What is an Animal Scientist?

Animal Scientist Definition Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.

Life as an Animal Scientist: What Do They Do?

• Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts.
• Develop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of animals.
• Crossbreed animals with existing strains or cross strains to obtain new combinations of desirable characteristics.
• Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.
• Research and control animal selection and breeding practices to increase production efficiency and improve animal quality.
• Study effects of management practices, processing methods, feed, or environmental conditions on quality and quantity of animal products, such as eggs and milk.

Animal Scientist Needed Skills

These are the skills Animal Scientists say are the most useful in their careers:

Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Other Animal Scientist Job Titles

• Research Center Partner
• Poultry Scientist
• Nutritionist
• Bacteriologist
• Research and Development Researcher (R&D Researcher)

Animal Scientist Job Outlook

In the United States, there were 6,100 jobs for Animal Scientists in 2016.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.9% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 400 new jobs for Animal Scientists by 2026. The BLS estimates 700 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Animal Scientists are New York, Michigan, and Nebraska.

Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Oregon, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Animal Scientists Make A Lot Of Money?

Animal Scientists Make between $36,270 and $113,430 a year. The median salary is $58,380.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Maryland	$128,700
Nebraska	$93,140
Missouri	$81,780
Kansas	$81,310
Ohio	$76,240
Iowa	$74,830
Michigan	$71,230
Wisconsin	$70,030
Minnesota	$69,860
Indiana	$67,510
Georgia	$62,210
New York	$62,140
North Carolina	$61,030
Colorado	$61,010
South Dakota	$59,960
California	$56,840
Illinois	$54,610
Pennsylvania	$52,420
Texas	$52,360
Oklahoma	$40,060

What Tools & Technology do Animal Scientists Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Animal Scientists may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Access
• SAS
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• ESRI ArcGIS software
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word

Where Animal Scientists Are Employed

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those thinking about becoming Animal Scientists might also be interested in the following careers:

• Molecular and Cellular Biologists

Those who work as Animal Scientists sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

• Environmental Science Professors

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons