Inside the 'Super Bowl' of Swine Nutrition

In this episode of SwineTime, host Dr. Spencer Wayne is joined by Pipestone Nutritionist, Dr. Ethan Stas, to break down key takeaways from the Midwest Animal Science Conference — widely regarded as the “Super Bowl” for swine nutrition professionals. With dozens of rapid-fire research presentations packed into a single event, Ethan distills the most relevant insights into practical, on-farm applications for producers.

A major focus of the conversation is soybean meal — one of the most talked-about topics at this year’s conference. Drawing from large-scale commercial studies, including trials involving nearly 100,000 pigs, Ethan explains how higher soybean meal inclusion levels consistently improve growth performance and deliver stronger returns on investment. Beyond basic amino acid content, the discussion highlights the complexity of soybean meal as a nutritional ingredient, suggesting that pigs benefit from components that go beyond what can be replicated through synthetic amino acid formulation alone.

Spencer and Ethan also explore how diet formulation strategies shift when incorporating ingredients like distillers grains, and why setting minimum soybean meal or crude protein levels may be critical for maximizing performance. Additional discussion touches on emerging ingredients such as high oleic soybeans and key considerations like trypsin inhibitor levels, especially in more sensitive nursery pigs.

The episode then shifts to nursery management, tackling the ongoing challenge of post-weaning diarrhea. Ethan reviews both traditional and emerging nutritional strategies, including the roles of zinc oxide, copper, and dietary acidification. He also introduces the concept of acid binding capacity (ABC), a newer, more holistic approach to managing gut health by evaluating the acidifying potential of the entire diet. The conversation emphasizes how combining feed and water acidification strategies may create synergistic benefits for gut health and nutrient absorption.

Packed with practical insights and backed by current research, this episode offers valuable guidance for producers looking to improve performance, manage health challenges, and make more informed feed and nutrition decisions.