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 for improving water systems on-farm. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Water issues in sows can impact reproduction, particularly by lengthening wean-to-service intervals."

Meet the guest: Dr. James Kober earned both his B.S. in Animal Science and DVM from Michigan State University. With over three decades dedicated exclusively to swine, he now works as an independent consulting veterinarian and founder of West Michigan Livestock Consulting. Drawing from field experience, Dr. Kober focuses on optimizing swine health through water management and disease control.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:31) Introduction
• (06:43) Water quality impact
• (08:54) Water testing
• (10:53) Fixing water systems
• (12:31) Water-linked disease risks
• (17:54) Practical on-farm tips
• (19:38) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* DietForge

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

- Topigs Norsvin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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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. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Rotaviruses are a group of distinct viral species that impact pigs differently depending on age and immune status."

Meet the guest: Dr. Anastasia Vlasova is an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University’s Center for Food Animal Health. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Virology from the Ivanovsky Institute for Virology. With over 20 years of experience in virology and swine diseases, her research focuses on the molecular biology and immunology of enteric viruses in pigs.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:37) Introduction
• (05:02) Rotavirus species overview
• (07:57) Airborne transmission study
• (10:17) Farm-level prevention
• (13:17) Immunity and vaccination
• (24:37) Diagnostic tools
• (30:35) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

* DietForge

- dsm-firmenich

- Topigs Norsvin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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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 platforms!

"The modern sow reaches high production levels, but this is often followed by health and longevity challenges."

Meet the guest: Dr. Caio Abércio da Silva holds a DVM and earned his M.S. in Food Technology and Ph.D. in Animal Science. He has over 38 years of teaching experience at Londrina State University in Brazil, where he now teaches in the Postgraduate Program in Animal Science. He also leads AKEI Animal Research, a company focused on swine studies.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:40) Introduction
• (04:23) Sow productivity
• (07:30) Oxidative stress explained
• (09:40) Nutritional strategies
• (13:05) Piglet immunity focus
• (20:40) Feed additives' role
• (22:25) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* DietForge

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- Topigs Norsvin

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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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 performance. Tune in and listen on all major platforms!

"Functional amino acids are not a new concept; they’ve been recognized for years as playing roles beyond basic nutrition."

Meet the guest: Dr. Yanhong Liu is the Associate Professor at UC Davis. Her research focuses on feed-based health technologies that enhance animal performance and disease resistance. With expertise in amino acid metabolism and gut health, she explores innovative dietary strategies to improve swine health and sustainability.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:38) Introduction
• (05:55) Functional amino acids
• (12:23) Post-weaning diarrhea
• (16:11) Challenge model
• (20:33) Amino acid combinations
• (24:08) Future research
• (27:28) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

* DietForge

- dsm-firmenich

- Topigs Norsvin

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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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 major platforms.

"Boar taint results from compounds produced in the pig’s gut that accumulate in fat tissue, especially when liver metabolism cannot clear them efficiently."

Meet the guest: Dr. Trish Berger is a Distinguished Professor Emerita at the University of California, Davis, with extensive research on reproductive physiology and genetic regulation in pigs. She earned her B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of Kansas, her M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Science from Purdue University, and studied physiology and biochemistry of farm animals at the University of Reading, UK.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:18) Introduction
• (01:48) Causes of boar taint
• (03:15) Mechanisms behind boar taint
• (06:03) Boar x barrow
• (08:43) Gene-editing strategies
• (21:49) Future research steps
• (23:57) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* DietForge

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- Topigs Norsvin

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Daniel Venne from Demeter Veterinary Services explains how thermography can improve pig comfort, environmental control, and health outcomes. He shares how infrared imaging reveals hidden temperature shifts, drafts, and ventilation issues that impact respiratory balance and production. Learn how better temperature management supports pig welfare and barn efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Infrared imaging provides a clear picture of temperature variation inside barns, allowing hidden differences in animal environments to be identified and corrected before they influence health or performance."

Meet the guest: Dr. Daniel Venne is a senior poultry veterinarian at Demeter Veterinary Services with a DMV from the University of Montreal and an MSc in Pathology and Microbiology. A Diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians, he coauthored the Manual of Poultry Diseases.

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Dr. Robert Friendship: Strategies for Swine Health | Ep. 92

Matthew Rooda: Tech in Pig Farms | Ep. 96

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:33) Introduction
• (02:23) Guest background
• (04:37) Thermography explained
• (07:36) Heat stress insights
• (12:50) Thermography and diseases
• (16:33) Camera options cost
• (23:40) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

* DietForge

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Pol Llonch from the Autonomous University of Barcelona explains how behavior data and sensor technologies are transforming swine welfare assessment. He shares how precision livestock farming tools like computer vision, bioacoustics, and accelerometers can objectively monitor health and positive behaviors, even at the slaughterhouse. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Technology should not replace human work, but rather assist it, making management more effective."

Meet the guest: Dr. Pol Llonch is a senior researcher at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. His work focuses on innovative strategies to improve swine welfare while reducing livestock’s environmental impact. With expertise in behavior analysis and precision livestock farming technologies, he explores how objective tools can enhance welfare assessment on farms and at slaughterhouses.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:11) Introduction
• (03:25) Behavior monitoring
• (05:41) Sensor technology
• (09:38) Welfare assessment
• (15:28) Positive behaviors
• (15:51) Slaughterhouse indicators
• (21:50) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* DietForge

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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In this special New Year episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Mary Louise Penrith from the University of Pretoria explains the global importance of pigs and how transdisciplinary research strengthens biosecurity. She highlights cultural and economic factors shaping pig production and shares practical approaches to improve health and value chains. Start the year with global insight that benefits swine professionals. Listen now on all major platforms.

"Pigs remain essential in many regions because they support household income, strengthen food security, and sustain cultural practices in places where few other livestock opportunities exist."

Meet the guest: Dr. Mary Louise Penrith is an Extraordinary Professor in Veterinary Tropical Diseases at the University of Pretoria and a global authority on African swine fever, pig health, and animal health policy. She has authored extensive scientific literature and serves as President of the Global African Swine Fever Research Alliance. Her work focuses on practical disease management, biosecurity, and sustainable pig systems.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:02) Introduction
• (02:17) Global pig roles
• (06:15) Disease risks
• (10:14) Biosecurity challenges
• (19:16) Practical measures
• (23:13) Transdisciplinary work
• (32:02) Final three questions

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Swine Veterinary Partners

- dsm-firmenich

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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