Animal scientists are fundamental to the advancement of knowledge and the development of sustainable production systems, ecological balance and social responsibility.
Animal Scientist
Day-to-day activities include:
- Working with farmers to improve animal production
- Improving animal genetics
- Improving animal nutrition
- Conducting research in sustainable animal production and welfare
- Managing animal enterprises
- Teaching and consultancy
Careers for animal scientists include:
- Animal Breeder - developing selection plans for the improvement of livestock based on modern genetic technologies.
- Animal Nutritionist - the evaluation of the nutritional quality of feeds and the formulation of balanced least-cost diets for feed companies and farmers.
- Livestock Specialist - the development and implementation of programmes for the evaluation of superior animals and novel farming species and their import to, or export from, New Zealand.
- Reproductive Technologist - the development of new techniques such as embryo transfer, sexing and cloning embryos, semen sexing, and the application of these to improve the reproductive performance of livestock.
- Animal Scientist - conducting research aimed at improving the productivity, health, and welfare of animals, or using animals as models for humans in medical research.
- Animal Product Scientist - carrying out research into ways of improving the quality of animal products such as wool, meat and milk.
- Farm consultant with specific expertise in animal production
- Employment with livestock trading and exporting companies
- Employment with producer boards, feed companies, organisations involved in the development and marketing of animal health and performance-enhancing products
- Overseas development
- Research (including medical research) and teaching in secondary and tertiary institutions.
Training to be an animal scientist
Massey University has just introduced an Animal Science Major into the BSc. The major in Animal Science is designed to produce graduates with a broad knowledge of the physiological and biochemical principles underlying animal function and behaviour. The core disciplines of nutrition, metabolism, reproduction, lactation, growth and genetics are integrated across species and related to a variety of animal industries and systems.
"One of the many pleasures of farming is the ability to work with animals. Traditionally this included sheep, beef , cows, pigs and farm dogs but now deer, goats, lama, ostriches, emus and many other species are farmed all with their own particular set of challenges. Animal scientists play a big role in working out how these new species should be cared for in a way that provides benefit to animals and farmers alike."
