Warren Rusche

Warren Rusche

Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Feedlot Management Specialist

Biography

Warren Rusche is a native of South Dakota with more than 30 years of experience in the livestock industry, including Extension work at the county, regional and state levels, as well as spending time co-managing his family's cow-calf and cattle feeding business in Kingsbury County.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from South Dakota State University in 1990 and a Master of Science degree in animal science from Kansas State University in 1992. He earned his doctorate from South Dakota State University in 2021.

His outreach and research interests are focused on helping cattle feeders add value to crops and feedstuffs produced in South Dakota through cattle feeding.

Education

  • Ph.D. in animal science | South Dakota State University | 2021
  • M.S. in animal science | Kansas State University | 1992
  • B.S. in animal science | South Dakota State University | 1990

Academic and Professional Experience

Academic Interests
  • Beef cattle
  • Feedlot management
Academic Responsibilities

Appointment

  • 73% Extension
  • 20% Research
  • 7% Teaching (AS 475 Feedlot Operations and Management Lab)
Committees and Professional Memberships

Professional Memberships

  • American Society of Animal Science
  • American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists
  • Plains Nutrition Council
  • National Cattlemen's Beef Association
Extension Responsibilities

Rusche supports the citizens of South Dakota in his role as an assistant professor and SDSU Extension feedlot specialist at the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings. He focuses on strategies to add value to feedstuffs produced in South Dakota and to mitigate environmental stress, with the ultimate objective of enhancing economic activity in rural South Dakota.

Work Experience
  • Assistant Professor/Extension Beef Feedlot Management Specialist: 2021-present
  • Extension Associate – Beef Feedlot Management: 2016-2021
  • Extension Cow-calf Field Specialist, Watertown Regional Center: 2011-2016
  • Co-owner/Manager, Rusche Cattle, Bancroft: 1998-2011
  • Extension Educator, Clear Lake: 1992-1998

