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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 
Animal Science

Staff

Scott Collins and Kathryn Poloff of Hoofprint Biome pose smiling in their lab coats.

Nov 21, 2023

Trusting Their Gut: NC State Spinout Company Knows Cows Hold the Key to Quickly Cooling the Climate

Hoofprint Biome, which recently closed a $4.25M pre-seed round of venture capital funding, was founded by two NC State Ph.D. grads with the mission to improve cattle’s gut health and, as a result, reduce methane — a major contributor to climate change. 
a greyish rhinoceros stands on a grassy hill; several other rhinos are sleeping on the ground nearby

Jun 5, 2023

How Studying Poop May Help Us Boost White Rhino Populations

Researchers have identified significant differences in the gut microbiome of female southern white rhinos who are reproducing successfully in captivity, as compared to females who have not reproduced successfully. 
Caroline Vande Berg sits next to a food trough, where a row of heifers eat.

May 31, 2023

Students Churn Out Dairy Creations From Farm to Table

NC State students help create Howling Cow milks and ice creams by caring for cattle, preparing products and serving frozen treats. They learn hands-on skills that support their coursework, research and future careers. 
Students work with samples in the Hydraulics Lab in Fitts-Woolard Hall on Centennial Campus; hands-on experience is a core component of student research.

Mar 27, 2023

Nurturing Research Know-How, One Student at a Time

The Office of Undergraduate Research is a nexus supporting mentorship, funding and hands-on research opportunities for undergraduates at NC State. 
two elephants silhouetted against the sunrise

May 10, 2022

Researchers Conduct First Assessment of Metabolites in African Savanna Elephants

The work advances our understanding of the relationship between metabolism and health in these endangered animals. 

May 17, 2021

Graduate Returns to His Roots in the Online Master of Animal Science

When Dillon Mellick graduated from Coe College in 2011 with a degree in biology, he was not quite sure where he wanted to take his career. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, he joined Kemin Industries as a quality assurance auditor, but he always felt pulled back to science. Fortunately, Kemin had an open marketing and … Continue reading Graduate Returns to His Roots in the Online Master of Animal Science → 

May 5, 2021

Active Duty Animal Science: Olivia Jones Pursues Her Passion

When Olivia Jones graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2017, she had two dreams –– serve her country and become a veterinarian. Now, as a graduating student in NC State's online Master of Animal Science, she's doing both.  
Billy Ray Vickers carries the ball down field in a Technician photo, circa 1979.

Jan 19, 2021

Major Player

Billy Ray Vickers learned the value of hard work growing up on a farm in the Blue Ridge foothills. The lessons he learned on and off the football field at NC State propelled him to a successful career in manufacturing. 

Nov 30, 2020

Nina Gierbolini

Hey guys! My name is Nina Gierbolini and I am a Senior in CALS majoring in Animal Science with a minor in Nutrition. I actually had the incredible opportunity of studying abroad twice! My first one was a two week, […] 
A dog with its tongue out

Aug 28, 2020

CALS Jefferson Scholar Awarded AKC Humane Fund Scholarship

CALS Jefferson Scholar Safari Richardson is one of just five veterinary students nationwide to receive this year’s Sir John D. Spurling Scholarship from the American Kennel Club Humane Fund.