Welcome to the Department of Animal Science

The Department of Animal Science offers undergraduate and graduate programs on the biology and management of food, laboratory and companion animal species. Our research programs advance our understanding of animal biology and address local and global issues facing animal industries today. Our goals are to discover and develop new techniques and information to benefit animals, agriculture and human health. Our internationally recognized faculty have diverse interests in animal management, breeding, genetics, physiology, nutrition, growth biology and microbiology.

Major in Animal Science

Animal science majors learn from internationally recognized professors in all aspects of domestic animal biology: breeding, genetics, nutrition, physiology, growth, behavior and management.

Animal Science Major

Learn more about what an animal science major can do for you.

International Opportunities

Check out the international opportunities available with the animal science major.

Graduate Studies

Approximately 40 graduate students from a variety of disciplines belong to the Department of Animal Science, most of them in the field of animal science.

Upcoming Animal Science Events

4 youth learning about animal feed

Workshop

4-H Animal Crackers
Animal Crackers 2022 “All Creatures Great and Small” to take place in-person on the Cornell Campus on Saturday, May 7, 2022. This year’s program will highlight the following species: equine, bovine, goat, and dog. The annual Animal Crackers...
  • New York State 4-H
  • Animal Science
  • Youth and Families
Student pets goat at Art of Agriculture

Exhibit

Join Sigma Alpha, professional agricultural sorority, on the Arts Quad to learn more about agriculture! Experience student groups, research labs, and agricultural outreach organizations representing a wide array of opportunities and careers in...
  • Animal Science
  • Dairy
  • Animals
holey cow

Workshop

We are excited to offer a hands-on in-person Dairy Discovery this year! Please note that this year’s program will be one day, March 26th, at Cornell University in Morrison Hall. We will be taking a whole-farm approach to the workshops in 2022...
  • New York State 4-H
  • Animal Science
  • PRO-DAIRY
Dairy cows in Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Dairy Barn.

Workshop

Registration This program is available at no cost to participants thanks to the generous support of our industry sponsors. Pre-registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing instructions and links...
  • PRO-DAIRY
  • CCE
  • Dairy
Cornell University Dairy Science (CUDS) club

Exhibit

The Cornell University Dairy Science Club (CUDS) is happy to announce the return of the Spring Classic Sale. This year’s sale will take place on March 19th, 2022 at the Livestock Pavilion on the Cornell University Campus. Bidding will begin at...
  • Animal Science
  • Dairy

News

Jessica Waltemeyer lecturing students

Field Note

Meats course serves up lessons in responsible processing
Facility manager, Jessica Waltemyer oversees all the facilities for the Department of Animal Science in Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), including sites used to teach students hands-on methods of raising animals and those for large-scale research. Waltemyer also teaches courses that prepare students to become responsible and ethical leaders in the food processing industry: Meats (ANSC 3500) and Large Animal Handling (ANSC 2100). Here, she discusses her work.
  • Animal Science
  • Agriculture
  • Animals
students participating in dairy discovery

Field Note

Cornell PRO-DAIRY recently hosted Dairy Discovery, an interactive day of workshops for high school students interested in exploring careers in the dairy industry. After two years of online-only events, students were able to attend in-person...
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension
  • PRO-DAIRY
  • Animal Science
Brianna and cow

Spotlight

Brianna Tate is a Ph.D. candidate studying in the McFadden Lab housed in the Cornell CALS Department of Animal Science. Over the past four years Tate’s research has looked at ways to benefit dairy calf immunity to better survival and impact health later in life. Tate was recently inducted into the Cornell Chapter of the prestigious Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Student Honor Society in recognition of her outstanding work as a scientist as well as a leader in the Cornell and scientific communities.
  • Animal Science
  • Animals

Animal Science Kudos & Awards

2021 student winners of Maynard and Fox Graduate Awards with advisors
students and faculty pose in front of an event banner
Giulianna Kukor

Contact us for more information

Thank you for your interest in Animal Science at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. 
Reach out through the information below, or find a more direct point of contact for your inquiries.

149 Morrison Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-4801
Phone: (607) 255-2862
Fax: (607) 255-9829
E-mail: anscinfo [at] cornell.edu