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
Hannah Miller: Corn Co-Products in Swine Diets | Ep. 139 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:54
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Hannah Miller, a PhD student from the University of Missouri, shares her research on the impact of various corn co-products on swine nutrition. She discusses topi…
Ron Aldwin Navales: Nutrient & Feed Utilization | Ep. 138 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:00
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Ron Aldwin Navales, a PhD student at Kansas State University, explores the critical aspects of nutrient utilization within the pork ecosystem. The discussion high…
Dr. Cesar Garbossa: Optimizing Sow Farrowing | Ep. 137 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:06
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Cesar Garbossa, from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, discusses the critical role of sow farrowing kinetics. Dr. Garbossa explains how optimizing blood…
Dr. Roman Moreno: Feed and Energy Intake | Ep. 136 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:50
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Roman Moreno from Seaboard Foods shares valuable insights on the importance of energy intake in swine diets. He highlights the connection between feed intake…
Dr. Lee Johnston: Hybrid Rye in Organic Pork | Ep. 135 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:46
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Lee Johnston, a professor of animal science at the University of Minnesota, explores the challenges and opportunities in organic pork production. He shares hi…
Dr. Cara Cargo-Froom: In Vitro Digestion Models | Ep. 134 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:34
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Cara Cargo-Froom, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Guelph, explores the application of in vitro digestion models in swine nutrition research. Sh…
Dr. Ayodeji Aderibigbe: Optimizing Fiber in Swine Diets | Ep. 133 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:31
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Ayodeji Aderibigbe, an assistant professor at Florida A&M University, discusses the importance of dietary fiber utilization in swine nutrition. Dr. Aderibigbe…
Dr. Young Dal Jang: High-Dose Probiotics in Nursery Pigs | Ep. 132 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:03
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Young Dal Jang from the University of Georgia explores the effects of high-dose probiotics on nursery pigs. Dr. Jang discusses his research on the optimal lev…
Katlyn McClellan: Anemia in Sows | 130 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:13
In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Katlyn McClellan, a PhD student at South Dakota State University, discusses sow anemia. McClellan explains how hemoglobin levels can serve as a biomarker for iden…