Crystal Levesque

Crystal Levesque

Professor, Monogastric Nutrition

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 postdoctoral 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 postweaning and the use of the pig as a model for human health.

Levesque 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, landscaping and playing with her grandchildren. She lives with her husband in Brookings.

Education

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

Academic and Professional Experience

Academic Responsibilities
  • Supervision of graduate students and laboratory technician
  • Teach graduate student communication course
  • Teach graduate monogastric nutrition
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
Work Experience
  • Experienced communicator: oral and written.
  • Extensive public speaking experience both in formal and classroom environments.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office 2010, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Simply Accounting and SAS 9.2.
  • Certified as Good Lab Practitioner.
  • 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 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
  • 2010-2011, research coordinator, Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
  • 2010-2011, postdoctoral fellow, Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
  • 2007-2010, graduate researcher, Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
  • 2008-2009, vice president academic, Graduate Students Association, University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
  • 2003-2007, restaurant owner/operator, Maureen's Café in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
  • 2002-2003, research and information services assistant, Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Research and Scholarly Work

Areas of Research
  • Defining maternal nutrient requirements to optimize offspring pre- and postnatal development.
  • Impacts of alternative feeds and dietary additives on piglet growth, immune function and gut health postweaning.
  • Improving sow nutrition to produce more robust offspring resulting in increased production efficiency, reduced antibiotic use, reduced nonrenewable resource input and improved overall sustainability.
  • Characterizing influence of alternative ingredients on nutrient digestibility and growth performance in broilers and turkeys.
Awards and Honors
  • 2022, SD Master Pork Producer
  • 2021, SDSU Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award, $1,000
  • 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 (two 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. INPASA, 2025. Nutritional value of dried distiller grains with solubles in gestating sow diets. $71,458. (1 year). PI
  2. POET Inc, 2025. Mycotoxin mitigation strategy in swine and poultry diets. $89,526 (1 year) co-PI
  3. CBS Bio Platforms, 2025. Enzyme technology in swine and poultry diets. $220,000 (2 years) PI
  4. USDA-NIFA Competitive Grant, 2025. Functional fiber requirement of pregnant sows. $499,499 (3 years) Collaborator
  5. USDA-NIFA Competitive Grant, 2023. Lysine requirement of pregnant sows. $499,499 (3 years) Collaborator
  6. CBS Bio Platforms, 2023. Enzyme technology in swine and poultry diets. $100,000. (3 years) PI
  7. National Canola Growers Association, 2023. Alleviation of the toxic effects of high canola meal inclusion in nursery pig diets. $56,965. (1 year) co-PI
  8. Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, 2023. Impact of feeding extruded Trusoya soybeans on growth performance, blood profile and carcass characteristics in broiler chickens. $60,814. (1 year) co-PI
  9. U.S. Pork Center of Excellence, 2022. P.I.G. Postdoctoral student editor program. $40,000 (2 years) co-PI
  10. Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, 2022. Improving nutritional value of soybean products through protease supplementation in broilers diets. $60,814. (1 year) co-PI
  11. SAM Nutrition, 2022. Dietary inclusion of two chromium sources on sow performance and pig growth until market. $98,286 (1 year) Collaborator
  12. Northern Soy Marketing, 2022. Differentiating nutritional value (energy and amino acids) of soybean meal from various origins fed to swine and poultry. $110,400. (1 year) co-PI
  13. United Soybean Board, 2022. An investigation of the amino acid release patterns as a mechanism for the superior nitrogen retention of intact soy protein. $70,992. (1 year) Collaborator
  14. Soybean Research and Promotion Council, 2022. Effect of feeding high oleic soybean oil to finishing pigs on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality. $53,800. (1 year) co-PI
  15. United Soybean Board, 2022. Improving soybean meal value in swine diets by alleviating antinutritional effects of SBM through commercially available feed technology. $99,300 (1 year) co-PI
  16. North Dakota Corn Utilization Council, 2022 Thaler, R. Evaluation of corn from different global sources in comparison to United States grade 2 corn. $20,000. (1 year) Collaborator
  17. Canadian Biosystems, 2021 Graduate training in poultry nutrition. $100,000 (2 years) co-PI
  18. USDA-NIFA Competitive Grant, 2021. Levesque, C.L., Morton, J., Clapper, J.C, Gonda, M., St. Pierre, B., Maradi, H. Gilt development markers. $499,499 (3 years) PI
  19. Pipestone Systems. Levesque, C.L. Graduate student industry experience training. $7,000 (1 year) PI
  20. USDA Higher Education Challenge, 2020. Preparing graduate students for future careers in the livestock industry: Communicating beyond science to scientist $750,000 (3 years) PI
