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Department

Department Chair: Ronald S. Kensinger, PhD
Associate Department Chair: Joseph S. Hogan, PhD

Advancing knowledge of animal sciences for the betterment of animals and humans…

The Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University focuses on advancing animal sciences for the betterment of animals and humans through research, teaching, and outreach endeavors. The department is the leading provider of animal science education and outreach in the state of Ohio. Having formed strategic alliances with The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Human Nutrition in the College of Education and Human Ecology, the Animal Welfare Science Centre in Australia, and with other universities and institutions both in the United States and abroad, the department is consistently collaborating with other academic, industry, and government professionals and scientists across the world. As a result, our faculty conduct cutting-edge research that has widespread implications for both traditional and emerging agriculture, along with animal and human health. Areas of our research focus include genetics, tissue biology and processing, physiology, nutrition, bioenergy and nutrient management, and microbiology with a species focus on cattle (beef and dairy), equine, poultry, sheep, and swine. Recently, the department has emerged as a leader in the study of companion animal species and in the disciplines of animal welfare and biomass to energy. The department excels at integrating disciplines while pursuing our mission of discovering and communicating knowledge about animals and their products by taking multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches.

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences is in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), one of a collection of colleges and schools within the university. You can understand the department’s purpose first in context of the college’s ecological paradigm (pdf). Briefly, a paradigm is a framework of scientific disciplines. The ecological paradigm is a model that guides work in the college and is depicted as four sides of a pyramid, each represented by one of four areas of focus: production efficiency, economic viability, environmental compatibility, and social responsibility. The four sides support and strengthen each other to emphasize balance and integration of the four areas, and the pyramid is not complete without all four sides. The Department of Animal Sciences considers three interrelated systems within the context of the CFAES ecological paradigm as the centerpiece of its plan as a department. These systems include:
1.     Tissue and Food Biology,
2.     Nutritional Sciences, and
3.     Biomass to Energy.

The department’s integration within the college is further aligned in the three Signature Focus Areas within the CFAES Strategic Plan. These include Food Security, Production, and Human Health; Environmental Quality and Sustainability; and Advanced Bio-Energy and Bio-Based Products. Thus, the department has made a strong commitment to responsible production of food and other animal products, as well as animals for companionship and recreational purposes, in its teaching, research, and outreach efforts.

You can read the department’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2013 to gain an in-depth understanding of its priorities and responsibilities.

Vision

We will be recognized as the premier provider in Ohio, and one of the top academic units in the nation, for undergraduate education in animal sciences. The Department will also be identified nationally and internationally as an outstanding academic unit for graduate education in animal sciences. We will facilitate the development of students to become leaders and responsible world citizens with a knowledge base that includes an understanding of the economic, environmental, and social implications of animal production for food, fiber, recreation, and companionship. The Department will have a reputation in Ohio, nationally, and internationally for being a leader in developing and disseminating new knowledge in the biological sciences for producing food, companion, and service animals. The Department will be transdisciplinary in its approach and responsive to current societal issues such as animal health, food safety, biomass utilization, and environmental sustainability.

Mission

Our mission is to discover and communicate knowledge about animals and their products, including their role and impact on society and the environment. The delivery of this mission is directed to the students of The Ohio State University, the scientific community, stakeholders of the Department, and others who are interested in animals used for food and fiber production, recreation, and companion purposes.

History

Interested in reading more about the history of the Department of Animals Sciences? In 2010, a history of the department was published, “Science, Art and Husbandry, The history of the Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University”, by Matt Reese. The book can be ordered by visiting www.lulu.com and searching for “Matt Reese animal science” or by direct link: http://www.lulu.com/browse/search.php?fListingClass=0&fSearch=matt+reese+animal+science . Read Mr. Reese’s comments about putting this book together: http://ocj.com/blogs/get-your-copy-of-the-history-of-animal-sciences-at-osu/.