Research and Scholarly Work

Awards and Honors
  • CAFES Club Adviser of the Year, 2025
  • SDSU Extension Excellence in Research-Based Programming Award, 2023
  • Friend of the SD Cattlemen’s Association, SD Cattlemen’s Association, 2022
  • Poster Award Winner, Plains Nutrition Council, San Antonio, TX, 2020
  • Gamma Sigma Delta Extension Award, South Dakota State University, 2015
Publications
  1. Podversich, F., T.L.M. Ribeiro, F.L. Francis, W.C. Rusche and Z.K.F. Smith. 2025. Evaluation of dietary inclusion of a blend of essential oils and probiotics for growing beef cattle. Translational Animal Science. Accepted Nov. 15, 2025.
  2. Ribeiro, T.L.M., J.S. Heldt, E.H. Wall, B.K. Wilson, N. Owen, S. Davis, W.C. Rusche, F. Podversich and Z.K. Smith. 2025. Effect of a formulated botanical blend on growth performance and carcass characteristics in feedlot cattle: a pooled analysis. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A – Animal Science. 1-11. DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2025.2577227.
  3. Ribeiro, T.L.M., F.L. Francis, W.C. Rusche, F. Podversich and Z.K. Smith. 2025. Effects of cyclic monensin supplementation: Growth performance and carcass evaluation in beef steers fed a finishing diet. Italian Journal of Animal Science 24:2137-2145. DOI: 10.1080/1828051X.2025.2563805.
  4. Podversich, F., J.E. Griffin, J.S. Heldt, W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2025. Short communication: Evaluation of feeding a glycerol-based solution prior to harvest in beef steers. Translational Animal Science. txaf124. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaf124.
  5. Podversich, F., W. Rusche, S. Bird, Z. Smith. 2025. Effect of processing method of hybrid rye grain on growth performance, dietary net energy utilization, and carcass characteristics of yearling beef steers fed a finishing diet. Translational Animal Science. txaf102. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaf102.
  6. Jardon, G., E. Detmann, Z.K.F. Smith, W.C. Rusche, A.C.B. Menezes. 2025. Substituting dried distillers’ grains with solubles with soybean meal in finishing diets: Effects on small intestinal amino acid flow, digestibility, and nitrogen balance. Journal of Animal Science. 103:skaf232. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaf232.
  7. Podversich, F., W. Rusche, S. Bird, B. Rops, P. Sexton and Z. Smith. 2025. Hybrid rye grain inclusion strategies as a replacement for corn grain in finishing cattle diets: Effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Translational Animal Science. txaf059. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaf059.
  8. DeHaan, E.R., C.W. Dornbach, A.D. Blair, N.C. Burdick Sanchez, J.A. Carroll, P.R. Broadway, W.C. Rusche, K.E. Hales, Z.K. Smith. 2025. Influence of source of origin and region of finishing on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing heifers fed in the United States. Journal of Animal Science. skaf013, DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaf013.
  9. Ribeiro, T.L.M., B.B. Grimes Francis, C.R. Ross, J.J. Delver, F.L. Francis, J.S. Heldt, E.H. Wall, W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2025. Evaluation of a phytogenic blend fed with monensin on post-weaning growth performance, health and sera metabolite responses during the initial 56 d feedlot receiving period in steer calves. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A – Animal Science 74:18-26. DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2024.2402696.
  10. Ribeiro, T.L.M., B.B. Grimes Francis, E.R. DeHaan, C.R. Ross, J.J. Delver, F.L. Francis, J.S. Heldt, E.H. Wall, W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2025. Influence of long-term supplementation of a formulated botanical blend on growth performance and carcass traits in feedlot steers. Animal Bioscience. 38:77-85. DOI: 10.5713/ab.24.0125.
  11. Smith, Z.K., B.G. Francis, J.J. Delver, F.L. Francis, E.R. DeHaan, T.L.M. Ribeiro and W.C. Rusche. 2024. Evaluation of extruded and expelled soybean meal as a partial replacement for dried distiller’s grains plus solubles in diets offered to finishing beef steers. Applied Animal Science. 40:751-759. DOI: 10.15232/aas.2024-02581.
  12. Ross, C.R., A.C.B. Menezes, F.L. Francis, Z.K. Smith and W.C. Rusche. 2024. Substitution of modified distillers grains with soybean meal with or without soyhulls had negligible effect on growth performance, efficiency, and carcass traits in yearling steers. Applied Animal Science. 40:760-769. DOI: 10.15232/aas.2024-02575.
  13. DeHaan, E.R., W.C. Rusch and Z.K. Smith. 2024. Vaccine timing does not affect growth performance but enhances antibody titers in previously vaccinated calves. Ruminants 4:476-490. DOI: 10.3390/ruminants4040034.
  14. Delver, J.J., W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2024. Evaluation of a phytogenic blend with essential oils and plant extracts on initial receiving period growth performance of auction-derived beef steers. American Journal of Essential Oil and Natural Products 12:32-36. DOI: 10.22271/23219114.2024.v12.i1a.264.