  21. Canadian Biosystems, 2020. Graduate training in sow nutritional strategies to improve reproduction and offspring vigor. $165,000 (3 years) PI
  22. POET Nutrition, 2019. Supporting graduate training and research on the practical use of yeast-based high protein sources for nursery pigs. $188,987 (3 years) PI
  23. National Pork Board SREE, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019. Undergraduate student research award in swine nutrition. $5,000 in each year PI
  24. Jefo Nutrition Inc., 2019. Influence of protease with or without superdosing phytase on pig performance from weaning to market and postwean gut permeability in a commercial facility. $49,000
  25. RTI, 2018. Pilot evaluation of a modified direct-fed microbial on pig performance, diet digestibility, gut health and intestinal microbial profile in weaned pigs. $40,876
  26. Vitech, Inc., 2018. Evaluation of peptide, MOS and protease on nursery pig performance and gut health. $48,000 (2 years) PI
  27. Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, 2017. Practical evaluation of a novel Triple Null Soybean on weaned pig performance $96,796. (1 year) PI
  28. Minnesota Pork Producer Council, 2017. Increasing the demand for United States soybeans-soybean meal in Southeast Asia through collaborative graduate student training at SDSU. $15,000 (1 year) co-PI
  29. Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, 2017. Integrity gut in weaned pigs fed diets containing soybean products that are derived from a low-antinutritional factor variety of soybean. $57,612 (1 year) co-PI
  30. SDSU Griffiths Undergraduate Research Award, 2017. Effect of essential oil supplementation of lactation diets on reproductive performance and fecal characteristics of sows. $3,000 (1 year) PI
  31. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research – New Innovator Award, 2017. Redefining amino acid requirements in pregnancy for precision sow feeding. $600,000 (5 years) PI
  32. Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, 2017. Nutrient digestibilities and immunological responses of weaned pigs to a soybean variety free of P34 protein, TI and lectins. $63,190 (1 year) co-PI
  33. Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, 2017. Increasing the long-term demand for United States soybeans and soybean meal in Southeast Asian through collaborative graduate student training at SDSU. $15,000 (1 year) co-PI
  34. USDA-Undergraduate Research and Extension Experiential Learning Fellowships, 2017. Mentoring undergraduate students in precision livestock production for the 21st century. $300,000 (3 years) co-PI
  35. South Dakota Pork Producers Council, 2016. Influence of essential oil supplementation in sow diets on offspring postnatal growth performance. $6,000 (1 year) PI
  36. South Dakota Soybean Research Council, 2016. Evaluation of a microbially-converted soybean meal on nursery pig immune response, intestinal microbiota and disease resistance. $79,222 (1 year) PI
  37. Canadian Institute of Health Research, 2016. Evaluating the dietary protein quality of cereal grains to meet human nutrition needs by measuring the metabolic availability of the most limiting amino; lysine. $650,000 (5 years). co-PI
  38. South Dakota Pork Producers Council, 2016. Influence of essential oil supplementation in sow diets on offspring postnatal growth performance. $6,000 (1 year), PI
  39. South Dakota Soybean Research Council, 2015. Evaluation of a microbially-converted soybean meal on nursery pig immune status and response to disease. $153,500 (2 years), PI
  40. Minnesota Pork Board, 2014. Effects of phase feeding gestating and lactating sows on reproduction performance, piglet robustness at birth and postweaning. $50,000 (1 year), co-PI
  41. National Pork Board, 2014. Evaluation of a microbially-converted soybean meal as a substitute for fishmeal and a dietary acidifier in nursery pig diets and its effect on postweaning diarrhea. $41,549 (1 year), PI
  42. South Dakota Soybean Research Council, 2014. Efficacy of soybean meal in reducing the effect of a PRRS challenge in pigs. $131,074 (2 years), co-applicant
  43. South Dakota Soybean Research Council, 2013. Alternative ingredient evaluation. $39,890 (1 year), PI
  44. South Dakota Pork Producers Council, 2013. Alternative ingredient digestibility. $6,000 (1 year), PI
  45. A.S.P.E.N. Rhoads Research Foundation, 2013. 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. $50,000 (2 years), PI
  46. Ontario Pork, 2011 and 2012. Impact of starter pig nutrition on pig robustness and compensatory growth. $86,000. Determinants of amino acid requirements of gestating and lactating sows. $92,893 (3 years), (2 years), co-applicant
  47. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, 2012. Patterns of nitrogen retention and nutrient utilization efficiency in gestating and lactating sows. UofG2011-1029, $121,390 (3 years), co-applicant
Publications

Publications

  1. Perez-Palencia, J.Y., Galli-Miotto, G., Forero-Salamanca, A., Hong, J., Patterson, R. and Levesque, C.L. 2025. Dietary multiprotease supplementation on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in turkey poults fed high-soybean meal diet. Journal of Applied Poultry Research Rev. in press
  2. Benavides-Infante, A., Fresno-Rueda, A.M., Rodrigues, L.A., Socha, M.T., Fernandes, T., St.Pierre, B., Perez-Palencia, J.Y. and Levesque, C.L. 2025. Interactive effect of dietary protein and fiber levels on total tract and apparent ileal nutrient digestibility, microbiota profiling, and fermentation products in pigs fed a blend of branched-chain volatile fatty acids. Frontiers-Advances in nutritional strategies for optimizing swine growth performance and gut health. In press.
