Research Programs
The Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences main research objective is to optimize efficiency of animal production, while maintaining or enhancing the environment. The research programs focus on applied science, which has an immediate application to animal agriculture, and basic science, which provides scientific foundation for further basic and applied research discoveries.
Research with food-producing animals is directed toward production of nutritious and safe animal products. Equine research emphasizes the optimization of nutrition of high-performance horses for recreational purposes. Appropriate health and care of the animals is of paramount importance in our research programs.
Research conducted by faculty members in the department is directed towards problems and opportunities in the poultry, red meat, and horse industries. Basic science also interfaces with areas of biomedical relevance. The department is committed to effective and timely transfer research-generated knowledge and technology to the agricultural industry and the larger scientific and public sectors to benefit our state, our nation, and our world.
Research Opportunities
Undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows have exceptional opportunities to train and conduct research under the guidance of excellent faculty with diverse backgrounds and resources. Students and postdocs provide innovative ideas and new insights to enhance and accomplish the research.
Research Areas
Currently, the department has a variety of research projects that encompass a several discipline areas including the following:
- Animal Breeding and Genetics
- Behavior
- Genomics
- Growth and Muscle Biology
- Immunology
- Neurobiology
- Nutrition
- Product Quality
- Reproductive Physiology