Swine Extension

Episode 52: Fall/Winter ventilation basics for swine barns is now available on our Minnesota Swine & U podcast channel. In this podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke once again speaks with Lyle Lange and Mike Walker, both of Lange Ag Systems of Willmar, MN. This time she speaks to Lyle and Mike about Fall/Winter ventilation basics for swine barns. Lyle has over 46 years of experience in the livestock industry, and Mike has 26 years of experience. With the change of season to Fall and then Winter, there are some fundamental things producers should evaluate in the swine barn to ensure ventilation is at optimal performance. Lyle and Mike define basic ventilation terminology and provide practical strategies for common ventilation issues, such as cleaning soffits and fans, checking belts, and calibrating inlets. Lyle and Mike also discuss how to ensure the heating system is ready when needed. Listen to episode 52 podcast (~ 50 minutes, recorded August 10, 2026)

In this podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Lucas Ferreira, Master’s student in Veterinary Science in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine about his research on trailer contamination at the harvest plant facilities during the unloading of market hogs. The study includes two harvest facilities that Lucas and others visit regularly through the year to collect environmental samples from the unloading dock and trailers to analyze for pathogens, such as PRRSv, PEDv, PDCoV, and SVA. The research also includes talking to the drivers about their biosecurity practices. In the podcast Lucas gives preliminary results and explains the research is ongoing. Year 1 of 2 has been completed. Learn more about trailer contamination at the harvest plant facilities during unloading of market hogs as featured in the podcast. Assessment of PEDV Trailer Contamination at the Harvest Facility blog post on Minnesota Swine News. SHIC-Funded study quantifies trailer cont...

Episode 50: Minnesota Paid Leave for agriculture  is now on our Minnesota Swine & U podcast channel. In this podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Rob Holcomb, UMN Extension agricultural business management educator, about Minnesota Paid Leave for agriculture. Rob explains what agriculture employers need to participate, how to set up an account, and employer reporting responsibilities. He also shares resources for more information. Resources mentioned in the podcast Minnesota Paid Leave website UMN Extension - MN Paid Leave for agriculture webpage UMN Extension Agriculture Business Management YouTube - MN Paid Leave playlist Rob Holcomb's contact information: holcombr@umn.edu ; 507-258-8754. Listen to podcast Episode 50: Minnesota Paid Leave for agriculture (~ 24 minutes, recorded on June 15, 2026)

Episode 49 – Summer ventilation basics for swine barns is now available on our Minnesota Swine & U podcast channel. In this podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Lyle Lange and Mike Walker, both of Lange Ag Systems of Willmar, MN, about summer ventilation basics for swine barns. Lyle has over 46 years of experience in the livestock industry, and Mike has 26 years of experience. With the change of season to Summer, there are some fundamental things producers should evaluate in the swine barn to ensure ventilation is at optimal performance. Lyle and Mike define basic ventilation terminology and provide practical strategies for common ventilation issues, such as cleaning fans, checking belts, calibrating inlets, and more. Listen to episode 49 podcast (~ 43 minutes, recorded June 5, 2026).

  Episode 48: Precision and accuracy of the doser in electronic sow feeders  is now available on our Minnesota Swine & U podcast channel. In the podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Samuel Berrio, who is a current graduate student in the University of Minnesota's Department of Animal Science studying Animal Science with an emphasis in Swine Nutrition. Samuel’s research involved evaluating the precision and accuracy of the doser in electronic sow feeders. Listen to episode 48 podcast (~ 16 minutes, recorded March 16, 2026). Learn more about research featured in the podcast Abstract published in Journal of Animal Science, Volume 104, Issue Supplement 3. doi: 10.1093/jas/skag107.050 .

Episode 47: Formaldehyde-based feed sanitizers in sow feed is now available on our Minnesota Swine & U podcast channel. In the podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Sara Williams, who recently completed her master's of science degree in Animal Science with an emphasis in Swine Nutrition from the University of Minnesota's Department of Animal Science. Sara’s MS research involved formaldehyde-based feed sanitizers in sow feed to reduce pathogens. Her research gives some promising results on this topic. Listen to episode 47 podcast (~12 Minutes; recorded August 13, 2025). Learn more about formaldehyde-based feed sanitizers in sow feed featured in the podcast Abstract published in Journal of Animal Science, Volume 103, Issue Supplement 1. doi: 10.1093/jas/skaf102.313 .

Episode 46: PRRS virus Classification is now available on our Minnesota Swine & U podcast channel. In the podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Drs. Kim VanderWaal and Igor Paploski about PRRS virus Classification. Both are faculty members in the University of Minnesota Veterinary Population Medicine department. PRRS virus Classification is basically naming of the PRRS virus according to the genetic sequencing of the virus. Kim and Igor explain how PRRS viruses were classified previously and changes to how they are being classified based on their work. Listen to episode 46 podcast (~35 Minutes; recorded June 16, 2025) Learn more about PRRS virus classification featured in the podcast Swine Health Information Center fact sheet on the epidemiological insights on the PRRS-Loom Variant webtool Link to PRRS-Loom Variant webtool Journal article published in Epidemiology, Volume 10, Issue 2. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00709-24

Episode 45: Discussion about H5 Influenza is now available on our Minnesota Swine & U podcast channel. In the podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Dr. Marie Culhane about H5 Influenza. Especially concerning cases in poultry and dairy, and the risk of it for pigs. Dr. Culhane is a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Veterinary Population Medicine. Her expertise is in influenza as it relates to food animals. Listen to the podcast https://z.umn.edu/Episode45Podcast (~27 Minutes; recorded April 22, 2025) Extra H5 Influenza information that was mentioned in the podcast This podcast was based on a Swine in Minnesota blog post, "H5 Influenza Q & A with Drs. Marie Culhane and Carol Cardona" Journal article talks about how susceptible pigs are to influenza . Journal article explains how pigs are a mixing vessel for influenza viruses. Minnesota Board of Animal Health H5N1 in Livestock Resources Minnesota Board of An...

