Career Opportunities by Species

The Department of Animal Sciences prepares students for a broad spectrum of career opportunities across the animal industries. Our program emphasizes hands-on experience, industry engagement and personalized academic and career advising, helping students build strong foundations for their futures. Whether you're interested in beef, dairy, equine, poultry, small ruminants or swine, each section explores potential professions within that species area, highlighting roles with varying levels of educational preparation. In fact, 96% of our May 2024 graduates secured employment or were enrolled in continuing education after graduation.

Educational Pathways Include:

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) – Typically a four-year degree

  • Graduate School – Specializations may include nutrition, reproduction, genetics, meats, management and animal well-being

    • Master of Science (M.S.) – Typically two years beyond a B.S.

    • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Typically two to four years beyond an M.S.

  • Veterinary Technician (VT) – Two- or four-year programs

  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) – Typically four years beyond a B.S.

  

Career opportunities

Five black cows with yellow ear tags standing closely together in a grassy field under a clear blue sky.Animal Health and Production

  • Veterinarian, veterinary technician
  • Cattle ranch hand or technician
  • Cow-calf operator
  • Stocker or backgrounder
  • Feedlot manager or technician
  • Farm manager or supervisor
  • Artificial insemination/embryo transfer technician
  • Animal welfare auditor

Research

  • Geneticist
  • Animal scientist
  • Meat scientist
  • Nutritionist

Business and Technical Services

  • Equipment sales and service technician
  • Feed sales representative
  • Animal health product sales specialist
  • Market analyst
  • Auctioneer or sale barn manager
  • Communications specialist

Processing, Quality and Food Safety

  • Beef plant operator or packing plant worker
  • Meat cutter
  • Meat inspector
  • Quality assurance technician
  • Quality grader
  • HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) coordinator

Education and Policy

  • Extension specialist
  • Extension educator
  • High school agriculture teacher
  • Waste and nutrient management specialist
  • Board of Animal Health
  • Animal Associations

Career Example: Beef Reproductive Technician - $50,000

A person wearing blue gloves feeds a calf using a white and red bottle in an outdoor pen. The calf has an ear tag, and wire fencing and farm structures are visible in the background under a partly cloudy skyAnimal Health and Production

  • Veterinarian, veterinary technician
  • Herdsperson or stockperson
  • Milker or milking technician
  • Calf manager
  • Farm manager or supervisor
  • Artificial insemination technician
  • Animal welfare auditor

Research

  • Dairy Food Products Specialist
  • Geneticist
  • Animal scientist
  • Nutritionist

Business and Technical Services

  • Equipment sales and service technician
  • Feed sales representative
  • Cooperative manager
  • Commodity tracker or market analyst
  • Agribusiness consultant
  • Marketing or communications specialist

Processing, Quality and Food Safety

  • Plant operator
  • Cheesemaker or yogurt maker
  • Quality assurance technician
  • HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) coordinator
  • Product development specialist

Education and Policy

  • Extension specialist
  • Extension educator
  • High school agriculture teacher
  • Waste and nutrient management specialist
  • Board of Animal Health
  • Animal Associations

Career Example: Dairy Services Consultant - $60,000

A person with long hair, wearing a black shirt and beige pants, feeds a brown horse by hand in an outdoor sandy area with fencing and trees in the background. The horse is wearing a bridle.Animal Health

  • Veterinarian, veterinary technician, diagnostician
  • Massage therapist, chiropractor, dental technician, rehabilitation
  • Reproduction Specialist

Training, Instruction and Therapeutic

  • Horse trainer, show rider, exercise rider, jockey
  • Riding instructor, therapeutic riding instructor
  • Stable hand
  • Equine studies educator, equine assisted therapy specialist

Management, Nutrition, Sales and Support

  • Farrier
  • Barn manager
  • Feed and Supplement Sales
  • Transportation specialist
  • Equipment sales

