Animal Scientist
PrintWork Tasks
ANIMAL SCIENTISTS study farm animals and develop ways to improve their quantity and quality. They are concerned with producing domestic livestock species, such as cattle, horses, and sheep. They do research on the selection, physiology, breeding, feeding, management, and health of animals. They are concerned with foods of animal origin and try to develop better ways of producing and processing meat, poultry, eggs, and milk. They study the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of farm animals. Some inspect and grade livestock food products, purchase livestock, or work in technical sales or marketing.
Salary, Size & Growth
- $58,000 average per year ($28.00 per hour)
- A small occupation (2,400 workers in 2010)
- Expected to grow moderately (1.3% per year)
Entry Requirements
Training for ANIMAL SCIENTISTS depends on the specialty and type of work. A bachelor's degree in agricultural science is sufficient for some jobs in applied research or for assisting in basic research, but a master's or doctoral degree is required for basic research. A Ph.D. degree in agricultural science is usually required for college teaching and for top research positions. A typical undergraduate agricultural science curriculum includes communications, economics, business, and physical and life science courses. Technical agricultural science courses might include animal breeding, reproductive physiology, nutrition, and meats and muscle biology.