Animal science

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Laying hens in free range
A salmon farm in Norway

The term animal sciences is an interdisciplinary science that works empirically and is often treated as a field of study or research in agricultural sciences or agriculture . The animal sciences deal with the fundamentals, interrelationships and all questions relating to the primary production of animal raw materials on an area cultivated for this purpose, in particular by agricultural , but also by aquatic farm animals that are under the care of humans . As a result, this science is also known as farm animal science.

The focus is on the ecological and resource-saving production of high-quality food of animal origin on a national and international level in accordance with animal welfare , animal welfare and food safety . All aspects of value creation are dealt with. Because of the traditional subjects such as biology , chemistry and physics , which played a key role in its creation, animal sciences are part of the natural sciences .

In addition to the inclusion of many sub-areas from other scientific areas such as biology, in particular microbiology and genetics , there is also the integration of areas of knowledge that are particularly relevant for animal sciences, such as zoonoses and animal disease protection from veterinary medicine , but also areas from preventive health management , cold chain management , Quality management and assurance as well as hygiene , biotechnology and genetic engineering . The teaching of animal sciences often overlaps with areas or areas from food chemistry , technology and ecotrophology . Depending on the focus, renewable energies , especially bioenergy , are included in the teaching.

There are also independent subject areas of animal sciences. This includes especially the animal breeding , -Nutrition and Farming , the biochemistry and physiology of livestock performance, ethology and the treatment of animal diseases on Techno pathogens based. Regression analyzes and areas from agricultural and environmental engineering also play a role.

Classification of subject areas

Animal science can be subdivided into sub-areas based on the multitude of farm animals and questions according to various criteria. On the one hand, the discipline can be divided according to the animal groups considered, such as that of poultry in poultry science . On the other hand, it can also be classified on the basis of the processed microscopic and macroscopic examination levels , such as those of the biochemistry and physiology of livestock performance or those of general animal husbandry . The various systems overlap, however, since animal breeding , for example, looks at many groups of farm animals and researches the genetics of the animals, the implementation of a breeding program and product quality.

Animal Sciences in Agricultural Sciences

Animal husbandry in the Alpine region around 1860

To ensure the ecological and resource-saving production of high quality food by livestock , all aspects of the value chain are examined: from breeding and animal health to the nutrition of livestock to the quality and safety of the food of animal origin produced. The health of humans and animals is the focus of animal hygiene, which is concerned with maintaining the health of livestock and preventing the transmission of animal diseases through zoonoses to humans. In physiology are z. B. focus on lactation and growth. The animal nutrition deals with the properties of the feed and the physiological rules and scopes of their implementation in the metabolism of the animals in the transformation in foods of animal origin.

The focus of animal genetics in breeding research is on the elucidation of the molecular basis of genetic variations and the targeted application of biotechnological , molecular biological and statistical processes in animal breeding. The livestock - Biotechnology deals with modern methods of reproduction, animal stem cells and innovative technologies for targeted genome modification. The main areas of application are biomedical research and regenerative medicine . In neurophysiology finally basic brain mechanisms are examined for behavioral control in different organisms and neural algorithms developed which may be suitable for technical applications.

Safety and functionality of animal products

Due to the current and interdisciplinary research focus, animal scientists shed light on all aspects of the value chain and the supply chain of animal products or from the basics to the production, transport , processing , quality assurance and marketing of animal products, primarily food, for trade and eating on the table of the end user and their health. This holistic view, which also includes the social, economic and environmentally relevant aspects as well as consumer and resource protection, reflects the flexibility of animal science. Actions are adapted and implemented in an increasingly complex environment based on legal provisions and specific standards.

Studied animal science

The study of animal sciences is one of the most complex courses there is. Even if the animal sciences are primarily about the ecological and resource-saving production of high-quality food of animal origin on a national and international level in accordance with animal welfare , animal welfare and food safety , animal husbandry for recreational purposes or small animal breeding can also be an aspect of the course be.

The Bachelor / Master course

The bachelor's degree basically consists of a four-semester basic course plus a two-semester main course . After these six semesters , a scientific paper must be prepared, for which about three to four months should be available. A four-semester master’s degree can be added to a successful bachelor’s degree and the achievement of the academic degree Bachelor of Science , whereby admission to this second phase of study at many universities depends on the level of the bachelor’s degree. After these four semesters, as in the Bachelor's degree, a scientific thesis must be prepared, for which about three to four months should also be available. A successful master’s degree leads to the academic degree of Master of Science .

A bachelor's degree in animal sciences is currently only possible in Germany in combination with a degree in agricultural science , agriculture or horticulture . Nutrition, breeding and animal husbandry are the basis of an animal science degree. Animal health, animal health laws and animal welfare are particularly important subjects of study. The curricula also deal with preventive health management . The specializations can range from dairy farming to horse farming , from aquaculture to small animal breeding . Depending on the university, students can choose very different areas of focus and modules .