  15. Ribeiro, T.L.M., B.B. Grimes Francis, C.R. Ross, J.J. Delvin, F.L. Francis, J.S. Heldt, E.H. Wall, W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2024. Evaluation of a phytogenic blend fed with monensin on post-weaning growth performance, health and sera metabolite responses during the initial 56 d feedlot receiving period in steer calves. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A – Animal Science, 1-9. DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2024.2402696.
  16. Kelly, A., Rusche, W., Francis, F., Gonda, M., Wright, C. and Smith, Z. (2024). Dietary Management Strategies to Mitigate Decreased Feed Intake Associated with Terminal Implant Administration in Finishing Beef Steers. American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences 19(4), 360-370. DOI: 10.3844/ajavsp.2024.360.370
  17. Ross, C.R., Z.K. Smith, F.L. Francis, A.C.B. Menezes and W.C. Rusche. 2024. Increased dietary rumen degradable protein from soybean meal improved growth performance but increased liver abscess severity in finishing beef steers. Applied Animal Science. 40:627-638. DOI: 10.15232/aas.2024-02584.
  18. Francis, F.L., W.C. Rusche, D. LaFleur, J.E. Hergenreder and Z.K. Smith. 2024. Dose effects of encapsulated butyric acid and zinc on beef feedlot steer growth. Journal of Animal Science. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae240.
  19. Francis, F.L., W.C. Rusche, Z K. Smith. 2024. Evaluation of orally administered Megasphaera elsdenii in preconditioned calves abruptly transitioned from a receiving diet with 4% dietary starch to a growing diet with 38% dietary starch. Translational Animal Science. txae113. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae113.
  20. DeHaan, E.R., J. Thompson, W.C. Rusche, M.D. Jesus, E. Block, T. Rehberger and Z.K. Smith. 2024. Evaluation of long-term supplementation of a bacillus subtilis direct fed microbial and enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast cell culture product used alone or in combination on Clostridia, C. perfringens, E. coli and Salmonella prevalence in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science. skae156. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae156.
  21. Grimes Francis, B.B., F.L. Francis, E.R. Gubbels, T.C. Norman, T.M. Ribeiro, S.R. Hanson, C. R. Ross, D.M. Paulus Compart, W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2024. Supplementation of calcium magnesium carbonate, tylosin phosphate or both on growth performance, carcass traits, liver outcomes and rumination activity of yearling beef steers fed a finishing diet. Applied Animal Science. 40:297-306. DOI: 10.15232/aas.2023-02479.
  22. Hanson, S.R., E.R. DeHaan, F.L. Francis, W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2024. Evaluation of precision ingredient inclusion on production efficiency responses in finishing beef cattle. Ruminants 4:112-124. DOI: 10.3390/ruminants4010007.
  23. Warren Carl Rusche and Zachary Kidd Foster Smith. Evaluation of ruminal dry matter disappearance and pH of dry corn, high-moisture corn and rye under in vitro conditions. 2024. Agricultural Sciences. 15:327-332. DOI: 10.4236/as.2024.153019.
  24. Norman, T.C., E.R. DeHaan, F.L. Francis, W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2024. Effect of lighter and heavier initial weight on growth performance and carcass traits of single-source beef steers. Animals. 14:567-578. DOI: 10.3390/ani14040567.
  25. Ribeiro, T.L.M., F.L. Francis, E.R. Gubbels, J.E. Griffin, W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2023. Supplemental organic trace minerals and a yeast culture product in newly weaned steers: effects of use and delivery method on growth performance and hepatic trace mineral content. Translational Animal Science. 7:1-8. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txad119.
  26. Smith, Z.K., E. Eckhardt, W.S. Kim, A.C.B. Menezes, W.C. Rusche and J. Kim. 2023. Temperature fluctuations modulate molecular mechanisms in skeletal muscle and influence growth potential in beef steers. Journal of Animal Science. 101:1-12. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad343.
  27. Nold, E.R., T.C. Norman, W.C. Rusche, R.A. Nold and Z.K. Smith. 2023. Evaluation of growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy utilization and carcass trait responses of heavy finishing lambs administered 12 mg of zeranol subcutaneously in the ear 59 d before harvest. Ruminants 3(3):240-245. DOI: 10.3390/ruminants3030022.
  28. Ribeiro, T.L.M., F.L. Francis, J.S. Heldt, W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2023. Evaluation of a ruminally protected blend of pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folic acid, biotin and vitamin B12 on finishing steer growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy utilization, carcass trait responses and liver abscess prevalence and severity. Translational Animal Science. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txad084.
  29. Dornbush, C., K. Hales, E. Gubbels, J. Wells, A. Hoffman, A. Hanratty, D. Line, T. Smock, J. Manahan, Z. McDaniel, K. Kohl, N. Burdick Sanchez, J. Carroll, W. Rusche, Z. Smith and P. Broadway. 2023. Longitudinal assessment of prevalence and incidence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157 resistance to antimicrobials in feedlot cattle sourced and finished in different regions of the U.S. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. DOI: 10.1089/pd.2023.0009.