  3. Everding, T., Seddon, Y., Perez-Palencia, J.Y. and Levesque, C.L. 2025. Quantifying cortisol in hair as a chronic stress biomarker in group-housed and stall-housed sows during gestation. Submitted Animal Welfare. In press.
  4. Crosbie, M., Templeman, J.R., Pezzali, J.G., Rankovic, A., Courtney-Martin, G., Levesque, C.L., Hancock-Monroe, L.,Buff, P.R., Columbus, D. and Shoveller, A.K. 2025. Reformulation of a crystalline amnion acid reference diet improved oxidation response but remains insufficient for assessing methionine bioavailability in extruded dog diets. Journal of Animal Science. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaf364
  5. Crosbie, M., Templeman, J., Pezzali, J., Rankovi, A., Courtney-Martin-G., Levesque, C.L., Hancock, L., Buff, P.R., Columbus, D., Verburg, A. and Shoveller, A.K. Semi-synthetic reference diets containing crystalline amino acids at 120% of recommendations for adult dogs are not appropriate for estimating protein quality of ingredients used in extruded diets. Journal of Animal Science. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaf306
  6. Chaves, R.F. Resende, M. Paoletti, A. Rafii, M., de Souza Cantarelli, V., Pencharz, P.B., Elango, R., Levesque, C.L. and Courteny-Martin, G. 2025. Novel combination of indicator amino acid oxidation and Ileal digestibility methods in growing pigs to assess protein quality of cooked millet. Journal of Nutrition 155:3434-3441. DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.08.001
  7. Hong, J., Perez-Palencia, J.Y., Patterson, R. and Levesque, C.L. 2025. Effects of protease supplementation on the ileal digestibility of amino acids for protein ingredients in broiler chickens. Poultry Science Journal. 10:105605-105616. DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.105605
  8. Ramirez-Camba, C., Urriola, P.E. and Levesque, C.L. 2025. Characterizing the dynamic protein and amino acid deposition in tissues of pregnant gilts: Implications for stage-specific nutritional strategies. Animals 15:2126. DOI: 10.3390/ani15142126
  9. Benavides-Infante, A.P., Rodrigues, L.A., Socha, M.T., Schweer, W., Levesque, C.L. and Perez-Palencia, J.Y. 2025. Effect of increasing isoacids level on total tract and apparent ileal nutrient digestibility and fermentation products in growing pigs fed corn-soybean meal diets. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 16:102-115 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-025-01239-0
  10. Samuel, R.S., Darrington, J.E., St. Pierre, B., Levesque, C.L. and Thaler, R.S. 2025. Effect of pen space allowances on growth performance of finishing pigs. Animals. 15:1451-1459 DOI: 10.3390/ani15101451
  11. Atoo, A.F., Bolivar-Sierra, A.F., Perez-Palencia, J.Y., Levesque, C.L., Patterson, R., Krishnan, H.B. and Hong, J. Supplementation of multienzyme with acidifier alleviates the antinutritional effects of high soybean meal diet for nursery pigs. 2025. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12: 1-12. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1589827
  12. McClellan, K., Fowler, E., Perez-Palencia, J.Y., St, Pierre, B., Weaver, E., Levesque, C.L., Koch, K., Mueller, S. and Hong, J. 2025. Supplementation effects of acidifier and/or encapsulated butyrate solely and combined in high canola meal for nursery pigs. Journal of Animal Science 103:skaf111. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaf111
  13. Atoo, A.F., Perez-Palencia, J.P., Levesque, C.L., Underwood, K., Koch, K., Mueller, S., Krishnan, H.B. and Hong, J. 2025. Effects of feeding expeller-extruded high oleic soybeans in broiler diets on growth performance, blood profile and meat quality. 2025. Poultry Science Journal. 104:104960. DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.104960
  14. Shipman, G., Perez-Palencia, J.Y., Hong, J., Niu, Y., Rogiewicz, A., Patterson, R. and Levesque, C.L. 2025. Effects of multienzyme supplementation on energy and nutrient digestibility in various feed ingredients for pregnant gilts. Journal of Animal Science. 103:skaf017. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaf017
  15. Munoz-Alfonso, C.J., Huber, L. and Levesque, C.L. 2025. Effect of low and high sulfur containing amino acid inclusion in diets fed to primiparous sows in late gestation on prepartum nitrogen retention and offspring pre- and post-weaning growth performance. Animals. 14:3681 DOI: 10.3390/ani14243681.
  16. Dierking, S.L., Morton, J.M., Clapper, J.A., Gonda, M.G., Pinilla, J.C. and Levesque, C.L. 2024. Changes in vaginal gene expression and anogenital distance during gilt reproductive development. Animal Reproduction. 22:e20240056. DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-AR2024-0056.
