Home | School of Animal Sciences

Dedicated to the Virginia Tech motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), the School of Animal Sciences pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. We invite you to bring your interest in animals and let us prepare you for your future. Where can the School of Animal Sciences take you? The choices are unlimited!

Academics

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Learn how the School of Animal Sciences can help you create the path for your successful academic journey.

Graduate in cap and tassel blowing glitter from her hands. — Learn how the School of Animal Sciences can help you create the path for your successful academic journey.

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Researchers in the lab with test tubes, beakers and equipment. — Work with world-class researchers to identify solutions to the pressing issues of today—and help created a better tomorrow.

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Students with laptops and large digital display board working on data analysis problems. — Bringing timely, useful, and applicable information to the state—and world-at-large—based on the latest research.

Beef
Companion Animals
Dairy
Equine
Poultry
Sheep
Swine

4-H Horse Program
Virginia 4-H Dairy Youth Program
Youth Livestock Program

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Virginia Cooperative Extension

The Latest

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Caring for Virginia Tech's beef cattle , video
The Beef Cattle Center serves as a teaching, research, and outreach hub for School of Animal Sciences and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine classes. Chad Joines '93 manages the Beef Cattle Center along with hired staff and students, who care for the cattle 365 days a year—rain or shine, to provide valuable experiential learning and research to help the beef cattle industry.
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Early mornings at Virginia Tech's Equitation Barn , video
The morning routine at Virginia Tech's Equitation Barn involves many undergraduate students, staff, and volunteers who feed horses and clean stalls 365 days of the year. Students gain experience in breeding and foaling, ground work training, marketing, nutrition, exercise physiology, as well as stable management fundamentals.
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Morning routine at Virginia Tech's sheep center , video
Caring for the hundreds of sheep at Virginia Tech's Copenhaver Sheep Center involves many students and staff and happens 365 days a year, rain or shine. Undergraduate Animal Science students visit the center for coursework in animal handling and livestock management, while livestock production course provides participants with hands-on industry experience.
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SAS student named an Agri-Food Finance Fellow , redirect
The Kohl Centre is thrilled to announce the appointment of six exceptional students to join the inaugural Class of Agri-Food Finance (AFF) Fellows at Virginia Tech. This highly anticipated program is designed for students eager to explore the intersection of finance, the agri-food sector, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools for financial applications.
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Virginia Cooperative Extension offers guidance to poultry owners following highly contagious avian flu outbreak in Virginia , article
The first report of infection in Virginia since 2022, at a commercial poultry facility in Accomack County, highlights the need for increased biosecurity among poultry owners large and small, Virginia Tech poultry expert Michael Persia says.
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Update on the current status of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Virginia
This outbreak dates back to 2022 and continues to return each fall winter with migratory birds. In later 2024, HPAI returned to the USA, but most of these outbreaks were located in the Pacific and Mississippi flyways (Western and Midwest United States). In January, it became evident that HPAI (circulating virus from migratory birds) has returned to the Atlantic flyway including Virginia. We have numerous states around us (NC, WV, PA and DE) that have identified current outbreaks and within VA we have had several wild birds that have tested positive. This virus continues to infect commercial and backyard poultry across the USA. More...