🇨🇦 The Swine it Podcast Show Canada

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Swaminathan Jayaraman, Research Assistant and PhD Candidate at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, explains how integrated data systems can improve disease surveillance in swine production. He discusses combining diagnostics, animal movement data, production records, and spatial analytics to identify risks earlier and support p...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Alexandre Thibodeau, from the University of Montreal, explains how synthetic microbiota and bioreactor systems can help researchers study gut microorganisms, evaluate feed additives, investigate Salmonella control strategies, and develop alternatives to animal trials. Listen now on all major platforms! "Bioreactor models can screen micro...

In this special rerun episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Darryl D’Souza from the SunPork Group in Australia discusses how vertically integrated systems shape R&D strategies in swine production. He shares a decade-long innovation journey with the Maternity Rings system, offering insights on welfare, efficiency, and variability management across the pork supply chain. Tune in to he...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Stephen Frazer, swine veterinarian at Demeter Services Vétérinaires, explains how field research connects university science with real commercial swine production. He discusses research design, economic impact, external validity, health challenges, and practical implementation on farms. Dr. Frazer also shares how applied research helps produ...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Ellen Goddard, Professor Emerita at the University of Alberta, discusses public acceptance of genomic technologies in pork production. She explains why disease resistance is viewed positively, how labeling affects trust, why farmers remain highly credible messengers, and how communication can shape consumer confidence around gene editing. Li...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jon Bergstrom, Senior Technical Expert in Swine Nutrition at dsm-firmenich, provides an update on the importance of vitamin D in sow and pig nutrition. He discusses vitamin D requirements, the benefits of 25(OH)D3, and recent findings related to bone health, immunity, lameness, and mineral utilization. Learn how vitamin D status can influenc...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger, geneticist at Topigs Norsvin, explains how genetics can improve disease resilience in pigs. She explores how resilience differs from resistance, the role of genetic variation, and how breeding strategies can enhance health and performance under disease pressure. Dr. Dunkelberger also covers practical applications and fu...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Carles Vilalta, epidemiologist at IRTA CReSA in Spain, explains the current African swine fever situation, including origin, transmission, and control strategies. He highlights the role of human activity, wild boar dynamics, and biosecurity measures to protect commercial farms. Learn how surveillance and field actions shape disease containme...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Marina Meester, Assistant Professor at Utrecht University, explains how genetic sequence data helps track virus transmission in pig farms. She outlines how combining sequencing with infection timing improves biosecurity, distinguishes internal spread from new introductions, and supports regional disease control strategies. Practical insights...

In this special rerun episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jessica Law, veterinarian and owner of the Prairie Livestock Veterinarians, explains how preventative medicine strengthens herd health and production outcomes. She discusses biosecurity, vaccination strategies, piglet care, and the importance of collaboration between veterinarians and producers. The discussion highlights how sm...

In this special episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, marking World Veterinary Day, we welcome Dr. Daniel Gascho, swine production veterinarian and partner at Four Star Veterinary Service. He discusses how farrowing decisions must align with each farm's business model, why labor execution defines protocol outcomes, and how PRRS strategies should be tailored to each operation's healt...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Antonio Velarde from IRTA explains how animal welfare at slaughter influences stress, handling, and meat quality in pigs. He highlights transport challenges, stunning methods, and the importance of staff training and facility design. Dr. Velarde also discusses the One Welfare concept, which links animal and human well-being. Listen now on al...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Laya Alves from the University of São Paulo, in Brazil, discusses how animal welfare regulations are evolving globally and their impact on pig production systems. She explains challenges in group housing, pain management, and euthanasia decisions, while highlighting the role of training and management in improving outcomes and economic susta...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Max Rothschild, Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University, explains how genetics and genomics have transformed swine production. He explores genomic selection, key gene discoveries, and the role of gene editing in improving disease resistance and productivity. Practical insights on litter size, meat quality, and industry adoption are...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Heather Wilson from VIDO at the University of Saskatchewan explains how intrauterine vaccination is being developed as a new option for swine health. She shares how formulation, adjuvants, and delivery methods influence immune responses and what early trials reveal about safety and reproductive performance. Listen now on all major platforms....

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Yan Huang from University of Arkansas explores how genetics, nutrition, and stress management shape pork quality. He explains how molecular pathways influence fat deposition, muscle growth, and meat flavor while balancing production efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms! "The most important driver of pork quality. Feed plays a ve...

In this special re-run episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, we bring back our conversation with Fred Kuhr, Director of Production at Dykhuis Farms, who shares how his nearly 50 years in swine production have shaped his approach to integrating real-time data, employee development, and modern technology into large-scale systems. He breaks down why simplifying alerts matters for barn-level pe...

In this special episode celebrating International Women's Day of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, we bring Dr. Isabela Bez, a veterinarian and PhD student in Brazil, who explains how temperature and light regimes influence sow reproductive performance. She discusses seasonal infertility, climate adaptation, and why environmental monitoring inside barns is critical for herd efficiency. The epi...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Joshua Selsby from Iowa State University explains how heat stress affects swine biology and why now is the ideal time to prepare for next summer’s challenges. He breaks down its effects on muscle function, immune responses, and long-term metabolic outcomes. Learn how early planning can protect herd performance when temperatures rise again. L...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Katlyn McClellan, PhD Candidate at South Dakota State University and swine nutrition researcher, explains how late gestation phase feeding can improve sow nutrient status, farrowing outcomes, and piglet survival. She discusses anemia in modern prolific sows, limitations of traditional bump feeding, and practical strategies for implementation. Le...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. James Kober, a consulting swine veterinarian and founder of West Michigan Livestock Consulting, explores the often-overlooked impact of water quality on pig health and productivity. He shares decades of field experience on how water issues can influence intake, disease, and mortality across production phases. Discover practical strategies fo...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Anastasia Vlasova from The Ohio State University breaks down what rotaviruses are, how they affect pigs, and why they matter for swine health and productivity. She discusses virus diversity, transmission pathways, challenges in prevention, and how new vaccine technologies and diagnostic tools can shape the future of control strategies. Liste...

In this special rerun episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Caio da Silva from Londrina State University shares insights on the biological limits of modern sow productivity. The discussion focuses on oxidative stress, immunity, and nutritional strategies that impact sow longevity and piglet robustness. Don’t miss the chance to revisit this valuable conversation. Listen now on all major...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Yanhong Liu from UC Davis discusses the science and practical implications of functional amino acids in pig nutrition. She explains how these nutrients go beyond supporting growth to strengthen gut health, boost immunity, and improve disease resistance. Learn practical strategies to reduce antibiotic use and support better post-weaning perfo...

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Trish Berger from the University of California, Davis, shares her research on improving pork quality through a better understanding of boar taint. She explains the biological factors that cause this issue, how gene-editing tools may offer future solutions, and what this means for production efficiency and animal management. Listen now on all...