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Department of Animal Science

Crystal Levesque

Crystal Levesque

Title

Associate Professor, Swine Nutrition

Office Building

Animal Science Complex

Office

106

Mailing Address

Animal Science Complex 106
Animal Science-Box 2170
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007

Biography

Crystal Levesque was born and raised on a broiler and mixed grain farm in central Saskatchewan, Canada. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Alberta in amino acid metabolism during pregnancy followed by post-doctoral training at Prairie Swine Center (pig as a model) and University of Guelph (energy and amino acid metabolism) prior to accepting a position of assistant professor of monogastric nutrition at South Dakota State University. Her main research interests are protein and amino acid metabolism during pregnancy and maternal nutritional influence on offspring growth and development. She is actively involved in collaborative research on the impacts of alternative feeds and dietary additives on piglet growth, immune function and gut health post-weaning and the use of the pig as a model for human health. Crystal is an active member of the American Society of Animal Science and the American Society of Nutrition serving on various organizing committees. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and landscaping and playing with the grandchildren. She lives with her husband in Brookings.

CV

CRYSTAL LEVESQUE CV.doc(85.5 KB)

Education

  • Ph.D. in nutrition and metabolism | University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada | 2010
  • M.S. in animal nutrition | University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada | 2002
  • B.S. in animal science | University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada | 1999

Academic Responsibilities

  • Supervision of graduate students and laboratory technician
  • Teach undergraduate swine production
  • Teach graduate student communication course

Committees and Professional Memberships

Committees

  • Discovery Learning Center advisory committee
  • Swine Education and Research Facility user group committee

Professional Memberships

  • American Society of Animal Science
  • American Society of Nutrition

Awards and Honors

  • 2017, Women of Distinction, South Dakota State University
  • 2010, Alberta Institute for Human Nutrition AGM, Student Competition, $100
  • 2010, Agricultural Institute of Canada Foundation IUNS Travel Award, $1,875 (declined)
  • 2009, National Science and Engineering Research Council PGS-D (2 years), $24,000
  • 2009, University of Alberta President's Doctoral Prize of Distinction, $10,000
  • 2009, Walter H. Johns Fellowship, $1,500
  • 2008, Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, $11,400
  • 1999, Kellie Aulie Memorial Scholarship in Animal Science, $600

Grants

  1. Increasing the Demand for US Soybeans-Soybean Meal in Southeast Asia Through Collaborative Graduate Student Training at SDSU. MN Pork Producer Council, 2017-2018, $15,000.
  2. Integrity gut in weaned pigs fed diets containing soybean products that are derived from a low-anti-nutritional factor variety of soybean. MN Soybean Research and Promotion Council, 2017-2018, $40,000.
  3. Effect of essential oil supplementation of lactation diets on reproductive performance and fecal characteristics of sows. SDSU Griffiths Undergraduate Research Award, 2017-2018, $3,000.
  4. Redefining amino acid requirements in pregnancy for precision sow feeding. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research – New Innovator Award, 2017-2022, $600,000.
  5. Influence of essential oil supplementation in sow diets on offspring post-natal growth performance.” South Dakota Pork Producers Council, 2016- 2017, $6,000.
  6. Evaluation of a microbially-converted soybean meal on nursery pig immune response, intestinal microbiota, and disease resistance. SD Soybean Research Council, 2016-2017, $79,222.
  7. Evaluating the dietary protein quality of cereal grains to meet human nutrition needs by measuring the metabolic availability of the most limiting amino; lysine. Canadian Institute of Health Research, 2016-2021, $650,000.
  8. Nutrient digestibilities & immunological responses of weaned pigs to a soybean variety free of P34 protein, TI, & lectins. MN Soybean Research and Promotion Council, 2017, $63,190.
  9. Increasing the Long-Term Demand for US Soybeans & Soybean Meal in Southeast Asian Through Collaborative Graduate Student Training at SDSU. MN Soybean Research and Promotion Council, 2017-2018, $15,000.
  10. Influence of essential oil supplementation in sow diets on offspring post-natal growth performance. South Dakota Pork Producers Council, 2016-2017, $6,000.
  11.  Evaluation of a microbially-converted soybean meal on nursery pig immune status and response to disease. SD Soybean Research Council, 2015-2017, $153,500.
  12. Effects of phase feeding gestating and lactating sows on reproduction performance, piglet robustness at birth and post-weaning. Minnesota Pork Board, 2014,  $50,000.
  13. Determination of nutrient digestibility of cold-pressed soybean meal. National Pork Board SREE, 2014-2015, $6,000.
  14. Evaluation of a microbially-converted soybean meal as a substitute for fishmeal and a dietary acidifier in nursery pig diets and its effect on post-weaning diarrhea. National Pork Board, 2014-2015, $41,549.
  15. Efficacy of soybean meal in reducing the effect of a PRRS challenge in pigs. SD Soybean Research Council, 2014-2016, $131,074.
  16. Alternative ingredient evaluation. SD Soybean Research Council, 2013-2014, $39,890.
  17. Alternative ingredient digestibility. South Dakota Pork Producers Council, 2013-2014, $6,000.
  18. A pilot study of systemic glucagon like peptide combined with oral epidermal growth factor and characterization of gut microbiome in short bowel piglets with and without ileum. A.S.P.E.N. Rhoads Research Foundation, 2013-2015, $50,000.
  19. Impact of starter pig nutrition on pig robustness and compensatory growth. Ontario Pork, 2012-2014, $86,000.
  20. Patterns of nitrogen retention and nutrient utilization efficiency in gestating and lactating sows, UofG2011-1029. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs 2012-2015, $121,390.
  21. Determinants of amino acid requirements of gestating and lactating sows. Ontario Pork, 2011-2014, $92,893.

Work Experience

  • Experienced communicator: oral and written
  • Extensive public speaking experience both in formal and classroom environments
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office 2010, Word, Power Point, Excel, Simply Accounting, SAS 9.2
  • Certified as Good Lab Practitioner (GLP)
  • Certified as primary surgeon for implantation of subcutaneous injection port and cephalic vein catheter in sows and intestinal cannulation in pigs
  • 2011-2012, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph. Guelph, ON, Canada.
  • 2010-2011, Research Coordinator, Prairie Swine Centre. Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
  • 2010-2011, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta. Edmonton, AB, Canada.
  • 2007-2010, Graduate Researcher, Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta. Edmonton, AB, Canada.
  • 2008-2009, Vice President Academic, Graduate Students Association, University of Alberta. Edmonton, AB, Canada.
  • 2003-2007, Restaurant Owner/Operator, Maureen's Café. Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
  • 2002-2003, Research and Information Services Assistant, Prairie Swine Centre. Saskatoon, SK, Canada.

Areas of Research

  • Defining maternal nutrient requirements to optimize offspring pre- and post-natal development
  • Impacts of alternative feeds and dietary additives on piglet growth, immune function and gut health post-weaning
  • Improving sow nutrition to produce more robust offspring resulting in increased production efficiency, reduced antibiotic use, reduced non-renewable resource input and improved overall sustainability

Department(s)

Related Links

SDSU Swine Education and Research Facility