The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast - Dr. Jack Dekkers: Tools for Resilient Pigs | Ep. 159

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jack Dekkers from Iowa State University explores the genetics of disease resilience in pigs. He explains how measuring stress hormones like cortisol in hair can serve as a powerful tool to identify animals better equipped to handle health challenges. Discover how these heritable traits can support smarter breeding strategies and promote stronger, healthier herds. Tune in now on all major platforms!

What will you learn: 

• Genetics of disease resilience
• Stress hormone indicators
• Cortisol heritability insights
• Genomic selection potential

Meet the guest:

Dr. Jack Dekkers, C.F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University, received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Wageningen Agricultural University and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in Animal Breeding. His research focuses on the genetic improvement of feed efficiency and health in pigs and poultry.
Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn

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