Haley Larson, Ph.D.

Teaching Assistant Professor
Animal Health

Haley Larson

Haley Larson, Ph.D., is a teaching assistant professor of animal health at Kansas State University's Olathe campus.

Larson earned her B.S. in Animal Science and Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition from the University of Minnesota. Her graduate studies focused on understanding how manipulation of growth and fermentation patterns in feedlot cattle effects animal performance. While completing her degree, Larson began working as a senior scientist for Cargill Animal Nutrition and Health. In that role, she designed and developed the company's dual-flow continuous culture system – the first fully automated dual-flow system for cattle rumen simulation. This system, and the data she generated, is still being used for new product development and fermentation modeling within the company today. During her time with Cargill, Larson was also presented with many opportunities to develop and deploy on farm technologies for dairy, beef, swine, poultry and aquaculture.

Larson teaches and advises graduate students in various programs related to animal health. She teaches several animal health graduate-level courses within the various graduate degrees, including the M.S. in Applied Biosciences and the Regulatory Affairs in Animal Health Graduate Certificate. Her teaching interests involve topics such as regulatory affairs for animal health and nutrition, research strategies for product development, zoonotic pathogens in the food chain and the interconnections between animal nutrition and health. Her passion for educating the industry's next generation of agricultural professionals shines through in her courses, particularly those focused on interdisciplinary approaches in animal agriculture. In her role at K-State Olathe, Larson designs academic courses and professional development programming tailored to Greater Kansas City's growing animal health industry.

Academic Program Affiliations

M.S. in Animal Science and Industry (coming Fall 2025)

Education

Ph.D., Ruminant Nutrition, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, 2019
B.S., Animal Science, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, 2014

Research Interests

Fermentation patterns for nutrients of health and nutritional purpose
Use of In vitro dual-flow continuous culture fermenters to model rumen fermentation
Development of biological modeling capabilities and analytics
Evaluation of rapid assays for on-farm applications

News and Blog Highlights

Faculty spotlight: Q and A with Haley Larson, Ph.D.

Teaching Schedule

AAI 841 Strategies in Pre-Clinical and Clinical Research for Regulatory Affairs in Animal Science

AAI 844 Regulatory Development of Animal Pesticides – EPA

AAI 846 Special Topics Animal Health Regulatory Affairs

AAI 861 Research strategies to drive development of animal health products

AAI 867/DMP 880/FDSCI 961 Zoonotic Pathogens in the Food chain

 DMP 870 Pathobiology seminar

AAI 795 Animal Health in England: Then, Now, and in the Future (Summer 2024)

AAI 795 Regulations Associated with Animal Nutrition (Summer 2024)

Affiliations

Publications/Scholarly Work

Larson, H. E., Jaderborg, J. P., Paulus-Compart, D. M., Crawford, G. I., & DiCostanzo, A. (2023). Effect of substitution of distillers grains and glycerin for steam–flaked corn in finishing cattle diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Journal of Animal Science, 101.

Larson, H. E., Crawford, G. I., Cox, R. B., & DiCostanzo, A. (2023). Effect of inclusion of distillers grains with solubles and crude glycerin in beef cattle finishing diets on ruminal fermentation and fatty acid biohydrogenation. Journal of Animal Science, 101.

Nichols, R. K., Carter, C. M., Hood, J.-P., Jackson, M. J., Joseph, S. M., Larson, H., Lonstein, W. D., Mai, R., McCreight, R., & Mumm, H. C. (2022). Space Systems: Emerging Technologies and Operations. Chapter 12: Humanitarian use of space technologies to improve global food supply and cattle management.

INVITED SPEAKER: Larson, H. (2022). “Beyond the age of information: Role of technological advancements and data analytics in the success of animal agriculture.” Presented to Innovations in Ag Tech conference. Kansas City, KS. August 4-6.

INVITED SPEAKER: Johnson, H., and A. DiCostanzo (2017). "Effects of Growing Phase Nutrition on Finishing Performance and Carcass Quality of Steers: A Meta-analysis." Paper presented to 78th Minnesota Nutrition Conference. Mankato, MN. September 20-21.

Salfer, I.J., C. Staley, H.E. Johnson, M. Sadowsky, and M.D. Stern. "Comparisons of bacterial populations found in the rumen and in a continuous culture in vitro fermentation system using high throughput 16S amplicon sequencing." Journal
of Animal Science. April 2018.

INVITED SPEAKER: Larson, H., M. Stern, and A. DiCostanzo. (2016). The role of diet in determining omega-3 concentrations in beef or milk. Paper presented to 77th Minnesota Nutrition Conference. Prior Lake, MN. September 21-22.

Abscract Presentations

Larson, H.E., Owens, F.N., and A. DiCostanzo. (2021). Equivalent effects of growing phase ADG and DOF at various placement weights on finishing beef cattle performance using meta-analysis approach. Presentation to ASAS National Meeting, Louisville, KY. July 14-17

Larson, H.E., Adams, A.P., and R. Stuteville. (2021) Development of an Industry Relevant Graduate Certificate for Regulatory Affairs in Animal Health. Presentation to ASAS National Meeting, Louisville, KY. July 14-17

El Haddad, S., Score, P., Roman-Garcia, Y., Piantoni, P., Larson, H., and G. Schroeder. (2021) Evaluation of 2 sources of monensin on rumen fermentation and digestion in continuous culture fermenters fed a lactating dairy cow diet. Poster presented to ADSA National Meeting. Virtual. July 11-14.