  17. McClellan, K., Levesque, C.L. and Weaver, E. 2024. Evaluating point-of-care testing for anemia diagnosis in pigs: blood collection location disparities, repeatability and variability. Swine Health Production. DOI: 10.54846/jshap/1402.
  18. McClellan, K., Sheffield, S. and Levesque, C.L. 2024. The impact of hemoglobin concentration on farrowing duration in sows. Translational Animal Science. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae158
  19. McClellan, K., Lindemann, M. and Levesque, C.L. Assessment of hemoglobin concentration in sows and their offspring across multiple reproductive cycles. Journal of Swine Health and Production. DOI: 10.54846/jshap/1399
  20. Perez-Palencia, J.Y., Ramirez-Camba, C., Haydon, K, Urschel, K. and Levesque, C.L. Effects of increasing dietary arginine supply during the three first weeks after weaning on pig growth performance, plasma amino acid concentrations and health status. Translational Animal Science 8 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae047. eCollection 2024.
  21. Coapstick, G., Barry, A., Levesque, C.L. and Shoemaker, M. Nutrient intake, performance and body composition of preseason wrestlers. International Journal of Exercise Science. 17:517-530. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae047
  22. Miotto Galli, G., Andretta, I., Levesque, C.L., Bastos Stefanello, T., Lopes Carvalho, C., Perez Palencia, J.Y., Bueno Martins, G., Souze de Lima Cony, B., Remoeiro de Oliveira, C., Franceschi, C. and Kipper, M. 2024. Using probiotic supplementation to improve nutrient digestibility and gut health of weaned pigs: a comparison maternal and nursery supplementation strategies. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 11 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1356455
  23. Tul-Noor, Z., Paoletti, A., Fakiha, A., Pencharz, P.B., Levesque, C.L., Ball, R.O., Elango, R. and Courtney-Martin, G. Lysine from cooked chickpeas and whole wheat bread consumed by healthy adult males is highly bioavailable when assessed using the combined indicator amino acid oxidation and slope-ratio method. Journal of Nutrition. DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.08.011
  24. Chevalier, T.B., Adeola, O., Carter, S.D., Dove, C.R., Estienne, M.J., Levesque, C.L., Maxwell, C.V., Tsai, T. and Lindemann, M.D. 2024. A cooperative study assessing the effects of a second iron injection administered before weaning on growth performance, hematological status and tissue mineral concentrations of nursery pigs. Applied Animal Science 40:112–123. DOI: 10.15232/aas.2023-02480.
  25. Garavito-Duarte, R, Herrick, K., Levesque, C.L. and Perez-Palencia, J. A corn-fermented protein ingredient can be included in early nursery diets without compromising pig growth performance and health status. Translational Animal Science. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txad149.
  26. Shipman, G.L., Perez-Palencia, J.Y., Rogiewicz, A., Patterson, R. and Levesque, C.L. Evaluation of multienzyme supplementation and fiber levels on nutrient and energy digestibility of diets for gestating sows compared to growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science. 101:1–11. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad375.
  27. Ramirez-Camba, C.R. and Levesque C.L. 2023. The linear-logistic model: a novel paradigm for estimating dietary amino acid requirements. Animals. 13: 1708; DOI: 10.3390/ani13101708
  28. Garavito-Duarte, Y.R., Levesque, C.L., Herrick, K. and Perez-Palencia, J.Y. 2023 Nutritional evaluation of high protein ingredients fed to growing pigs in comparison to commonly used protein sources in swine diets. Journal of Animal Science 3:101:skad135; DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad135.
  29. Levesque, C.L., Ma, X. 2023. Dietary Lactobacillus reuteri prevent inflammation mediated apoptosis of liver via improving intestinal microbiota and bile acid metabolism. Food Chemistry. 404: 134643. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134643
  30. F., Tansil, J.G., Pezzali, C., Cargo-Froom, L., Huber, E.G., Kiarie, G., Courtney-Martin, C.L., Levesque and A.K., Shoveller. 2022. Evaluation of standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids and metabolic availability of methionine, using the indicator amino acid oxidation method, in black soldier fly larvae meal fed to growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 101:1-12. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac420.
  31. Lin, Z., Wu, J., Wang, J., Levesque, C.L. and Ma, X. 2022. Dietary Lactobacillus reuteri prevent from inflammation mediated apoptosis of liver via improving intestinal microbiota and bile acid metabolism. Food Chemistry. 404:134643. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134643
  32. Miller, H.E., McClellan, K., Perez-Palencia, J.Y., Samuel, R.S., Levesque, C.L. and Thaler, R.C. 2022. Impact of water flow rate on finishing pig performance. Translational Animal Science. txac125, ;DOI: 10.1093/tas/txac125.