Research

  • Geneticist
  • Behaviorist
  • Nutritionist
  • Animal scientist

Business, Media and Marketing

  • Business manager
  • Show or event manager
  • Photographer or videographer
  • Journalist or writer
  • Board of Animal Health
  • Animal Associations
  • Insurance agent

Career Example: Assistant Barn Manager - $45,000

A group of white chickens with red combs walking on a grassy field near a mobile chicken coop with ramps, set against a backdrop of farm buildings, silos, and equipment.Animal Health and Production

  • Veterinarian, veterinary technician
  • Farm worker or technician
  • Farm manager or flock supervisor
  • Hatchery technician
  • Breeder technician
  • Animal welfare auditor
  • Feed manufacturing and delivery

Research

  • Geneticist
  • Animal scientist
  • Meat scientist
  • Nutritionist

Business and Technical Services

  • Supply chain manager
  • Feed sales representative
  • Genetic sales representative
  • Equipment or housing system sales

Processing, Quality and Food Safety

  • Poultry processor
  • Quality assurance technician
  • Packaging and labeling specialist
  • HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) coordinator

Education and Policy

  • Extension specialist
  • Extension educator
  • High school agriculture teacher
  • Industry communications specialist
  • Waste and nutrient management specialist
  • Board of Animal Health
  • Animal Associations

Career Example: Assistant Broiler/Hatchery Manager - $60,000

A group of sheep with varying wool colors—light beige to dark brown and black—standing on a grassy field. Some have ear tags, and farm structures are visible in the blurred background.Animal Health and Production

  • Veterinarian, veterinary technician
  • Livestock technician
  • Farm or ranch manager
  • Artificial insemination/embryo transfer technician
  • Groomer or shearer
  • Herdsperson or stockperson
  • Fiber production specialist
  • Animal welfare auditor

Research

  • Geneticist
  • Meat scientist
  • Nutritionist
  • Animal scientist

Business and Technical Services

  • Agribusiness manager
  • Agritourism operator
  • Livestock marketing agent or auctioneer
  • Feed sales representative
  • Animal health sales representative

Processing, Quality and Food Safety

  • Meat processor
  • Dairy processor
  • Wool classer or grader
  • Tannery worker

Education and Policy

  • Extension specialist
  • Extension educator
  • High school agriculture teacher
  • Waste and nutrient management specialist
  • Board of Animal Health
  • Animal Associations

Career Example: Ruminant Embryologist - $45,000

A person in dark clothing holding a piglet in an outdoor farm area, with metal fencing and farm structures visible in the background.Animal Health and Production

  • Veterinarian, veterinary technician
  • Health and biosecurity specialist
  • Herdsperson or stockperson
  • Barn manager or supervisor
  • Production technician
  • Artificial insemination technician
  • Boar stud technician
  • Piglet care specialist
  • Animal welfare auditor
  • Feed manufacturing and delivery
  • Transportation

Research

  • Animal behavior and welfare scientist
  • Geneticist
  • Meat scientist
  • Nutritionist
  • Reproductive physiologist
  • Management specialist
  • Animal scientist

Business and Technical Services

  • Production consultant
  • Feed sales representative
  • Genetic sales representative
  • Equipment or housing system sales
  • Reproduction consultant
  • Accountant
  • Logistics coordinator
  • Marketing manager
  • Procurement specialist
  • Manure management and application

Processing, Quality and Food Safety

  • Pork processor
  • Quality assurance technician
  • Regulatory affairs specialist
  • HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) coordinator
  • Product development

Education and Policy

  • Extension specialist
  • Extension educator
  • High school agriculture teacher
  • Industry communications specialist
  • Sustainability coordinator
  • Public policy analyst
  • Board of Animal Health
  • Animal Associations

Career Example: Swine Production Technician - $55,000

Is your career in animal sciences missing from this list?

Help us keep our resources up to date by contacting Katy Kinker to share your career path.

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