Adams, A.P., Larson, H.E., and R. Stuteville. (2021) Creating and Launching an Industry Relevant Graduate Certificate for Regulatory Affairs in Animal Health. Presentation to Big 12 Teaching and Learning Conference. June

Garcia-Ascolani, M. E., DiLorenzo, N., Sun, Y., Aubert, T., & Larson, H. (2020). 183 A blend of plant extracts (Actifor Pro) potentially reduced methane production in a dual-flow continuous culture system fed bermudagrass hay with or without corn gluten feed. Journal of Animal Science, 98(Suppl 4), 149.

Zeltwanger, J., H.E. Larson-Johnson, M.D. Stern, A. Dicostanzo (2019). Effects of dietary-induced pH changes on feed digestion, nitrogen metabolism, fermentation, and biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in dual-flow
continuous culture fermenters. Presentation to ASAS-CSAS Annual Meeting. July 8-11.

Zeltwanger, J., H.E. Larson-Johnson, M.D. Stern, A. Dicostanzo (2019). Effects of dietary-induced pH changes on feed digestion, nitrogen metabolism, fermentation, and biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in dual-flow
continuous culture fermenters. Poster Presented to Plains Nutrition Council. April 4-6.

Johnson, H.E., Y. Sun, G.E. Margaria, P. Piantoni, A.A.A. Jacobs, N.A. Nachtrieb, G.T. Sales, and G.F. Schroeder (2018). Effects of replacing dietary starch with digestible NDF at two agitation speeds on fiber digestibility and fermentation parameters in continuous culture fermenters. Poster presented to ADSA National meeting. Knoxville, TN. June 24-27.

Johnson, H., G.I. Crawford, R. Cox, and A. DiCostanzo (2017). Effect of inclusion of modified distillers grains and soy glycerin in beef cattle finishing diets on ruminal fermentation. Poster presented to Minnesota Nutrition Conference. Mankato, MN. September 20-21.

Johnson, H. and A. DiCostanzo (2017). A Meta-analysis on the effects of pre-finishing strategy on feedlot and carcass performance. Poster presented to Plains nutrition council spring conference. San Antonio, TX. April.

Johnson, H. and A. DiCostanzo (2017). A Meta-analysis on the effects of pre-finishing strategy on feedlot and carcass performance. Paper presented to the ASAS/ADSA Midwestern section annual regional meeting. Omaha, NE. March.

Larson, H., and A. DiCostanzo. (2016). Impact of rate of gain and days on feed during the growing phase on feed conversion during the finishing phase. Poster presented to Minnesota Nutrition Conference. Prior Lake, MN. September 21-22.

Salfer, I., H. Larson, and M. Stern. (2016). Comparisons of microbial populations found in the rumen and in a dual-fow continuous culture fermentation system using high-throughput 16S amplicon sequencing. Poster presented to ADSA/ASAS National Joint Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT. July 19-23.

VanDerWal, A., H. Larson, and A. DiCostanzo. (2016). An In situ evaluation of crude protein degradation for common backgrounding and finishing feedstuffs fed to cattle in the Midwest region. Poster presented to University of Minnesota
Undergraduate Research Symposium. Minneapolis, MN. April 29.

Larson, H., and A. DiCostanzo. (2016). Impact of rate of gain and days on feed during the growing phase on feed conversion during the finishing phase. Poster presented to Plains Nutrition Council Spring Conference. San Antonio, TX.
April 14-15.

Larson, H., M. Lostetter, and A. DiCostanzo. (2016). Characterization of nutrient content, yield, and gross return to cattle feeding at three corn crop endpoints. Poster presented to ASAS/ADSA Midwestern section annual regional meeting. Des Moines, IA. March 14-16.

Larson, H., I. Shinzato, M. Miura, I. Salfer, S. Fessenden, and M. Stern. (2015). Evaluation of three ruminal protected lysine sources produced in two different batches using a modified three-step in vitro procedure. Poster presented to
ADSA/ASAS National Joint Annual Meeting. Orlando, Fl. July 12-16.

Larson, H., N. Kenney, and A. DiCostanzo. (2015). Evaluation of a feed additive mixture of direct fed microbials, prebiotics, and enzymes on in vitro true digestibility of feeds. Poster presented to Plains Nutrition Council Spring Conference. San Antonio, TX. April 16-17.

Larson, H., N. Kenney, and A. DiCostanzo. (2015). Evaluation of a feed additive mixture of direct fed microbials, prebiotics, and enzymes on in vitro true digestibility of feeds. Paper presented to ASAS/ADSA Midwestern section annual
regional meeting. Des Moines, IA. March 16-18.

Larson, H., I. Salfer, and M. Stern. (2014). Effect of Sulfur Content of Distillers Grains on Protein Digestibility in Ruminants. Poster presented to University of Minnesota Undergraduate Research Symposium. Minneapolis, MN. April 25.

*Authors contributed equally to this work.