About the Department

Animal Sciences is an academic department of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), a unit of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). Creating new solutions to tomorrow's problems underlies everything we do in the Animal Sciences Program. In the areas of teaching, research, and extension, our faculty integrate the most modern technologies available with personal expertise and attention to the needs of students and our industry.

More than forty faculty members support teaching, research, and extension activities in areas including nutrition, reproduction, molecular biology and physiology, genetics, meat science, and management related to dairy and beef cattle, horses, goats, and swine. Investigators make use of state-of-the-art lab facilities; beef, dairy, and equine research and teaching units; a meat processing facility; and extension units statewide.

Our Students

Undergraduate students prepare for veterinary school; graduate programs in animal research; or careers in biological sciences, beef or dairy production, agribusiness, food production, and the equine industry. More than five hundred students are enrolled in one of the five undergraduate program options: Animal Biology, Beef Industry, Dairy Industry, Equine Industry, or Meats Industry. Three graduate degrees are offered: Master of Science, thesis and non-thesis option and Ph.D.

Our Mission

The Department of Animal Sciences mission is to provide our stakeholders with intellectual depth and tools required for self-sustained learning while emphasizing knowledge related to animal agriculture. Conduct research and make knowledge available through teaching and extension to assist food animal and horse enterprises in remaining profitable and sustainable, and providing consumers with economical, safe and wholesome food.