The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Birger Svihus from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences breaks down how particle size affects broiler feeding behavior. He shares insights into how birds select feed particles, their preferences for fines, and the implications for feed formulation. Find out how a closer look at pecking patterns could change the way we think about...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Oluyinka Olukosi from the University of Georgia shares key findings from his studies with reduced-protein diets in poultry diets. He explains the role of alternative protein sources, amino acid supplementation, and phase-specific feeding strategies in maintaining performance. Learn how these approaches impact both production and envir...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Cangliang Shen from West Virginia University explores how microbial contamination in poultry poses emerging challenges for food safety. He discusses the use of surrogate bacteria, thermal processing techniques, and sanitation protocols in real-world poultry feed operations. Listen now on all major platforms! "We find that temperat...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Elijah Kiarie from the University of Guelph discusses the nutritional challenges of β-mannans in soybean meal and the value of β-mannanase supplementation in poultry diets. He breaks down the metabolic, immune, and microbiome effects of fiber and how enzyme technologies are advancing feed efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Alastair Thomas, Global Head Poultry Nutrition & Health at Anitox, shares expert insight on early-life bird health, pathogen behavior, and microbiome management. He explains why understanding microbial balance is essential in optimizing bird performance, especially during the critical first week. Learn practical ways to prevent op...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Lisa Bielke from North Carolina State University talks about how probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenics are changing the way we think about poultry health. She shares how tools like omics and machine learning are helping us better understand the gut microbiome, vertical transmission, and how birds recover from disease. Get a closer l...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Mireille Arguelles-Ramos from Clemson University explores the potential of sorghum as a viable alternative to corn in poultry diets. She explains the nutritional benefits, performance implications, and the importance of selecting low-tannin cultivars. Learn how proper formulation can support ingredients replacement without compromisin...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Milan Sharma from Cornell University shares research on nutritional interventions to improve egg production in laying hens challenged with coccidiosis. He also discusses new findings on grape pomace as a potential bioactive feed ingredient for broilers. Learn how alternative feed sources could shape the future of poultry health and ho...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sara Llamas-Moya from Kerry shares how enzyme innovation transforms poultry nutrition. She explains end-to-end enzyme development, sustainability through proteases, and how enzyme specificity affects feed formulation. Listen now on all major platforms! "Proteases support better products, better processes, and better planet outcome...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Natalie Morgan from Curtin University explains why fiber is often the overlooked component in poultry diets and why it deserves more attention. She explains how soluble and insoluble fibers impact gut health, nutrient absorption, and enzyme efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms! "Soluble fiber ferments and fuels beneficial...

This episode marks a special milestone for The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast as we celebrate our 100th episode! Dr. John Boney from Penn State University shares key findings on nutrient segregation in commercial poultry houses. He outlines effective feed sampling strategies, the role of feed line design, and how feed pellet quality affects nutrient uniformity. Learn how commercial conditions...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Jordyn Studer, Technical Service Specialist at Barentz, explains the crucial role of choline in poultry diets. She outlines its key metabolic pathways, common dietary sources, and how new alternatives are reshaping nutritional strategies. Discover how these innovations enhance feed efficiency, handling, and performance outcomes. Listen no...

In this special episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, as we celebrate World Veterinary Day this month, we welcome Dr. Nelly Cribillero, a veterinarian specializing in poultry nutrition. Dr. Cribillero shares her insights on the use of almond hulls in poultry diets, discussing their impact on performance, gut health, and inflammation. Tune in to learn more about her groundbreaking res...

In this special rerun episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, we revisit our conversation with Dr. Michael Rothrock Jr., from USDA-ARS, who discusses his work in pre-harvest food safety and its impact on poultry systems. He shares insights into microbial ecology, soy-free diets, and the critical role of the microbiome in food safety and bird health. Gain valuable knowledge on how feed...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Chance Williams from Wayne-Sanderson Farms shares a practical look into how integrators conduct nutrition research and apply findings to real-world production. He discusses mini pen trials, research collaborations, and decision-making frameworks that drive nutritional strategies. Listen now on all major platforms! "The mini pens a...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Austin Jasek, Poultry Account Manager at Zinpro Corporation, breaks down how trace minerals impact broiler performance, yield, and overall profitability. Learn how optimizing zinc and other minerals can improve performance, enhance meat quality, and reduce environmental impact. Don’t miss it—tune in now on all major platforms! "We...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Shijina Rajan, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Auburn University, explores the role of essential oils in post-harvest food safety. She breaks down their antimicrobial effects against Salmonella , their impact on meat quality, and the challenges of integrating them into commercial poultry processing. Listen now on all major platforms...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Marie Gallissot from EW Nutrition explores the impact of mycotoxins on poultry health and performance. She debunks the myth that poultry isn't sensitive to mycotoxins, discusses key risk factors in grain sourcing, and highlights the challenges of defining safety thresholds. Learn how climate change is shifting mycotoxin risks and what...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Mary Anne Amalaradjou from the University of Connecticut explores Salmonella control in broiler production, from hatching eggs to grow-out birds. She discusses the application of probiotics, hatching egg sanitation, and a one-stop approach that enhances production efficiency and food safety. Listen now on all major platforms! "We...

In this special International Women’s Day episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Shijina Rajan explores the role of caprylic acid as an alternative to antibiotics in poultry production. She discusses its antimicrobial properties, its impact on Salmonella reduction, and its application in pre and post-harvest interventions. Listen now on all major platforms! "Caprylic acid, a m...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jean Noblet, a consultant in monogastric nutrition, explores the evolution of energy evaluation in poultry feeds. He discusses the shift from metabolizable energy to net energy systems, the impact of ingredient variability, and key factors affecting feed efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms! "Feed cost is the biggest prod...

In this special rerun episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, we revisit our conversation with Dr. Deana Jones from the U.S. National Poultry Research Center, who explores the critical role of national research in addressing multifaceted challenges within the poultry industry. Dr. Jones sheds light on the dynamic, interdisciplinary work driving innovation from food and feed safety to g...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Praveen Kosuri, a Ph. D. student at the University of Connecticut, discusses his research on using probiotics to control Salmonella in poultry production. He explains the role of probiotics from hatchery to grow-out, their impact on food safety, and their potential for commercial application. Listen now on all major platforms! "Poultr...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Deborah Adewole, Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, shares her groundbreaking research on sustainable alternatives to antibiotics in poultry nutrition. She highlights the use of natural plant extracts, including the red osier dogwood plant, to enhance gut health, immune function, and nutrient absorption in broiler...

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Charis Waters, a PhD student at Mississippi State University, shares her research on the effects of limestone particle size ratios and phytase levels inclusion on laying hens' performance and bone quality. With insights into phytase super-dosing and bone health, Charis explores how these factors can optimize egg production and hen wel...