The Poultry Podcast Show

In this episode of The Poultry Podcast Show, Zach Fine, CEO of Holly Poultry, explains how poultry processing innovation, retail expansion, and changing consumer preferences are reshaping the chicken market. He discusses affordable antibiotic-free chicken, convenient meal solutions, production efficiency, and strategies for managing rising costs. Discover how strategic investments and strong partnerships can support sustainable business growth. Listen now on all major platforms!

"If you think you have to do everything and touch everything, you’re never going to get there."

Meet the guest: Zach Fine is the CEO of Holly Poultry. He has worked with Holly Poultry for more than 24 years across production, warehouse operations, quality assurance, sales, procurement, and executive leadership. He oversees poultry processing, retail expansion, product innovation, and strategic partnerships, focusing on affordable, high-quality chicken products that meet changing consumer demands. Listen to Zach Fine on The Poultry Podcast Show, available on all major platforms!

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What you will learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:55) Introduction
(02:50) Holly Poultry overview
(05:00) Retail brands
(08:35) Consumer preferences
(14:15) Business risk and vision
(19:35) Cost pressures
(25:35) Final questions

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

* Adisseo
* dsm-firmenich
* Evonik

- Zoetis
- Signify
- Big Dutchman
- PSA
- KT Pacer
- Cobb-Vantress
- DietForge
- Natural Biologics
- Barnwell Bio

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
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In this episode of The Poultry Podcast Show, Dr. Douglas Rhoads from the University of Arkansas explains how Enterococcus cecorum contributes to sepsis and bacterial disease in broilers. He examines genomic changes, early chick susceptibility, pathogen transmission, probiotics, sanitation, and vaccine development. Practical prevention starts with understanding how pathogens reach young flocks and persist in poultry environments.

Click here to read the full research articles:
Molecular Genomic Analyses of Enterococcus cecorum from Sepsis Outbreaks in Broilers 
Differentiating commensal and disease-associated Enterococcus cecorum isolates in poultry using protein sequences

“The easiest way for these bacteria to get around the world and into different facilities is to ride on the fertile eggs.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Douglas Rhoads is a University Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Arkansas and is affiliated with the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science. With a Ph.D. in Genetics from Kansas State University, his research includes poultry bacterial diseases, genomics, and molecular biology. His work has resulted in more than 79 journal articles and extensive industry research. 

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What you will learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:50) Introduction
(02:31) Enterococcus cecorum
(08:13) Early sepsis in young broilers
(15:42) Mutations behind the new trick
(25:09) Cleanout and management strategies
(28:26) Fertile eggs insights
(31:18) Closing thoughts

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

* Evonik
* Adisseo
* dsm-firmenich

- DietForge
- Natural Biologics
- Barnwell Bio
- Zoetis
- Big Dutchman
- Signify
- PSA
- KT Pacer
- J&D + AAF
- Cobb-Vantress

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Poultry Podcast Show
LinkedIn: The Poultry Podcast Show
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In this episode of The Poultry Podcast Show, Dr. Rony Riveros, a postdoctoral researcher in poultry nutrition at São Paulo State University, discusses how artificial intelligence and mechanistic modeling can support more precise poultry nutrition decisions. He explains why poultry production already generates large amounts of data, how models can help nutritionists evaluate feed strategies faster, and why data quality remains essential for reliable predictions. He also explores sustainability, alternative ingredients, and the ethical need for human supervision when AI tools are used in animal production. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Sometimes we think like, the mechanistic models are the skeleton of the system, and the artificial intelligence is the muscle of the system.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Rony Riveros is a postdoctoral researcher at São Paulo State University, where his work focuses on livestock nutritional modeling. His background includes poultry nutrition research, experimental design, statistical analysis, broiler production, and work with models that connect biology, feed formulation, performance, and resource use. He earned a Ph.D. in Animal Science from São Paulo State University and a bachelor's degree in Animal Science from La Molina National Agrarian University. Listen to Dr. Rony Riveros on The Poultry Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.