  33. Wang, L., Zhang, S., Johnston, L.J., Levesque, C.L., Yin, J. and Dong, B. 2022. A systematic review and meta-analysis of dietary fat effects on reproductive performance of sows and growth performance of piglets. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 13:12-31. DOI: 10.1186/s40104-021-00662-3
  34. Poudel, P., Samuel, R., Levesque, C. and St-Pierre, B. 2022. Investigating the effects of peptide-based, MOS and protease feed additives on the growth performance and fecal microbial composition of weaned pigs. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 13:25 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-022-00681-8
  35. Paoletti, A., Fakiha, A., Tul-Noor, Z., Pencharz, P.B., Levesque, C.L., Ball, R.O., Kong, D., Elango, R. and Courtney-Martin, G. 2022. Bioavailable Lysine Assessed Using the Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation Method in Healthy Young Males is High when Sorghum is Cooked by a Moist Cooking Method. The Journal of Nutrition 152: 770-778. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxab410
  36. Mok, C.H., Levesque, C.L. and Urschel, K. 2021. Evaluation of threonine requirements in mature horses fed 1:1 ratio of forage to concentrate using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique. Animal Feed Science Technology 282:115-133. DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2021.115133
  37. Hernandez, L., Dunn, J., Wenninghoff, J., Hesse, A. and Levesque, C.L. 2021. Mint oil and whole yeast cell in sow diets enhance offspring performance in the post-weaning period. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 8:658956. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.658956
  38. Perez-Palencia, J.Y., Samuel, R., Levesque, C.L. 2021. Supplementation of protease to low amino acid diets containing superdose level of phytase for wean-to-finish pigs: effects on performance, post-weaning intestinal health and carcass characteristics. Translational Animal Science 5:1-14. DOI: 10.1093/tas/taxb088.
  39. Zeamer, K.M., Levesque, C.L., Cortus, E.L. and Thaler, R.C. 2021. Survey of findings from a finishing barn survey of management benchmarks with South Dakota pork producers. Applied Animal Science 37:320-333. DOI: 10.15232/aas.2020-02107
  40. Zeamer, K.M., Samuel, R.S., St. Pierre, B., Thaler, R.C., Woyengo, T.A., Hymowitz, T. and Levesque, C.L. 2021 Effects of a low allergenic soybean variety on gut permeability, microbiota composition, ileal digestibility of amino acids and growth performance in pigs. Livestock Science 243: 1-12. DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104369
  41. Fakiha, A. Tul-Noor, Z., Paoletti, A., Pencharz, P.B., Ball, R.O., Levesque, C.L., Elango, R. and Courtney-Martin, G. 2020. Bioavailable lysine assessed using IAAO is greater when cooked millet and stewed Canadian lentils are combined in healthy young men. The Journal of Nutrition 150:2729-2737. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxaa227
  42. Ramirez-Camba, C.D., Dunn, J.L., Htoo, J.K., González-Vega, J.C., Touchette, K., Samuel, R.S., and Levesque, C.L. 2020. Efficiency of standardized ileal digestible lysine utilization for whole body protein deposition in pregnant gilts and sows during early, mid and late gestation. The Journal of Animal Science. skaa340. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa340
  43. Huang, S., Wu, Z., Yuan, X., Li, N., Li, T., Wang, J., Levesque, C.L. and Feng, C. 2020. Transcriptome Differences Reveal Novel Mechanisms for Intrauterine Growth Restriction Mediated Dysfunction in Small Intestine of Neonatal Piglets. Frontiers in Physiology. 11:561-574. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00561
  44. Wang, Y., S. Han, J. Zhou, P. Li, H. Yu, G. Wang, S. Cai, X. Zeng, L. Johnston, C. Levesque and S. Qiao. 2020. Effects of dietary crude protein level and N-carbamylglutamate supplementation on nutrient digestibility and digestive enzyme activity in jejunum in growing pigs. The Journal of Animal Science. 98:4-10. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa088
  45. Ma, C. Y. Liu, S. Lui, C.L. Levesque, F. Zhao, J. Yin, J. and B. Dong. 2020. Branched chain amino acids alter fatty acid profile in colostrum of sows fed a high fat diet. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology. 11:9-21. DOI: 10.1186/s40104-019-0423-9
  46. Poudel, P., C.L. Levesque, R. Samuel and B. St-Pierre, B. 2020. Dietary inclusion of Peptiva, a peptide-based feed additive, can accelerate the maturation of the fecal bacterial microbiome in weaned pigs. BMC Veterinary Research. 16: 60-73. DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02282-x
  47. Miller, E.G., L. Huber, J.P. Cant, C.L. Levesque, C.F.M. de Lange. 2019. The effect of pregnancy on nitrogen retention, maternal insulin sensitivity and mRNA abundance of genes involved in energy and amino acid metabolism in gilts. The Journal of Animal Science, 97:4912-4921. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz355
  48. Ortman, J., S. Sinn, W. Gibbons, M. Brown, J. DeRouchey, B. St. Pierre, M. Saqui-Salces, M. and C.L. Levesque. 2019. Comparative analysis of the ileal bacterial composition of post-weaned pigs fed different high-quality protein sources. Animal. 14:1156-1166. DOI: 10.1017/S1751731120000014.
