The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Michael Persia from Iowa State University explains how phosphorus requirements change throughout pullet development. He discusses research challenging current feeding recommendations, the relationship between growth and mineral needs, and opportunities to reduce phosphorus excretion. Discover how these findings could improve poultry nutrition, feed efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Slower growth shifts pullet phosphorus needs from growth toward maintenance during later development."

Meet the guest: Dr. Michael Persia is Director of the Egg Industry Center and Iowa Egg Council Endowed Professor at Iowa State University. A poultry nutrition researcher with experience in academia and industry, his work connects applied layer nutrition with practical challenges across egg production. Learn more from Dr. Michael Persia on The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you'll learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:43) Introduction
(04:40) Phosphorus requirements
(05:55) Age-related needs
(07:52) Phosphorus deficiency recovery
(10:26) Environmental benefits
(12:05) Growth versus maintenance
(14:00) Closing thoughts

The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Fortiva
* Kemin

- Poultry Science Association
- DietForge
- Anitox

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
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In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Felix Njeri, PhD candidate in monogastric nutrition at the University of Guelph, explains why fiber can act as a limiting factor in young chickens and why crude protein alone is not enough to describe alternative protein ingredients. He explores how processing methods change nutrient composition and protein accessibility, including heat damage to amino acids, electrostatic separation approaches, in vitro nitrogen solubility, and the role of enzymes in diets with lower protein or higher-fiber ingredients. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research articles:
Further processing of soybean meal using thermomechanical and enzyme-facilitation modified secondary protein structure, in-vitro protein digestion kinetics and nutritive value in broiler chickens
Significance of specialty protein ingredients in feeding programs for broiler chickens on nitrogen utilization and excretion-A meta-analysis
Cold-Pressing Sunflower Meal and Gastric pH Synergistically Improve In Vitro Nitrogen Solubility by Preserving Secondary Protein Structure, Outperforming Soybean Meal, Solvent-Extracted Sunflower Meal, and High-Protein Electrostatically Separated Sunflower

"Two feed ingredients can share similar crude protein levels while digestibility and protein quality remain totally different, so availability testing matters in formulation."

Meet the guest: Felix Njeri is a PhD candidate in monogastric nutrition at the University of Guelph. His research focuses on protein evaluation, feed formulation, and feed enzymes that improve nutrient utilization in poultry and swine, including strategies that reduce nitrogen losses. He holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and a Master’s in animal nutrition and feed science from the University of Nairobi. Learn more from Felix Njeri on The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you'll learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:12) Introduction
(02:19) Fiber limitations
(03:13) Feed intake capacity and nutrient demand
(04:02) Processing effects
(05:57) Protein quality and digestibility
(08:26) Enzyme supplementation
(09:52) Closing thoughts

The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Kemin
* Fortiva

- Poultry Science Association
- Anitox
- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: Poultry Campus
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In Part 2 of this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Juan José Pascual introduces the SynFeed project and its goal of designing microbial-derived proteins to meet animal requirements. He explains how artificial intelligence, molecular biology, and hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria could support the production of fully digestible proteins, why fermentation scale remains the main barrier, and where these proteins may reach the market first. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read to learn more!

"Tailored proteins could transform animal feeding by matching amino acid composition more closely with nutritional requirements while improving overall protein digestibility."

Meet the guest: Dr. Juan José Pascual is a Full Professor at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), in Spain, and Head of the Institute of Animal Science and Technology. His work spans animal nutrition, production, and teaching, supported by more than 30 years in monogastric nutrition. Learn more from Dr. Juan José Pascual on The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you'll learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:59) Project overview
(02:39) Europe’s protein challenge
(04:14) Designed microbial proteins
(04:51) Multidisciplinary development
(05:06) Commercial timeline
(06:32) Early market applications
(07:28) Closing thoughts

The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Fortiva
* Kemin

- DietForge
- Poultry Science Association
- Anitox

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: Poultry Campus
Instagram: Poultry Campus
Facebook: Poultry Campus
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In Part 1 of this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Juan José Pascual, from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, explains how precision protein nutrition can improve poultry feeding. He examines protein utilization, amino acid digestibility, nonessential amino acid availability, and absorption timing as opportunities to improve nutritional efficiency and sustainability. Discover where poultry protein nutrition research is heading next. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read to learn more!

"Precision protein nutrition has advanced through improved nutritional recommendations that increasingly align poultry diets with actual amino acid requirements, productivity, sustainability, and intestinal health."

Meet the guest: Dr. Juan José Pascual is a Full Professor at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), in Spain, and Head of the Institute of Animal Science and Technology. His work spans animal nutrition, production, and teaching, supported by more than 30 years in monogastric nutrition. Learn more from Dr. Juan José Pascual on The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you'll learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:19) Introduction
(02:25) Precision protein progress
(04:25) Protein retention limits
(05:46) Digestibility losses
(07:36) Nonessential amino acids
(08:33) Absorption timing
(09:34) Closing thoughts

The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Kemin
* Fortiva

- Anitox
- DietForge
- Poultry Science Association

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: Poultry Campus
Instagram: Poultry Campus
Facebook: Poultry Campus
TikTok: Poultry Campus

In this episode of The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Morgan Thayer, Monogastric Additive Technical Support at Land O’Lakes on behalf of Fortiva, explains how phytogenic feed additives can support broiler performance. Dr. Thayer discusses bioactive plant compounds, gut health, nutrient utilization, feed conversion, and research findings that connect nutritional strategies to production efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

“What makes this phytogenic solution really unique is that the innovation and research team looked for plants with bioactive compounds that targeted receptors within the bird to elicit an anti-inflammatory response.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Morgan Thayer is the Monogastric Additive Technical Support at Land O’Lakes on behalf of Fortiva. Morgan earned a bachelor’s degree in  Animal Science from Purdue University, a master’s degree in Swine Nutrition from Kansas State University, and a Ph.D. in Swine Nutrition from Purdue University. Listen to Dr. Morgan Thayer on The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.

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What you'll learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(00:59) Introduction
(03:12) Phytogenic solutions
(04:48) Inflammation support
(06:22) Performance outcomes
(07:48) Feed conversion
(08:59) Additive applications
(09:23) Closing thoughts

The Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Fortiva

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: Poultry Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast
LinkedIn: Poultry Campus
Instagram: Poultry Campus
Facebook: Poultry Campus
TikTok: Poultry Campus