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What you will learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:30) Introduction
(03:33) AI in poultry production
(06:20) Models and practical application
(08:40) Feed formulation decisions
(12:32) Data quality challenges
(17:58) Future of poultry modeling
(27:20) Closing thoughts

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

* dsm-firmenich
* Adisseo
* Evonik

- Signify
- Big Dutchman
- Cobb-Vantress
- KT Pacer
- Natural Biologics
- DietForge
- Zoetis
- PSA
- J&D + AAF
- Barnwell Bio

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Poultry Podcast Show
LinkedIn: The Poultry Podcast Show
Instagram: The Poultry Podcast Show 
Facebook: The Poultry Podcast Show

In this special rerun episode of The Poultry Podcast Show, Mickey Leonard, a Researcher at the University of Minnesota, explains how risk assessments support business continuity during Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreaks. She explains how risk assessments are built, why producer and veterinarian input matters, how permit guidance helps translate complex analysis into action, and what farms should consider as HPAI risks evolve across regions, commodities, and seasons. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Risk assessment only becomes useful when it reflects real farm practices, industry input, and the movements poultry businesses need to keep operating safely."

Meet the guest: Mickey Leonard is a Researcher 4 at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and a member of the Secure Food Systems team. Her work focuses on poultry risk assessments, highly pathogenic avian influenza management, disease modeling, and collaboration with industry partners. She develops science-based guidance to support safe poultry movements and strengthen disease preparedness.

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What you will learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:18) Introduction
(04:37) Risk assessments
(07:10) Risk development
(09:17) Model updates
(13:24) Poultry commodities
(17:55) Biosecurity trends
(31:36) Final questions

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

* dsm-firmenich
* Adisseo
* Evonik

- PSA
- J&D + AAF
- Barnwell Bio
- Signify
- Big Dutchman
- Cobb-Vantress
- KT Pacer
- Natural Biologics
- DietForge
- Zoetis

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Poultry Podcast Show
LinkedIn: The Poultry Podcast Show
Instagram: The Poultry Podcast Show 
Facebook: The Poultry Podcast Show

In this episode of The Poultry Podcast Show, Dr. Valentina Bongiorno, Research Associate at Michigan State University and incoming Assistant Professor of Poultry Behavior and Welfare at Auburn University, discusses how poultry behavior connects welfare, production, and barn management. She explains how video recordings, daily observations, movement patterns, resource use, and housing design can reveal practical insights in commercial laying hen systems. Dr. Bongiorno also shares how small facility adjustments, such as changes in nest curtains, can support both welfare and production. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We need to work with the chicken, not against the chicken."

Meet the guest: Dr. Valentina Bongiorno is a Research Associate in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University, where her research focuses on poultry behavior and welfare, especially in commercial laying hen systems. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Turin in Italy, studying poultry behavior, welfare, and production with a focus on local chicken breeds and environmental enrichment. Her work spans cage-free housing, space use, movement, behavioral expression, and interactions among birds, their environment, and management practices. In September 2026, Dr. Bongiorno will join Auburn University as an Assistant Professor of Poultry Behavior and Welfare. Listen to The Poultry Podcast Show with Dr. Valentino Bongiorno to learn more about poultry behavior and welfare research on all major platforms.

Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!

What you will learn:
(00:00) Highlight
(01:56) Introduction
(03:05) Behavior and welfare
(09:46) Camera research and monitoring
(13:41) AI and precision livestock farming
(17:56) Barn observations
(21:31) Housing design
(31:10) Closing thoughts

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

* dsm-firmenich
* Adisseo
* Evonik

- Zoetis
- PSA
- J&D + AAF
- Barnwell Bio
- Signify
- Big Dutchman
- Cobb-Vantress
- KT Pacer
- Natural Biologics
- DietForge

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.
Website: The Poultry Podcast Show
LinkedIn: The Poultry Podcast Show
Instagram: The Poultry Podcast Show 
Facebook: The Poultry Podcast Show