The major goal of the research in this Department is to optimize efficiency of production, while maintaining or enhancing the environment.
Emphasis is placed on science-based research.
In the research with food-producing animals, research is directed toward production of nutritious and safe animal products. In equine research, the emphasis is to optimize nutrition of high-performance horses for recreational purposes. Appropriate health and care of the animals is of paramount importance in the research. Research conducted by the faculty in Animal and Poultry Sciences is directed to the problems and opportunities in the poultry, red meat animal, and horse industries, with special emphasis to Virginia. The program includes research in breeding and genetics, nutrition, reproductive physiology and behavior.