russell Fent, Swine Technical Director at Ralco Nutrition, discuss research on phytonutrient feed additives in sow diets. They explore impacts on litter performance, birth weight distribution, gut health, and sow productivity. Results from a commercial sow farm study highlight improvements in piglet viability and sow reproductive efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Building knowledge around phytonutrients required years of research because limited scientific information existed initially, requiring systematic development of data before identifying effective livestock applications.” - Dr...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Mark Estienne, Professor and swine research physiologist at Virginia Tech, explains how a novel nitrogen management system improves barn air quality by reducing ammonia emissions. Lower ammonia levels enhanced nursery pig growth, feed intake, and early post-weaning performance, while supporting respiratory health and worker conditions. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Rooms using the treated system averaged about two parts per million ammonia compared with approximately six parts per million in control conditions."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Mark Estienne earned his degrees in Animal Science from Virginia Tech...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Emma Helm, Research Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech, explains how Lawsonia intracellularis infection alters the swine gut microbiota and microbial metabolism. She shares findings on microbial shifts, nucleotide synthesis, amino acid biosynthesis, and impacts on feed efficiency. Learn practical insights on biomarkers, nutrition strategies, and vaccination programs. Listen now on all major platforms!

"If a pig does not have any resident microbiota, classic colitis induced by Lawsonia intracellularis cannot develop, showing a required interaction with the resident microbiota."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Emma Helm is a Research Assistant Pr...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Brent Pepin from the National Pork Board explains how New World screwworm awareness fits into broader foreign animal disease preparedness. He outlines key clinical signs, response expectations, and the value of strong traceability systems. Learn practical steps producers can take to strengthen readiness across swine operations. Listen now on all major platforms.

"New World screwworm pressure highlights the need for continuous attention to threats that can influence livestock movement and overall agricultural stability."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Brent Pepin is a swine health veterinarian and researcher s...

In this special episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, marking International Women’s Day, Dr. Andreia Arruda, Associate Professor at The Ohio State University, discusses foreign animal disease preparedness in Puerto Rico. She explains outreach workshops, tabletop exercises, and biosecurity planning tailored to small swine farms. The conversation highlights disposal challenges, resource gaps, and the importance of collaboration to protect U.S. swine health. Listen now on all major platforms.

"Puerto Rico, as a U.S. territory located near Caribbean regions affected by African swine fever, holds critical importance in protecting national swine he...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Rodrigo Paiva, PhD candidate and anatomic pathology resident at Iowa State University, discusses a rare and unique case of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs. The conversation explores why this organism is a concern for swine health but not a food safety risk in U.S. commercial pork production. Dr. Paiva explains diagnostic findings, risk factors, and the importance of biosecurity. Listen now on all major platforms.

"There is zero concern in terms of pork safety in the United States, and attention should be directed...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Aaron Lower from Carthage Veterinary Service walks through the mechanism of diarrhea caused by E. coli and how this pathogen has changed over time. He explains how to teach barn teams to diagnose outbreaks earlier and why feed removal can be an effective treatment option during acute breaks. Learn how timely intervention can change outcomes in the nursery. Listen now on all major platforms.

"One of the first things that I think is really important is being sure that a team recognizes that they...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Sarah Boelke from the University of Minnesota Extension explains how to organize and conduct Certified Swine Sample Collector (CSSC) trainings. She outlines why CSSC programs are critical for foreign animal disease response and how non-veterinarians can support veterinarians during high-demand events. The discussion focuses on program standards, logistics, and hands-on execution at the farm level. Listen now on all major platforms.

"The first thing that people should do is look at the certified swine sample collector program standards, which are available on the Secure Pork...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Matheus Costa from the University of Saskatchewan explains the science behind ear necrosis in pigs. He breaks down how stress, behavior, and a specific infectious agent interact to drive disease development. The discussion highlights breakthrough research that finally reproduces ear necrosis under controlled conditions. Learn what this means for prevention, intervention strategies, and future immunization protocols. Listen now on all major platforms.

"We started seeing a lot of producers complaining about growth rates whenever a batch got affected by ear necrosis."

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jessica Risser from Elanco explains new research leveraging artificial intelligence to evaluate PRRSV strains using whole-genome data. She explains how challenge studies, host immune responses, and sequencing data inform a model that predicts how emerging strains may behave. Discover what this work means for PRRS management and future decision-making in swine health. Listen now on all major platforms.

"We've spent several years figuring out where artificial intelligence tools can help the industry better predict how emerging PRRSV strains may behave, providing faster insights for...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Ben Blair from the University of Illinois explains how AI is reshaping disease modeling, real-time monitoring, and data interpretation in swine health. He breaks down practical tools producers can use today, the challenges behind data quality, and how other industries guide the future of AI in livestock systems. Tune in now on all major platforms.

