Goals and Objectives

• to provide quality instruction to students in basic animal science and applied principles of equine production and management
• to help students develop skills for discovering, evaluating, and adapting scientific information and technology throughout their careers
• to enhance students’ abilities to communicate effectively
• to engage students in the application of scientific principles to problem-solving in a real-world setting.

Program

The following courses are required in the Animal Science Major-Veterinary Technology Emphasis:
ANSC 121 Companion Animals
ANSC 231 Principles of Nutrition
ANSC 232 Applied Feeds and Feeding
ANSC 257 Genetics
ANSC 260 Animal Physiology
ANSC 345 Animal Health
ANSC 346 Principles of Animal Breeding
ANSC 433 Advanced Nutrition
ANSC 448 Physiology of Reproduction
ANSC 485 Seminar in Animal Science
BIOL 230 General Zoology
BIOL 243 Introduction to Biological Greek and Latin

Faculty

The animal and food science department offers majors in animal science-equine emphasis, animal science-meat animal emphasis, animal science-veterinary technology emphasis, dairy science, and food science. The faculty and staff consists of fourteen full-time members with specific expertise in various animal science disciplines including nutrition, reproduction, genetics, breeding, physiology, animal health, livestock management, and meat and dairy products. In addition the faculty has a broad base of experience with all common production animal species. Two of the current faculty members have won the campus-wide “Distinguished Teacher of the Year” award.

Facilities

The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences maintains two laboratory teaching farms which are heavily used for course work by the animal science faculty. These farms include dairy, beef, swine, sheep, poultry, and equine enterprises. In addition the animal and food science department operates an on-campus dairy processing plant and a fully equipped meat laboratory with slaughter, cutting, and processing facilities.

Career Opportunities

The major will prepare students for a variety of positions in animal agriculture. Some examples of entry-level jobs include:

• agricultural journalist
• breed association representative
• breed publication editor/assistant
• breeding farm manager
• equine equipment sales and service
• equine nutritionist
• extension or youth agent/specialist
• farrier
• farm or stable manager
• horse trainer
• pharmaceutical sales
• public relations specialist
• research assistant
• riding instructor.

Most of these positions offer significant and early opportunity for advancement. The demand for personnel is consistently high in all the above areas. In addition the Animal Science-Science Option prepares students for entry into either graduate school or veterinary college. Attainment of these advanced degrees offers numerous opportunities for rewarding careers such as university teaching, public or private research and development, private veterinary practice, and federal or state veterinary positions.