Animal Scientist
Why Is Animal Science a Job of Tomorrow?
Food is something that brings people together. Most major events and holidays are celebrated with food, and the restaurant industry is going strong despite the economic downturn. As people will always need to eat, and dining out remains a big part of socializing, food will always be a prominent factor in the daily lives of individuals. In fact, restaurants will have provided more than 70 billion meal and snack occasions in 2009, which includes dining out, take-away, and catering, according to the National Restaurant Association. With so much emphasis on food, animal scientists will experience a boom in demand as they develop new methods of keeping meats safe for mass consumption. Employment opportunities for animal scientists are expected to increase ten percent by 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Animal scientists make an average salary of $47,800 annually.
What Does an Animal Scientist Do?
Animal scientists strive to create better ways of processing meats. They are responsible for looking after meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Animal scientists can specialize in a specific niche of the animal science field. They can focus on dairy, poultry, animal breeding, and other specialties. Dairy scientists work in milk production and develop methods of improving the quality of milk as well as improving the means of gathering it. They may research how to safely encourage dairy cows to produce more milk as well as the best way to keep it safe until consumption. Poultry scientists work with animals like chickens, ducks, and geese and develop ways of ensuring that they are kept in a sanitary and healthy condition. Meat scientists have the same duties as poultry scientists, except they deal with livestock instead of chickens. Some animal scientists research methods of how to reduce waste buildup, improve waste disposal, and reduce animal deaths in animal housing facilities. Animal scientists can also work in food grading and grade livestock by quality, as well as work in marketing and technical sales.
What Kind of Training Do I Need to Become an Animal Scientist?
Animal scientists must have at least a master’s degree in biology, chemistry, or another related field of study. A master’s degree takes about two to three years to earn after first earning a four-year bachelor’s degree. Students should take courses in biology, life and physical sciences, and other related topics to better prepare them for a career as an animal scientist.
