Animal and Dairy Science is a multidisciplinary and diverse department that provides instructional, research and extension programming in the areas of food animal production, equine/companion animal management, and animal and medicinal biotechnology that addresses critical issues, such as cost of production, profitability, human and animal health, environmental stewardship, bioethics, and animal well-being.

As we enter a new century, agricultural and environmental sciences begins a new day. Careers in agriculture and the environment are turning high tech, reaching far into the stars to find answers to problems here on Earth.

Today's agricultural and environmental scientists help provide food, clothing and environmental protection not only for their neighbors next door but also for their neighbors around the world.


Our Vision

The Department of Animal and Dairy Science strives to be a premier recognized center of knowledge creation, student learning, and technology dissemination for information on food-producing livestock, companion animals, and animal and medicinal biotechnology among peer departments at other Land-Grant universities as well as globally.

Our Mission

To develop an infrastructure among ADS livestock farms within which to maximize our teaching, research, and extension efforts to accommodate students, the discovery of new knowledge, and dissemination to commodity groups, respectively, while at the same time exercising environmental stewardship and protecting natural resources.

To increase the funding base for all missions through extramural grants, industrial contracts, scholarships, gifts, development, and other sources of revenue.

To recruit additional students and provide scholarships for a critical mass of high quality and diverse individuals to educate and release into the job market for technical and professional positions in the food animal production, veterinary, bio medical, and biotechnological fields.

To develop progressive educational programs for undergraduate and graduate students that address critical issues such as cost of production, profitability, environmental stewardship, bioethics, and animal well-being.

To create innovative and collaborative research teams that are supported by broad-based funding and emphasize interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary graduate programs that address global issues facing animal agriculture and human health and well- being.

To enhance our outreach efforts by providing extension programming that emphasizes environmental stewardship, youth development, enterprise management, and the integration of livestock nutrition, reproduction, genetics, and physiology with the ultimate goal of improving human health and well-being.


Department Head

Francis Fluharty Department Head Academic
Animal & Dairy Science
Edgar L. Rhodes Center For Animal and Dairy Science
ADS Building - A
425 River Road
Athens, GA 30602