  49. Navales, R., J. Dunn, K. Touchette, R. Thaler and C.L. Levesque. 2019. Efficiency of utilizing standardized ileal digestible lysine and threonine for whole-body protein retention in pregnant gilts during early, mid- and late gestation. The Journal of Animal Science 97:3016-3026. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz169
  50. Tauer, S., J. Holt, K. Underwood, C.L. Levesque and R. Thaler. 2019. Performance, histology and meat quality of coccidiosis-challenged broilers fed essential oils. Meat and Muscle Biology Journal. 3:13-20. DOI: 10.22175/mmb2018.07.0019.
  51. Wu, Y., N. Ma, P. Song, T. He, C.L. Levesque, Y. Bai, A. Zhang and X. Ma. 2019. Grape seed proanthocyanidin affects lipid metabolism via changing gut microflora and enhancing propionate production in weaned pigs. The Journal of Nutrition. 149:1523-1532. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxz102.
  52. Woyengo, T., R. Patterson and C.L. Levesque. 2018. Nutritive value of multienzyme supplemented cold-pressed camelina cake for pigs. The Journal of Animal Science 96:1119-1129. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skx025
  53. Miller, E.G., L. Huber, C.L. Levesque and C.F.M. de Lange. 2018. Accuracy of predicting chemical body composition of gilts and sows. Canadian Journal of Animal Science. 98:597-602. DOI: 10.1139/CJAS-2017-0061
  54. Levesque, C.L., N. Akhtar, E. Huynh, C. Walk, P. Wilcock, Z. Zhang, P.W. Dyce, C.F.M. de Lange, E. Khafipour and J. Li. 2018. The impact of epidermal growth factor (EGF) supernatant on pig performance and ileal microbiota. Translational Animal Science. 2:184-194. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txy019.
  55. Zhang, J., P. Liu, J. Zhao, J. Sun, W. Guan, L.J. Johnston, C.L. Levesque, P. Fan, T. He, G. Zhang and X. Ma. 2018. Dietary Clostridium butyricum induces a phased shift in fecal microbiome and increases the acetic acid-producing bacteria in a weaned pig model. The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 66:5157-5166. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b01253.
  56. Mok, C.H., C.L. Levesque and K.L. Urschel. 2018. Using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique to study threonine requirements in horses receiving a predominantly forage diet. The Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 106:1366-1381. DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12927
  57. Yu, H., X. Ding, L. Shang, X. Zeng, H. Liu, N. Li, S. Huang, Y. Wang, G. Wang, S. Cai, M. Chen, C.L. Levesque, L.J. Johnston and S. Qiao. 2018. Protective ability of biogenic antimicrobial peptide microcin J25 against enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli-induced intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction and inflammatory responses in IPEC-J2 cells. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 8:242-254. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00242
  58. Chen, X., P. Song, P. Fan, T. He, D. Jacobs, C.L. Levesque, L.J. Johnston, L. Ji, N. Ma, Y. Chen, J. Zhang, J. Zhao and X. Ma. 2018. Moderate dietary protein restriction optimized gut microbiota and mucosal barrier in growing pig model. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 8:246-260. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00246.
  59. Zhao, J., P. Liu, Y. Wu, P. Guo, L. Liu, N. Ma, N. Ma, C. Levesque, Y. Chen, J. Zhao, J. Zhang, and X. Ma. 2018. Dietary fiber increases the butyrate-producing bacteria and improves growth performance of weaned piglets. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 66:7995-8004. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b02545.
  60. Lui, P., J. Zhao, P. Guo, W. Lu, Z. Geng, C.L. Levesque, L.J. Johnston, C. Wang, L. Liu, J. Zhang, N. Ma, S. Qiao and X. Ma. 2017. Dietary corn bran fermented by bacillus subtilis MA139 decreased gut cellulolytic bacteria and microbiota diversity in finishing pigs. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 7:526-534. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00526.
  61. Koepke, J.R., R.S. Kaushik, W.R. Gibbons, M. Brown and C.L. Levesque. 2017. Evaluation of a bio-processed soybean meal on nursery pig performance and immune status. The Journal of Animal Science 95:5030-5039. DOI: 10.2527/jas2017.1679
  62. Miller, E.G., C.L. Levesque, N.L. Trottier and C.F.M. de Lange. Dynamics of nitrogen retention at two feeding levels in gestating parity 2 and 3 sows. The Journal of Animal Science 95:2701-2710. DOI: 10.2527/jas2017.1444.
