About

The Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences encompasses focused, comprehensive, and integrated research and teaching programs that directly support animal agriculture and food sciences, including production, dairy science and pre-veterinary science.

We oversee undergraduate and graduate-level majors that examine the role of animal agriculture in relation to supplying high-quality food to citizens throughout the world and the chemistry, biology and engineering involved in food and dairy production.

We strive to:

• have our graduates improve the production and health of the nation’s livestock, be it beef, sheep, dairy, horses or companion animals;
• advance the local livestock industry — a significant player within Idaho’s and the Northwest’s economy;
• innovate the fields of animal agriculture and food science on a national level through research- and science-based programs;
• examine the scientific aspects of food production, particularly where they relate to manufacturing, processing and packaging;
• develop new, innovative products and improve upon food quality and nutritional content;
• encourage discovery, critical thinking, and communication skills through coursework and hands-on experience;
• show our students how animal and food sciences apply to and benefit society collectively; and
• prepare our graduates for a broad range of career paths that address societal issues concerning food safety, animal care and management, and environmental impacts of animal agriculture.