Research

Cutting-Edge Research

There’s a reason top agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation pour millions of research dollars into our department each year: Our faculty and students pioneer solutions to the problems facing the animal science industry.

From genetics and genomics to reproductive physiology, our students have opportunities to work with seasoned faculty and apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world issues.

research areas

Animal Well-Being

Research in animal well-being is typically incorporated within other focus areas such as genetics or physiology. Students pursuing this emphasis have investigated everything from the effect of breeding behavior on the reproductive efficiency of swine to the impact of housing conditions on stress-related hormones in captive primates.

Faculty in Animal Well-Being 

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is considered a support discipline and can be included in graduate programs in a variety of areas including physiology, nutrition, genetics/genomics and production management.

Faculty in Biotechnology 

Genetics and Genomics

Students can choose to major in Animal Science with a co-major in Genetics or Functional Genomics. Students pursuing research in genetics and genomics use a variety of animal models including beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine and mice in their thesis projects.

Faculty in Genetics and Genomics 

Nutrition

Our nutrition program focuses on a range of topics, from basic molecular nutrition approaches to studies with direct practical applications in the target species. Students can work with a variety of animal species, including cattle, swine, horses, sheep, goats, mice, companion animals and exotic animals.

Nutrition Research Faculty 

Physiology

The physiology group conducts activities in two major areas: reproductive physiology and lactational physiology. Student research projects range from basic molecular studies to applied research projects in a variety of animal systems. Students use a variety of animal models including cattle, swine, mice, goats, horses, domestic cats and exotic cats in their research.

Physiology Research Faculty 

Production Agriculture

Students in production management investigate problems that involve applied research within their particular discipline (genetics, nutrition, physiology). Research can include assessment of the usefulness of early pregnancy detection by real-time ultrasonography in swine, the effectiveness of specific feed additives on growth and nutrient utilization of beef steers, or the effect of grazing-based dairy cattle management on the onset of puberty in heifers.

Production Agriculture Research Faculty