ASAS Centennial Paper: The future of teaching and research in companion animal biology in departments of animal sciences.
Abstract: Departments of animal sciences must be relevant to a society in which a small number of people can raise almost all the food animal products needed. The declining number of people involved in animal agriculture has decreased enrollment of students interested in food animals in many departments of animal science. However, several departments welcomed students from a diverse background and began research on animals other than food animals. In many states, the undergraduate enrollment is made up primarily of students interested only in companion animals. A benefit of this is that we have recruited new students into animal agriculture and they have gone on to excellent careers. We have a new challenge now: how to maintain and expand the efforts in teaching, research, and outreach of companion animal science. Departments wishing to expand in teaching have examples of successful courses and curricula from other departments. Some departments have expanded their teaching efforts across their own university to teach about pets to a wider audience than their own majors; other departments can follow. In research, a small number of faculty have been able to establish extramurally funded projects on pets, including horses. But it will be difficult for more than a handful of departments to have a serious research effort in dogs, cats, birds, fish, or exotic animals. Departments will have to make a concerted effort to invest in such endeavors; joint ventures with other universities and colleges of veterinary medicine (or medicine) will probably be required. Funding sources for "traditional" efforts in nutrition, reproduction, and physiology are small and inconsistent; however, with the progress of the equine, canine, and feline genome projects, there should be opportunities from federal funding sources aimed at using animal models for human health. In addition, efforts in animal behavior and welfare can be expanded, perhaps with some funding from private foundations or animal-supportive organizations.
Publication Date: 2008-09-26 PubMed ID: 18820150DOI: 10.2527/jas.2008-1402Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article discusses the changing landscape of animal science departments in universities, particularly their shift in focus from food animals to companion animals. The authors outline different strategies departments are adopting to broaden their scope of teaching and research, along with the challenges and opportunities this evolving focus brings.
Shift in Student Interests
- The study notes a shift in student interest from food animals to companion animals, largely due to a decrease in people involved in animal agriculture. The continued prevalence of large-scale animal farming means fewer individuals are needed to provide society’s animal-based food products.
- Due to this trend, many animal science departments are witnessing reduced enrollment from students interested in food animals. In response, these departments are welcoming students with diverse backgrounds and beginning research on animals beyond just those used for food.
Emergence of Companion Animal Science
- With a significant number of students showing interest in companion animals (pets), new fields of study are emerging in animal science departments. These departments are faced with the challenge of expanding their efforts in teaching, research, and outreach for these categories of animals.
- Some departments are offering successful courses and curriculums based on companion animal science, serving as a model for other universities. Others are expanding their teaching across their university to discuss pets with a wider audience than just their own students.
Research in Companion Animal Science
- Research efforts on pets have begun, with a few faculty members securing external funding for projects on companion animals, including horses. However, expanding this to a significant scale for other animals like dogs, cats, birds, fish, or exotic creatures will prove challenging.
- For a wider scope of research on companion animals to occur, departments need to dedicate resources and potentially form partnerships with other universities and colleges, particularly those of veterinary or medical specialties.
Funding Opportunities and Challenges
- The authors note that traditional funding channels for research in areas such as nutrition, reproduction, and physiology are inconsistent and limited. On the other hand, veterinary genetics and genomics are recognized as promising areas for potential funding, especially with the progression of the equine, canine, and feline genome projects.
- The paper suggests that private foundations or animal-supportive organizations could fund studies related to animal behavior and welfare, offering another promising avenue for expanding research into companion animal science.
Cite This Article
APA
McNamara JP.
(2008).
ASAS Centennial Paper: The future of teaching and research in companion animal biology in departments of animal sciences.
J Anim Sci, 87(1), 447-454.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2008-1402 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- President's Teaching Academy, Department of Animal Sciences, 233 Clark Hall, PO Box 646351, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6351, USA. mcnamara@wsu.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic
- Biology / education
- Biology / trends
- Research / trends
- Teaching / trends
- Universities / trends
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Herring AD. Assessment of a COVID-induced shift in the evolution of a beef cattle production course.. Transl Anim Sci 2023 Jan;7(1):txad053.
- Erickson MG, Ranathunga SD, Wattiaux MA. Animal sciences undergraduate education since the ASAS centennial: a national survey and scoping review.. Transl Anim Sci 2020 Oct;4(4):txaa202.
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