SDState - Department of Animal Science

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

Week 1 ✅ 15 to go! It was so much fun catching up with returning Jacks and meeting new faces at the welcome back picnic. Here's to a great semester ahead.

08/28/2026

Students in Advanced Bison Production in the SDState - Department of Animal Science were so excited to receive their Bison Producers Handbooks that they’ll use throughout the semester! They wanted to share a huge thank you to the National Bison Association for being such wonderful friends to the program and for their continued support for educating students on this wonderful species!

08/26/2026

It was a full house last Friday as we celebrated the retirement of one of our department's most distinguished faculty members, Dr. Bob Thaler! 🎉

Dr. Thaler's Jackrabbit journey started as a student, earning his bachelor's degree from SDSU in 1982 and his master's in 1984. After completing his Ph.D. at Kansas State University, he returned in 1988 as an SDSU Extension swine specialist, kicking off an incredible 38-year career impacting the swine industry. He retires as the Farm Credit Services of America Endowed Chair in Swine Production, Distinguished Professor and SDSU Extension Swine Specialist🐷

Along the way, Dr. Thaler played a key role in securing funding for the Swine Education and Research Facility and its recent expansion, shaping hands-on learning for generations of students. He also had a passion for international travel, leading study abroad trips since 2012 that gave countless students life-changing experiences.

Thank you, Dr. Thaler, for many years of service and for the lasting impact you've made on producers, students and colleagues alike. Congratulations on your retirement! 🎊

08/25/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘!

Ready to be part of the team behind the largest student-run livestock exhibition? Head over to our website, 𝘀𝗱𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹.𝗼𝗿𝗴, click "𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱," and find the 104th Staff Application to apply.

Applications are due 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟭:𝟱𝟵𝗽𝗺.

08/24/2026

Welcome back, Jacks!🐰 We're excited to have the Animal Science Complex buzzing once again. Here's to a semester full of hands-on learning, exciting experiences and new opportunities!💙

08/19/2026

Proud to see Jamie Brennan and Andre Antaya sharing their expertise at Cows & Code! 🐄💻

This international workshop brought together 30 participants to dive deep into livestock sensor technology and data analytics. It's the kind of hands-on, cutting-edge learning that's shaping the future of precision livestock management.

Huge congrats to everyone who made it through an intensive week of coding and cows, and thank you to CQUni Agriculture for this great collaboration!

08/18/2026

Dearest ITBC Members and Partners,

Please join us for a discussion on bison nutrition with Dr. Philip Urso of South Dakota State University!

The webinar will take place at 10 am MDT on August 19th, 2026.

Register for this webinar through the QR code or by following this link: https://forms.gle/XDu69oXSBRdR2C6s5

We hope to see you there!

08/18/2026

08/11/2026

From promotions to new adventures, the Department of Animal Science has had a lot to celebrate in the last few days. 🎉

🐷 Huge congratulations to Dr. Crystal Levesque, the inaugural Rick Wahlstrom Endowed Chair in Swine Production! This honor carries forward the legacy of the late Rick Wahlstrom, whose 36-year SDSU career helped build our reputation as a leading hub for swine research and education. Dr. Levesque's appointment is a well-earned nod to her outstanding re-search program and her dedication to student success.

🎊 We're also celebrating Madison Weishaar and Andres Felipe Bolivar Sierra as they step into exciting new roles beyond SDSU. Congrats to you both!

Read more about Dr. Levesque and her endowed position here: https://www.sdstate.edu/news/2026/08/crystal-levesque-named-inaugural-rick-wahlstrom-endowed-chair-swine-production