"AI is allowing computers to detect patterns that traditional analysis often misses, especially when large and complex datasets overwhelm manual interpretation."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Ben Blair is an Assistant Professor at the Uni...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Nicholas Lauterbach from Pharmgate Animal Health explains the impact of PRRSV and why it remains one of the most costly diseases for pork producers. The discussion focuses on the efficacy of a modified live immunization strategy during a 1-4-4 L1C PRRSV challenge, using a study designed to reflect real-world production conditions. Results highlight differences in viral circulation, growth performance, and mortality under lateral challenge pressure. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The lineage 1-4-4 L1C is one of, if not...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Abbey Canon, Director of Public Health and Communications at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, shares insights into developing and supporting early-career swine veterinarians. She discusses mentorship, education, and professional growth through the Early-Career Committee’s initiatives and USDA-funded training programs. Learn how building peer networks strengthens the next generation of swine veterinarians. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The Early-Career Committee is charged with identifying and then trying to provide resources for those early-career vets, roughly less than ten years post-graduation."

In this special New Year episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Thomas Gillespie from Performance Health P.C. explores how mentorship shapes growth, confidence, and decision-making in swine veterinary practice. He reflects on the experiences that guided his career, the value of thoughtful support, and the skills veterinarians can strengthen to help others succeed. Gain a perspective on building meaningful professional relationships in the year ahead. Listen now on all major platforms.

"Offering support, guidance, and steady feedback creates conditions that encourage growth and strengthen decision making during demanding stages of veterinary...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Elisa De Conti, research assistant at Iowa State University and member of the FieldEpi team, explains how E. coli detection is being improved under real field conditions. She discusses diagnostic workflows, virulence factor identification, and how field data integration enhances the understanding of pathogenic isolates. Discover how these advances strengthen swine health monitoring and decision-making. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Once you have the PCR done, we can see which virulence factors are present and understand if that isolate can cause disease."

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jishu Shi from Kansas State University explains the latest scientific outlook on African swine fever and why vaccine development remains a major global challenge. She clarifies the differences among swine fevers, the limits of current immunization protocols, and the diagnostic risks producers must watch for. Listen now on all major platforms!

"African swine fever and classical swine fever present similar clinical signs even though the viruses differ greatly in biology and long-term control implications."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Jishu Shi is a Professor and Director of the Center...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Marie-Louise Hansen from the University of Copenhagen discusses her research on umbilical outpouchings in pigs. She explains their prevalence, pathology, and the challenges they pose for animal welfare and production. Dr. Hansen also shares insights from intervention trials and future directions for research. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Umbilical outpouchings remain a significant challenge in swine herds because they are not only hernias but also abscesses, cysts, and tissue proliferations."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Marie-Louise Hansen is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen and a v...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Chris Rademacher from Iowa State University discusses integrated pest management and its impact on swine health. He explains how insect infestations can quickly damage carcass value, the role of surveillance and entomology, and how producers can prevent costly outbreaks. Learn practical steps for environmental management, chemical control, and proactive strategies. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Insect carcass infestations can cause up to 7 or $15 per carcass of damage when it's really bad."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Chris Rademacher serves as a Clinical Professor, ISU Swine Extension Veter...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Rick Hernandez from Purdue University discusses the challenges of transporting pigs and how microclimate conditions impact welfare and productivity. He shares research findings on heat stress, ventilation, and why standardized measures are needed to better monitor transport conditions. Learn about practical solutions and future technologies to safeguard swine health during transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

"If you look at the physiological indicators after transportation, you're going to find higher creatine kinase, higher blood lactate, higher skin temperature, and blood cortisol."

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Guilherme Cezar from Iowa State University shares insights from the Dynamic Pig Health Project, which tracks how multiple pathogens interact and impact pig performance. He explains how co-infections influence mortality rates, what diagnostic data reveals, and why pathogen timing plays a critical role in disease outcomes. Learn practical strategies to strengthen biosecurity and reduce losses. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Batches shedding higher levels of PCV2 and Lawsonia showed mortality above 15%, showing how co-infections sharply increase pig losses."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Guilherme Cezar earned his DVM i...

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Mariana Kikuti from the University of Minnesota explains how PRRSV variant classification is structured and how it supports more effective monitoring of disease outbreaks in swine herds. She shares how lineage and variant tracking improve virus identification and situational awareness. Discover how real-time data enables smarter decision-making in swine health. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We want to report monthly, close to real-time, what we're seeing in the field regarding circulation of different PRRSV variants."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Mariana Kikuti is an Assistant Professor at the Uni...