Episode 43: Feeding hybrid rye to organic growing-finishing pigs  is now available on our Minnesota Swine & U podcast channel. In the podcast, Extension Swine Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Gabriella Lima who recently finished her Master of Science degree from the Department of Animal Science. Gabriella speaks about a research project she worked on. The research project was very comprehensive in what it all looked at, but specifically, Gabriella looked at the effects of growth performance and carcass characteristics when feeding hybrid rye to organically raised growing-finishing pigs. Gabriella does briefly share the other aspects of the research project that were studied by others, but didn’t share those results. Listen to the podcast https://z.umn.edu/Episode43Podcast (~16 minutes; recorded November 5, 2024 Learn more about research featured in the podcast Abstract published in the Journal of Animal Science , volume 102, Issue Supplement 2, Pages 58-59. DOI: http...

  In the podcast, Extension Swine Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Courtney Archer who is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Animal Science. Courtney speaks about a research project that she completed looking at trying to identify the tail biter pig in a pen of pigs with intact tails. She shares how her findings can help identify pigs responsible for tail biting behavior at an early stage so farmers can implement timely interventions to mitigate the issues and improve overall well-being. Listen to the podcast https://z.umn.edu/Episode42Podcast  (~20 minutes in length; recorded October 24, 2024) Learn more about research featured in the podcast Abstract published in the   Journal of Animal Science , Volume 102, Issue Supplement 2, Abstract 209. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae102.005. This podcast was recorded on October 24, 2024.

In the podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Rachel Schambow who is a postdoctoral researcher with the UMN Center for Animal Health and Food Safety. Rachel speaks about a “Vet to Vet” project presented at the 2023 Leman Conference and about recent work on African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Dominican Republic and Philippines. She shares how these experiences and lessons learned can be applied to improve our ASF preparedness in the U.S. Listen to the podcast: https://z.umn.edu/PodcastEpisode41 (recorded June 11, 2024) Learn more about research featured in the podcast Vet to Vet (V2V) African Swine Fever Workshop report featured on UMN Extension Swine Blog . Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) - www.cahfs.umn.edu

In the podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with associate professor Maria Pieters about her research investigating the antimicrobial susceptibility of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae . Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a bacterial pathogen of the respiratory tract of pigs. Listen to the podcast: https://z.umn.edu/PodcastEpisode40 (recorded May 10, 2024)

In the podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with pathologist and assistant professor Albert Canturri about his research on the detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in processing fluid. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a bacterial pathogen of the respiratory tract of pigs. Listen to the podcast: z.umn.edu/SwinePodcastEpisode39  (recorded February 9, 2024)

In the podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Ph.D. student Marcello Melini about his research on environmental sampling of farm surfaces to assess contamination of PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) virus at various places both in and outside the barn. Listen to the podcast: z.umn.edu/SwinePodcastEpisode38   (recorded December 27, 2023)

In the podcast Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with PhD student Marcello Melini about his research on the infectivity of PRRS virus variant 1-4-4 as it compares to other PRRS virus variants. Listen to the podcast: z.umn.edu/SwinePodcastEpisode37  (October 20, 2023)

In the podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Guilherme Preis about his graduate research on the seroprevalence of Senecavirus A in U.S pig farms and biosecurity procedures to prevent indirect transmission. Listen to the podcast z.umn.edu/SwinePodcastEpisode36  (~33 minutes, recorded July 28, 2023) Learn more about research featured in the podcast Preis, G., Sanhueza, J. M., Vilalta, C., Vannucci, F. A., Culhane, M. R., & Corzo, C. A. (2022). Senecavirus A seroprevalence and risk factors in United States pig farms . Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, Article 1011975. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1011975.

  In the podcast Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Mariana Kikuti, University of Minnesota researcher in the Department of Veterinary Medicine about her research on the length of time farms stay naïve of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) since last outbreak. Listen to the podcast z.umn.edu/SwinePodcastEpisode35  (~16 minutes, recorded April 4, 2023) Learn more about research featured in the podcast Published in Animal s , Volume 13, Issue 2, article 310, doi: 10.3390/ani13020310.

  In the podcast Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Mariana Kikuti, University of Minnesota researcher in the Department of Veterinary Medicine about her research on sow mortality in midwestern USA pig production: reasons for removal and factors associated with increased mortality. Listen to the podcast: z.umn.edu/SwinePodcastEpisode34  (~17 minutes, Recorded April 4, 2023) Learn more about research featured in the podcast Published in Vet Record , Volume 192, Issue 7, article e2539, DOI: 10.1002/vetr.2539 Summarized on the Swine in Minnesota blog , February 1, 2023

  In the podcast Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Zach Uter, University of Minnesota graduate student about research he did looking at estimating the impact of swine feedlots on residential values in southern Minnesota. This research was completed through a collaboration agreement with Minnesota Pork. Listen to the podcast: z.umn.edu/PodcastEpisode33 (recorded February 17, 2023) Learn more through resources referenced in the podcast Minnesota Pork's Checkoff Report November/December 2022 publication, pages 8 - 9 .

In the podcast Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with Erin Cortus, University of Minnesota Extension engineer about environmental sustainability initiatives in the swine industry and elsewhere in agriculture. Erin helps explain the science and communication related to environmental sustainability initiatives. Listen to the podcast: z.umn.edu/PodcastEpisode31   (recorded August 19, 2022)