  63. Lim, D.W., C.L. Levesque, D.F. Vines, M. Muto, J.R. Koepke, P.N. Nation, P.R. Wizzard, J. Li, D.L. Bigam, P.L. Burbaker, J.M. Turner and P.W. Wales. 2017. Synergy of glucagon-like peptide-2 and epidermal growth factor co-administration on intestinal adaptation in neonatal piglets with short bowel syndrome. The American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 312:G390-G404. DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00281.2016
  64. Sinn, S., W.R. Gibbons, M.L. Brown, J.M. DeRouchey and C.L. Levesque. 2016. Evaluation of microbially-enhanced soybean meal as an alternative to fishmeal in weaned pig diets. Animal. DOI: 10.1017/S1751731116002020.
  65. Miller, E., C.L. Levesque, N.L. Trottier and C.F.M. de Lange. 2016. Dynamics of nitrogen retention in gestating gilts at two feeding levels. Journal of Animal Science 94:3353-3361. DOI: 10.2527/jas.2016-0539
  66. Woyengo, T., R. Patterson and C.L. Levesque. 2016. Nutritive value of extruded or multienzyme supplemented cold-pressed soybean cake for pigs. Journal of Animal Science. 94:5230-5238. DOI: 10.2527/jas.2016-0822
  67. Levesque, C.L., J. Turner, J. Li, P. Wizzard, B. St-Pierre and D. Lim. 2016. In a neonatal piglet model of intestinal failure, administration of antibiotics and lack of enteral nutrition have greater impact on intestinal microflora than surgical resection alone. The Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 41:938-945. DOI: 10.1177/0148607115626903
  68. Koch, K.M., R.C. Thaler, S.K. Baidoo, C.L. Levesque and R.C. Bott. 2015. Characterization of energy and performance of swine fed a novel corn-soybean extruded product. Journal of Animal Science. Biotech. 6:17-24.
  69. Levesque, C.L., S. Hooda, K. Swanson and C.F.M. de Lange. 2014. Alterations in ileal mucosal bacteria related to diet complexity and reduced and compensatory growth performance in young pigs. PLOS One 9:e108472. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108472.
  70. Skinner, D.L., C.L. Levesque, D. Wey, M. Rudar, J. Zhu, S. Hooda and C.F.M. de Lange. 2014. Impact of nursery feeding program on subsequent growth performance, carcass quality, meat quality, physical and chemical body composition of growing pigs. The Journal of Animal Science. 92:1044-1054. DOI: 10.527/jas.2013-6743
  71. Levesque, C.L., Yu, H., Gong, J. and de Lange, C.F.M. 2012. Ileal mucosa-associated, but not digesta, bacterial profiles in grower pigs are influenced by nutrition and use of antibiotics for starter pigs. The Journal of Animal Science 90 Suppl 4:448-450.
  72. Levesque, C.L., Zhu, J. and de Lange, C.F.M. 2012. Changes in digestive capability in response to diet quality, time post-weaning and compensatory growth in pigs. The Journal of Animal Science 90 Suppl 4:236-238.
  73. De Ridder, K., Levesque, C.L., Htoo, J.K. and de Lange, C.F.M. 2012. Immune stimulation reduces the efficiency of tryptophan utilization for body protein deposition in growing pigs. The Journal of Animal Science DOI: 10.2527/jas.2011-4830.
  74. Elango, R., Levesque, C.L., Ball, R.O. and Pencharz, P.B. 2012. Available versus digestible amino acids – new stable isotope methods. British Journal of Nutrition 108:5308-5314.
  75. Moehn, S., Levesque, C.L. and Ball, R.O. 2011. Protein intake but not feed intake affects dietary net energy for pigs. The Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2011.01262.
  76. Levesque, C.L., Moehn, S., Pencharz, P.B. and Ball, R.O. 2011. The metabolic availability of threonine in common feedstuffs fed to sows is greater than published ileal digestibility estimates. The Journal of Nutrition 141:406-410.
  77. Levesque, C.L., Moehn, S., Pencharz, P.B. and Ball, R.O. 2010. The threonine requirement of sows increases in late gestation. The Journal of Animal Science 89:93-102.
  78. Beaulieu, A.D., Levesque, C.L. and Patience, J.F. 2006. The effect of dietary energy concentration and weaning site on weanling pig performance. The Journal of Animal Science 84:1159.

Other Publications

Popular press/Extension/Invited talks

  1. “Energy value of feedstuffs and the potential effect of multicarbohydrases when fed to gestating sows. Levesque, C.L. National Hog Farmer July 16, 2025.
  2. “Lactobacillus- and Bifidobacterium-based feed additives impacts on the performance, intestinal morphology and fecal bacterial populations of nursery pigs” Samuel, R.S., Castillo, J., Fresno-Rueda, A., St. Pierre, B. and Levesque, C.L. National Hog Farmer Nov. 19, 2024.
  3. “Sow anemia: Is it really that big a deal?”. Levesque, C.L. Midwest Nutrition Conference. Sept. 4-5, 2025.
