South Dakota State University Extension welcomed Rafe Royall as a new assistant professor and SDSU extension swine specialist and Kaylyn Rudy as the new SDSU extension swine field specialist.
Based on the SDSU campus in Brookings, Royall’s role will include providing relevant, up-to-date research to South Dakota swine producers, and promoting the benefits of pork production and consumption to the public, a release said.
Royall has a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Texas Tech University and earned both his master’s and doctorate degrees in animal science from Kansas State University. His professional experience includes working for Beyers Farms Texas, Texas Pork Producers, Kansas State University and JBS Live Pork, where he managed a research team on a 7,500-head sow farm.
He grew up immersed in extension programs through his dad, a longtime county extension agent and administrator. He showed livestock and competed in livestock judging in 4-H and in college; since graduating, he has helped coach youth judging activities.
Rudy, based in Mitchell, S.D., will work to identify the needs of swine producers and provide research-based information to producers and industry partners.
A native of Illinois, Rudy grew up on a farm and showed horses and cattle in 4-H. She has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science with an animal science emphasis from Western Illinois University, and a master’s in swine reproductive physiology from Purdue University.
Her research has included swine fetal development and how a common swine disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), is transmitted from a pig to its piglets during pregnancy.
In addition, Rudy worked as head of animal care at Premier BioSource, a biomedical swine facility, and as a swine service technician for Indiana Packers Corporation.
Your Next Read: Why Acccurate Energy Values of Swine Feed Ingredients Are So Important
