Dr. Ilaria Minussi: Amino Acids And Pig Behavior | Ep. 213

Dr. Ilaria Minussi: Amino Acids And Pig Behavior | Ep. 213

Author: Wisenetix March 5, 2026 Duration: 11:21
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Ilaria Minussi, postdoctoral research associate at Texas A&M University, explains how low protein diets influence pig behavior and performance. She discusses amino acid deficiencies, tail biting risk, and how pigs adjust feed intake when nutritional needs are unmet. Dr. Minussi highlights welfare, environmental impact, and practical formulation challenges for modern swine systems. Discover actionable insight for nutrition professionals. Listen now on all major platforms! “When low crude protein diets are also deficient in amino acids, pigs reduce feed intake and increase foraging behavior to compensate for missing nutrients.” Meet the guest: Dr. Ilaria Minussi https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilaria-minussi-a349a5170/ is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Texas A&M University, working within the Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity. She earned her PhD at Wageningen University and Research, focusing on animal nutrition and adaptation physiology. Her work explores how amino acid supply influences pig behavior, welfare, and performance in commercial systems. Click here to read the full research articles: Amino acid supplementation counteracts negative effects of low protein diets on tail biting in pigs more than extra environmental enrichment - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45704-0 Pigs Can Detect Multiple Amino Acid Deficiencies in a Choice Feeding Setting - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.10.024 Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+swine+nutrition+blackbelt+podcast What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:55) Introduction (02:08) Low protein diets (03:58) Feeding behavior (06:11) Choice feeding (07:21) Functional needs (08:25) Sanitary effects (10:23) Final Questions The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: * Fortiva (https://fortivaimpact.com) * Kemin (https://www.kemin.com/na/en-us/markets/animal/swine) - DietForge (https://dietforge.ai/) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://swinenutritionblackbelt.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swinecampus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swinecampus/

For swine nutritionists, the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming, and finding truly actionable insights is a constant challenge. The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, presented by Wisenetix, cuts through the noise by delivering concentrated wisdom from leading global experts. Each episode is designed to fit into a busy schedule, offering a focused, nine-minute dive into a specific topic that's actually working in the field today. You'll hear directly from researchers and practitioners at the forefront of the industry, discussing practical applications, emerging research, and nutritional strategies without the fluff. This isn't about theoretical deep dives; it's about what you can apply right now. The conversations are candid and geared toward professionals who need to stay current but are pressed for time. Tuning into this science-focused podcast means gaining a regular dose of peer-level insight, transforming a short commute or break into a genuine professional development session. It’s built for those who believe expertise should be accessible and efficient, providing a consistent stream of knowledge to help refine your approach and decision-making in swine nutrition.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Cierra Kozole: Methionine Requirements for Lactating Sows | Ep. 230 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:37
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Cierra Kozole, PhD candidate in Swine Nutrition at the University of Guelph, explains how methionine supports lactating sows beyond milk protein synthesis. She di…
Eugene Rodberg: Feed Quality Challenges Today | Ep. 229 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:44
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Eugene Rodberg from Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health discusses how feed ingredients, fat quality, feed hygiene, and water management influence swine performance.…
Dr. John O'Doherty: Feed Quality and Gut Health - Part 2 | Ep. 228 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:19
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. John O'Doherty from University College Dublin continues to explain how preserved grain strategies can improve gut health, nutrient digestibility, microbial st…
Dr. Marco de Mik: Enhancing Piglet Gut Health | Ep. 226 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:26
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, we revisit a conversation with Dr. Marco de Mik, Senior Consultant at Schothorst Feed Research, who explores how to enhance gastrointestinal health in piglets for…
Grady Privett: Sorghum Inclusion in Sow Lactation Diets | Ep. 224 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:16
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Grady Privett, a graduate student at Kansas State University, discusses research evaluating sorghum as a replacement for corn in lactation diets for sows. He disc…
Dr. Julian Arroyave: Nursery Feed Budgets | Ep. 223 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:38
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Julian Arroyave, a research swine nutritionist at Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions, discusses nursery feed budget strategies designed to reduce costs witho…
Sydney Craig: Amino Acid Balance in Pig Nutrition | Ep. 222 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:39
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Sydney Craig, graduate research assistant at Iowa State University, explains how arginine supplementation in lactating sows may affect piglet livability. She also…
Gustavo Lima: Net Energy Validation in Swine Diets | Ep. 221 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:06
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Gustavo Lima, PhD candidate at Iowa State University, explains how soybean meal net energy is evaluated using growth assays and calorimetry. He discusses caloric…