Dr. Sam Gerrard: Nutrient Utilization During an Immune Challenge | Ep. 205

Dr. Sam Gerrard: Nutrient Utilization During an Immune Challenge | Ep. 205

Author: Wisenetix January 8, 2026 Duration: 12:52
In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sam Gerrard, postdoctoral fellow at Virginia Tech, breaks down how immune challenges shift nutrient use in pigs and impact performance. The conversation covers reduced feed intake, immune-driven nutrient diversion, and how pair feeding models help separate disease effects from intake effects. Dr. Gerrard explains why understanding physiology during health challenges is critical for maintaining feed efficiency and animal welfare. Listen now on all major platforms. "The immune system diverts nutrients from lean tissue accretion toward defense, significantly altering metabolic priorities during immune challenges." Meet the guest: Dr. Sam Gerrard holds a DVM and a PhD in Nutritional Physiology and is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech. His work focuses on swine physiology, immune challenges, and nutrient allocation during disease. 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 (00:45) Introduction (02:43) Swine immune response (04:26) Feed intake impact (05:34) Pair-feeding explained (06:41) Different responses (09:33) Nutritional interventions (12:35) Closing thoughts 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/) - Keys Manufacturing (https://www.keysmanufacturing.com/) 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: 100

The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Nelson Arias: Distiller Grains in Pig Diets | Ep. 149 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:16
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Nelson Arias, a Graduate student at the University of Illinois, shares findings from his research on high-protein distiller grains in pig diets. Nelson discusses…
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Duration: 15:07
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Tom Crenshaw from the University of Wisconsin-Madison continues the discussion on the complexities of managing phosphorus in swine diets. He talks about the p…
Dr. Tom Crenshaw: Urine Calcium-Phosphorus Ratio - Part 1 | Ep. 146 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:28
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Tom Crenshaw, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explores the complex phosphorus requirements in sows. Focusing on optimizing phosphorus intake, Dr. Cr…
Dr. Jorge Estrada: Sow Lactation & Feed Intake | Ep. 145 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:49
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Dr. Hernan Córdova: Trypsin Inhibitors in Swine | Ep. 144 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:49
In this special rerun of the Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Hernan Córdova from Smithfield Foods explains how trypsin inhibitors in soybean meal impact swine growth and feed efficiency. He details regional variat…
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Duration: 12:50
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. David Rosero from Iowa State University explores the critical aspects of fat quality and oxidation in swine diets. He discusses how different types of lipids…
Dr. Urbano Ruiz: Fine-Tuning Swine Diets | Ep. 142 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:06
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Urbano Ruiz from the University of São Paulo shares insights from his team's research on the digestibility of different corn-based feed ingredients in swine a…
Dr. Panagiotis Tassis: Mycotoxins in Swine | Ep. 140 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:06
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Panagiotis Tassis from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki sheds light on the crucial issue of mycotoxins and their impact on swine production. Dr. Tassis ta…