Research

The Department conducts a comprehensive research program serving the needs of the people of the State of Arkansas and the nation. Principal fields include Animal Nutrition, Animal Physiology, Genetics, Parasitology and Meat Science. Both M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees are offered.

Research is conducted at three locations in Arkansas - on and near the main campus in Fayetteville, at the Batesville Research Station in Northeast Arkansas and at the Southwest Research and Extension Center at Hope. Virtually all teaching and research facilities in the department have been built new or renovated since 1996.

Facilities on the Fayetteville Campus

The Agriculture, Food and Life Science Building, located on campus is home to the department. Faculty and graduate student offices, laboratories for animal nutrition, physiology, parasitology and meat science are located here. A new laboratory equipped for cooking and sensory evaluation, a wet lab, Instron, microbiology lab and a lab equipped with 40 linear feet of retail display case are dedicated to the meats program. Laboratories for animal nutrition, physiology and parasitology are equipped to handle typical research in these areas. An elaborate core laboratory is available to faculty and students in Bumpers College and is located in the Poultry Science Building, next door to the AFLS Building.

Facilities at the Northwest Arkansas Research and Extension Center located one mile from the campus

The Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center, built in 1998, is located one mile north of the campus. This structure is the largest free span wood truss building in Arkansas, and is arguably the most beautiful teaching arena in the country. The Center has a 100 x 250 foot riding hall with seating for 750, three classrooms, a 2500 square foot foyer, a conference room and office. A 10,000 square foot show barn with 25 pens, scales, squeeze chute and washing and drying area is located adjacent to the arena. This facility is used for meetings and events of all sizes.

The Dorothy E. King Equine Pavilion, finished in 2000, is located adjacent to the arena and is home to the equine program. It provides teaching areas, 10 stalls for horses, a 150 x 250 foot lighted outdoor arena and pastures.

The Red Meat Abattoir was completely renovated in 1999. The facility has capability for slaughter of beef, pork and lamb, cooler rooms, cutting room, freezers and equipment for most routine processing of red meats. It is located one mile from campus and one-half mile from the arena. Other processing facilities and taste panel rooms are used in cooperation with the Department of Poultry Science.

The Animal Science Feed Mill is FDA licensed and manufactures feeds for the Department's herds. Pelleted feeds in small or large batches can be manufactured.

A digestion and metabolism facility with 20 expanded metal pens for pigs, sheep and (or) small calves, 20 PVC plastic sheep metabolism stalls, and 12 individual cattle stalls capable of handling calves up to 500 pounds is located adjacent to the feed mill.

The Physiology Farm, located four miles west of campus, comprises 240 acres and facilities for embryo transfer and parasitology research. Sample preparation labs and cattle handling facilities are housed at the unit.

The Savoy Research Unit, located 10 miles west of campus, is home to beef cattle and swine facilities.

The Swine Research and Teaching Center has extensive livestock inventories and facilities for management under industry conditions. These include a growing and finishing unit built in 2001 and a remodeled farrowing and nursery unit. Three-site production including an off-site nursery located close to campus is available. Farrow to finish production includes 130 sows and their off-spring as well as outside pigs for the off-site nursery.

The Stocker Cattle Receiving and Back-grounding Unit features state of the art facilities for receiving and processing stocker cattle. Calves may be managed in 16 semi-confinement pens of 6-head each or on 16 one-acre grass lots.

The Cow/Calf Research Unit. A permanent herd of about 250 cows and several hundred acres of pasture is used for research with reproduction, nutrition and management. A research barn built in 1998 has enclosed handling facilities, sample preparation space and individual feeding capacity for 30 to 40 animals.

THE LIVESTOCK AND FORESTRY BRANCH STATION - BATESVILLE

Located in Northeast Arkansas, about four hours east of Fayetteville and two hours north of Little Rock, this station has 1,200 acres of pasture land and a resident 250 cow herd used for forage and beef research. Two areas with 20 to 25 replicated pastures each are used for the cow research. Additionally, a 160 acre stocker research unit with winter small grains, fescue and Bermuda - pastures were developed. The stocker facility can be divided into 2 acre pastures for replicated trials. A new conference center was built in 1998 and virtually all cattle handling facilities were built since 1999...

What Is The Outlook For Job Opportunities And Pay?

To succeed financially, today’s animal scientists must be prepared to meet and manage the broad challenges of big business. Financial management and thorough record-keeping are the key to success in any industry, agriculture is no exception.

With the skills this program provides, the earning potential for any professional animal scientist will increase significantly.