Animal science provides training for students interested in pursuing a career in agriculture as it relates to animals or related technical support. Students learn both the theoretical as well as the technical skills required by today's modern agriculture. Student internships provide students an opportunity to apply and perfect their classroom knowledge in a practical setting. Animal biotechnology is the emphasis for students interested in applying molecular biology to animal agriculture. This emphasis prepares students for graduate training in areas such as transgenic animal production and animal cloning.
Agriculture is considered the next frontier for biotechnology applications.
Industry within the U.S. alone is investing billions of dollars in biotechnology as it relates to agriculture. Jobs also exist within the federal government in this area. Biotechnology has expanded the fields of animal science and industry. Bypass nutrients and phase feeding, photoperiod manipulation, superovulation, embryo transfer, gene therapy, transgenics, DNA fingerprinting and genetic engineering or cloning of livestock are becoming common technologies with domestic animal species. Hands-on experience is important.