  30. Gubbels, E.R., W.C. Rusche, E. Block, T. Rehberger, J.S. Thomson, Z.K. Smith. 2023. Evaluation of long-term supplementation of a direct fed microbial and enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast cell culture product on feedlot growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy utilization, heat stress measures and carcass characteristics in beef steers. Translational Animal Science. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txad016.
  31. Gubbels, E.R., W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2023. Manger space restriction does not negatively impact growth efficiency of feedlot heifers program fed a concentrate-based diet to gain 1.36 kg daily. Translational Animal Science. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txad012.
  32. Francis, F.L., E.R. Gubbels, T.G. Hamilton, J.A. Walker, W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2023. Evaluation of the effects of corn silage maturity and kernel processing on steer growth performance and carcass traits. Journal of Animal Science. 101:1-9. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac321.
  33. Hamilton, T.G., W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2023. Evaluation of similar dietary roughage equivalency fed to beef steers during the growing and finishing phase. Journal of Animal Science. 101:1-8. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac288.
  34. Hamilton, T.G., W.C. Rusche, C.L. Wright, J.A. Walker and Z.K. Smith. 2021. Evaluation of a low-moisture, molasses-based block containing organic sources of trace minerals and a saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation culture during the feedlot receiving phase on growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy utilization and liver trace mineral status in newly weaned steer calves. Ruminants 1(2):137-146. DOI: 10.3390/ruminants1020011.
  35. Rusche, W.C., E.J. Blom, A. DiCostanzo, G.E. Erickson, W.W. Gentry, Z.K. Smith, A.J. VanDerWal, T.M. Winders, J.P. Cassady. 2021. Heat stress mitigation strategies used by midwestern cattle feeders. Applied Animal Science. 37:614-625. DOI: 10.15232/aas.2021-02187.
  36. Gubbels, E.R., J.J. Block, R.R. Salverson, A.A. Harty, W.C. Rusche, C.L. Wright, K.M. Cammack, Z.K. Smith, J.K. Grubbs, K.R. Underwood, J.F. Legako, K.C. Olson and A.D. Blair. 2021. Influence of maternal carbohydrate source (concentrate-based vs. forage-based) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of progeny. Foods. 10:2056. DOI: 10.3390/foods10092056.
  37. Buckhaus, E.M., W.C. Rusche and Z.K. Smith. 2021. Effect of complete replacement of dry-rolled corn with unprocessed rye on growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy use and carcass traits of finishing heifers. Animals (Basel) 11(1):99. DOI: 10.3390/ani11010099.
  38. Cortus, E.L., B.P. Hetchler, M.J. Spiehs and W.C. Rusche. 2021. Environmental conditions and gas concentrations in deep pit finishing cattle facilities: A descriptive study. Transactions of the ASABE 64:31-48.
  39. Smith, Z.K., P.R. Broadway, K.R. Underwood, W.C. Rusche, J.A. Walker, N.C. Burdick Sanchez, J.A. Carroll, D. Lafluer and J.E. Hergenreder. 2021. Evaluation of Bacillus subtilis PB6 on feedlot phase growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy utilization, and fecal and subiliac lymph node Salmonella prevalence in spring placement yearling beef steers fed in southeastern South Dakota. Translational Animal Science. 5(1):1-10 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txab002.
  40. Rusche, W.C., J.A. Walker, P. Sexton, R.S. Brattain and Z.K. Smith. 2020. Evaluation of hybrid rye on growth performance, carcass traits, and efficiency of net energy utilization in finishing steers. Translational Animal Science. 4(3):1-10. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaa173.
  41. Bakker, C.E., K.R. Underwood, J.K. Grubbs, J.A. Walker, C.L. Wright, K.C. Olson, W.C. Rusche and A.D. Blair. 2020. South Dakota State University Beef 2020 increases participant knowledge of the beef industry. Translational Animal Science. 4(3):1-7. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaa161.
  42. Rusche, W.C., J.A. Walker and Z.K. Smith. 2020. Effect of inclusion rate of silage with or without alpha-amylase trait on finishing steer growth performance, carcass characteristics and agronomic efficiency measures. Translational Animal Science. 4(2):942-949. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaa056.
  43. Rusche, W.C. and T.E. Renelt. 2014. Mobile and web-based applications to determine the most economical feedstuffs for livestock. Journal of Extension [On-line], 52(2) Article 2TOT3.
  44. Rusche, W.C., R.C. Cochran, L.R. Corah, J.S. Stevenson, D.L. Harmon, R.T. Brandt Jr. and J.E. Minton. 1993. Influence of source and amount of dietary protein on performance, blood metabolites and reproductive function of primiparous beef cows. Journal of Animal Science. 71:557-563.
Mailing Address:
Animal Science Complex 217
Animal Science-Box 2170
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007
Cell Phone Number:
605-350-6633
Office Location:
Animal Science Complex
Room 217
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