Connecting research to our communities
Our Extension faculty address real-world challenges for producers and research disease prevention, health and wellness, nutrition and quality standards.
We extend the impact of our teaching and research through a wide range of Extension and outreach programs that serve producers, industry professionals, youth and communities across Ohio and beyond. Faculty and Extension specialists provide research-based education on topics such as livestock production, animal nutrition, reproduction, animal welfare, forage management and farm management, helping stakeholders address current challenges and adopt best practices. Through workshops, field days, conferences, on-farm demonstrations and digital learning opportunities, the department connects scientific discoveries to real-world applications that strengthen Ohio's animal agriculture industry.
The department also plays a key role in youth development through partnerships with Ohio 4-H and other educational programs that foster leadership, workforce development, and agricultural literacy. By engaging producers, students, consumers and industry partners, Animal Sciences outreach efforts support sustainable food production, promote animal health and well-being, and contribute to vibrant agricultural communities throughout the state.
Extension and outreach impacts
- 13,000+ participants in Extension events in 2024
- $248,000 in collaborative grants with an Extension focus
Resources for you
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Find an expert
Browse a list of our extension faculty and staff and their specializations
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Fact sheets
Find fact sheets on animal science-specific topics
Teams and areas of expertise
Program areas
Economic viability of food animal production is vital for sustainability of the food production system in the US. Over 90% of the farms in the US are family owned and operated. Rising costs of production and stable to low animal prices have narrowed profitability margins on farms. Advantages and disadvantages of different production systems, managing the variable and fixed costs of production, strategies for contracting inputs and purchasing futures, and market opportunities are addressed with clientele.
Faculty Member
Safety and security of food animal products is important for the health of consumers and their confidence in the food production system. Programs include product quality and composition as affected by production practices, including animal health, and product processing and distribution. Quality control in food processing is critical for sustaining product safety and thus industry personnel are instructed on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) in food processing.
Faculty Members
As the industrial nature of the agricultural community becomes more popular, public concern over farm animal welfare appears to be growing. Improving animal well-being within food animal production units has received considerable attention by department personnel. Given that knowledge of animal production has relatively little impact on attitudes and behavior of the public based on OSU research, recent educational efforts have focused on regulatory personnel and first-responders to accidents and community complaints. Within extension, department personnel provide resources for various communities of practice (CoP), including the development of a CoP for Farm Animal Welfare.
Faculty Members
The housing, nutrition, health, and housing of animals are very important for the well-being of the animals and for satisfaction and cost effectiveness by the owners. Dissemination of information occurs about the needs of respective animals, associated costs, responsibilities assumed by the owners, and marketing channels. Integration of all the aspects of managing and marketing animals is essential.
Faculty Members
Braden Cambell (small ruminants)
Animal production units are under additional scrutiny today for their potential off-site impacts on environmental quality. A major goal of the Department’s Extension program is to make certain that policy makers move forward with a balanced perspective using the best-available, science-based information to support their decision-making process. The department strives to develop management strategies that will help producers minimize both production costs and the environmental footprints associated with their operations. There also is a developing focus on biomass-to-energy conversion in the department that is a natural outgrowth of our traditionally strong program in anaerobic microbiology and resulting fermentation processes. A specific need addressed by our Extension program has been the development of economic and logistics models to educate animal agriculture and food processing industries on the sustainability of biomass conversion to energy.
Faculty Members
The department has historically played a major role in educational programming for youth who participate in animal projects through 4-H and FFA. Quality assurance programs, skillathons, judging contests, written subject matter resource materials, science-based programs on campus for elementary and high school children, etc. have all been part of the programming package. Both food animal and recreational/companion animals are addressed with programmatic efforts. In general, over 50% of the Ohio students in the 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology subject matter area are involved with animal projects.
Learn more at our Ohio 4-H Youth Development website.