About the Department
We are excited about the good things happening in Animal Science! At the University of Wyoming we apply land-grant principles of learning, discovery and engagement for the benefit of students, consumers and clientele associated with animal agriculture. As the only four-year college in the state, we take great pride in providing our clientele with the most relevant, up-to-date information, whether that be in the classroom or in the field. We are proud to offer one of the most affordable Animal Science degrees in the U.S. Our students are trained to succeed after graduation thanks in large part to our scholarly, diverse, and highly sought-after faculty. The research being conducted in the department is relevant to our local community, state-wide constituents, and national animal industry. The intellectual information discovered and investigated in our department is dispersed to pertinent audiences, providing evidence of our commitment to disseminating information useful to our stakeholders. The mission of the Department of Animal Science is to facilitate the long-term viability of animal agriculture by conducting focused, comprehensive and integrated research, teaching and extension programs that meet the declared and/or assessed needs of Wyoming citizens.
Research
The faculty members in the Animal Science Department at UW are well recognized leaders
in their respective fields of study. Productive research by our faculty members, as
well as our graduate and undergraduate students, is advancing the knowledge-base for
disciplines such as livestock production – both beef cattle and sheep, ruminant nutrition,
muscle biology, food safety and microbiology, reproductive biology, and meat science.
Our research programs are committed to advancing the science of the animal industry
and other closely associated fields.
Teaching
The University of Wyoming Animal Science Department is home to 231 students making
it the largest department in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Our
department, in coordination with the Veterinary Science Department, offers one major
(Animal and Veterinary Science) and 8 study options (Production, Pre-veterinary Medicine,
Business, Communications, Range Livestock, Meat Science & Food Technology, Animal
Biology and Equine) for students. In addition, we offer an emphasis area in the Agriculture
Education and Agriculture Business programs. Beyond undergraduate education, we offer
a Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis) Masters program, as well as a Ph.D. graduate
program in our priority areas of research. It is a priority to provide students with
hands-on learning opportunities, which is why we promote lab-based learning and support
four judging teams and ten student organizations. Of all colleges on the UW campus,
ours offers the greatest number of scholarships to its students, making it affordable
for students to receive a high-quality education.
Extension
It is the ultimate goal of the UW Animal Science department to provide unbiased, research-based
information to the state’s, region’s and nation’s livestock industries and consumers
of animal products. We aim to do this through continuing education programs that focus
on relaying relevant information derived from our scholarly activity. Our department
is home for two beef cattle extension specialists who serve the cattle producers throughout
the state. We have more recently brought a sheep extension specialist on board to
identify and act upon the needs of the state and region’s sheep producers. Each of
these extension specialists also work in conjunction with our meat extension program
to provide a well-rounded approach to understanding the most pertinent concerns facing
today’s industry. Because we value the involvement of youth, the extension efforts
of the Animal Science Department are closely aligned with the mission of the state
4-H and FFA programs.
Take a look at the UW Animal Science Department and see what we are currently working on!
Our Goals
Fulfill the educational needs of students by educating them on issues facing agriculture
and provide them with the tools to make informed decisions for their future and the
future of animal agriculture.
Provide continuing education programs for the livestock industries and consumers of
animal products about new and emerging issues facing animal agriculture.
Provide and teach a process of integrated management to optimize the use of all farm
and ranch resources by fostering efforts within and among departments, industry and
agencies to solve problems in animal agriculture.
Develop animal production systems that are sustainable and either maintain or enhance
our environment and renewable resources.
Provide unbiased, research based information to facilitate problem solving in livestock
production systems.
Be aware of the ever-changing demands of animal agriculture and be a pro-active department
in facilitating changes to meet those demands.