  4. "Feeding the Ferrari: practical transition feeding for the hyper-prolific sow” Huber, L. and Levesque, C.L. London Swine Conference, March 4-6, 2024, London, ON, Cda
  5. “Impact of maternal arginine supplementation during lactation on sows and offspring performance” Perez-Palencia, J.P., Levesque, C.L. and Haydon, K. CJ Bio Technical Bulletin March 31, 2024.
  6. “Creating value-added pork with high oleic soybean oil in swine diets” Soybean Research and Information Network, January 2024
  7. “Importance of communicating to nonscientists for graduate students” C. Levesque. Wisenetix podcast, September 2023
  8. “Amino acid requirements for pigs in stress and disease” C. Ramirez-Camba, C. Levesque and P. Urriola. National Hog Farmer, Feb. 9, 2023
  9. “2022 SDSU Swine Day Research Update” C. Levesque. National Hog Farmer, Jan. 20, 2023
  10. “Nutrition and Health: Feeding canola cake to broilers” J. Hong, C. Sellner and C. Levesque. Feedstuffs, April 21, 2022
  11. “Feed additives can modulate the swine gut microbiome in weaned pigs” R. Samuel, P Poudel, C. Levesque and B. St-Pierre. National Hog Farmer, Jan. 24, 2022
  12. “Impact of water flow rates in finishing pigs”. Miller, H., Perez-Palencia, J., Levesque, C.L., and Thaler, R. National Hog Farmer. August 20, 2021.
  13. “Long-term stress in group-housed, stall-housed sows”. Everding, T., Seddon, Y., Perez-Palencia, J. and Levesque C.L. National Hog Farmer. May 20, 2021.
  14. “Fine-tune nursery management to achieve optimal performance." Better Pork. Feb. 28, 2021.
  15. “Retrospective look at the new SDSU swine facilities”. Levesque, C.L., Ramirez-Camba, C., Samuel, R., Clapper, J., Yang, X. and Thaler, R. National Hog Farmer. Jan. 21, 2021.
  16. Perez-Palencia, J., Brattain, R., Levesque, C.L. and Thaler, R. Impact of replacing corn with hybrid rye on finishing pig performance. National Hog Farmer. Nov. 20, 2020.
  17. Zeamer, K., Cortus, E., Levesque, C.L. and Thaler, R. Are we taking water for granted in pork production? National Hog Farmer. Sept. 20, 2019.
  18. Perez-Palencia, J., Samuel, R.C. and Levesque, C.L. Impacts of amino acid supply on piglet productivity: a good beginning makes a good ending. May 7, 2020 Blueprint issue National Hog Farmer.
  19. Samuel, R., Poudel, P, Levesque, C.L., St. Pierre, B. Peptide products can accelerate fecal microbiome maturation. National Hog Farmer. March 19, 2020.
  20. Samuel, R., Clizer, D., Isensee, P. and Levesque, C. Impact of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in Drinking Water on Nursery Pig Performance Jan. 16, 2020.
  21. Perez-Palencia, J., Cortus, E. and Levesque, C.L. Indoor air quality impacts on pig health and productivity National Hog Farmer, Blueprint Edition, October 2019.
  22. Perez-Palencia, J., Woyengo, T. and Levesque, C.L. Feeding high fiber diets National Hog Farmer, Blueprint edition, July 18, 2019.
  23. Perez-Palencia, J. and Levesque, C.L. Variability of piglet birth weights and the effect of a nutritional strategy for sows. National Hog Farmer. May 16, 2019.
  24. Levesque, C.L. Amino acid nutrition in modern sows, Is good, good enough? FeedNews Info, October 2018.
  25. Precision sow feeding. Growing South Dakota, Agriculture Experiment Station 2019 Annual Report. SDSU Extension website.
  26. Levesque, C.L., Samuel, R.S., Woyengo, T.A., Thaler, R. Study looks at mycotoxin pre-treatment to reduce DON levels. National Hog Farmer. July 18, 2019.
  27. Samuel, R.S., and Levesque, C.L. Sweetener and capsicum oleoresin fed to grow-finish pigs improve value. National Hog Farmer. July 15, 2018.
  28. Renken, M., Clapper, J.A., Thaler, R., Levesque, C.L. Diets supplemented with oregano oil show minimal impact in sow and litter. National Hog Farmer. Sept. 7, 2017.
  29. Levesque, C.L., Miller, E., Trottier, N.L. and de Lange, C.F.M. Precision feeding of the pregnant sow: the pattern of maternal and pregnancy-associated protein deposition as affected by parity. National Hog Farmer, June 2, 2017.
  30. Levesque, C.L., Miller, E., Trottier, N.L. and de Lange, C.F.M. Precision feeding of the pregnant gilt: the pattern of maternal and pregnancy-associated protein deposition. National Hog Farmer, March 2, 2017.
  31. Woyengo, T.A., Patterson, R., Levesque, C.L. Extruded cold-pressed soybean cake as a source of energy and amino acids for pigs. National Hog Farmer, Feb. 2, 2017.
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