The bachelor's degree

Agricultural sciences students at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn can choose a major in animal sciences in their bachelor's degree from the fifth semester . Prior to this, the biology, anatomy, physiology and nutrition of animals or farm animals, as well as their economic importance together with other subjects from the natural, biological and agricultural sciences as well as economics, form important teaching contents, especially agricultural, nutritional, domestic and food science Compulsory and elective modules. In addition, there are detailed introductions to livestock sciences. The focus deals with the subjects of applied animal breeding, precision livestock farming , performance and nutritional physiology, ethology and environmental impact as well as current developments in livestock sciences.

At the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, it is also possible to specialize in agricultural sciences from the fifth semester. Zoology, anatomy and physiology of farm animals as well as the basics of animal sciences were previously part of the courses, as well as content from animal husbandry, nutrition and health, as well as scientific, mathematical, statistical and agricultural science basics. The specialization includes the compulsory modules Special Anatomy and Physiology, Environment and Animal Hygiene, Animal Nutrition, Elements of Animal Breeding and Biological Basics of Animal Husbandry, as well as the elective modules Farm Animal System Management for Cattle, Pigs or Small Animals, Applied Feed Science, Microbiological Quality Assurance and Hygiene Control and Animal Welfare in Experimental and Farm Animal Husbandry .

The situation at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen is similar . During the bachelor's degree, areas such as animal breeding, nutrition and husbandry as well as livestock ecology are taught along with other basic principles of agricultural, natural and economic science. From the fourth semester onwards, it is possible to set a controllable focus by choosing from the modules Nutritional Practice of Farm Animals and the Environmental Impacts of Animal Husbandry.

At the University of Rostock , the biology of farm animals, content from animal husbandry, genetics, breeding and hygiene, modules such as precision farming, behavioral studies and special animal nutrition and health form the course content. Together with specialist disciplines such as biology, chemistry and mathematics, these are included in the courses offered in the Agricultural Sciences course. From the fifth semester onwards, it is possible to acquire in-depth knowledge in the areas of animals or aquaculture.

Special animal sciences are also offered as compulsory modules in the main course of the Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences course with an agricultural science orientation at the Weihenstephan Science Center for Nutrition, Land Use and Environment of the Technical University of Munich . In addition, there are biotethnology of animals, forage production systems and feed science, basics of fish biology as well as domestic animal genetics and animal breeding as elective modules.

Livestock husbandry and animal breeding are, for example, also contents of the Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences at the Humboldt University in Berlin . An independent Bachelor's degree in animal sciences is currently only available outside the country's borders, for example at the Dutch University of Wageningen .

In contrast, the Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Economics and Environment in the Stuttgart region offers courses in the field of horse management . This qualifies for managerial, advisory and organizational tasks in the horse industry and equestrian sport . Among other things, nutrition, husbandry and breeding issues play a role here, but also the training of riding instructors , the organization of sporting events as well as management and tourism issues.

The master’s degree

While the bachelor's degree programs teach more general scientific and agricultural fundamentals and enable a specialization in animal science in the higher semesters, the master’s area offers some degree programs that specifically deal with animal and farm animal sciences . The master’s degree focuses on the production of high-quality food on a national and international level, but also on corporate governance and management as well as socio-economic aspects of animal sciences. So far, only the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn has innovatively offered a specialized master's degree in animal sciences. The Justus Liebig University of Giessen and the University of Rostock , on the other hand, offer an independent study course in livestock sciences. In the master’s degree in agricultural sciences at the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel , a milk production focus is integrated. The master’s degree in equine sciences at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen prepares for managerial positions in the horse sector with the participation of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover .

The Humboldt University of Berlin , on the other hand, offers a specialized course on fish and aquaculture . There it is specifically about content such as reproduction , fish diseases , fishing gear , the management of warm water basins or scientific data analysis . In general, in northern Germany, the science of fishing and aquaculture are part of the program at several universities, for example at the University of Rostock within the master’s degree in aquaculture. In Hamburg there is a master’s degree in Marine Ecosystem and Fisheries Sciences. In 2007, a department for marine aquaculture was set up in the Institute for Animal Breeding and Husbandry at Kiel University.

Most master’s courses last four semesters . A bachelor's degree in agricultural science or economics, agriculture, agricultural biology or related fields is usually required for admission .

Fields of activity

Animal scientists work in many different fields, in industry , government, or counseling in commercial and various other offices. You are active in research and teaching ( universities , universities of applied sciences , non-university research institutions) as well as in agricultural operations, you are responsible for research, testing and development laboratories in the agricultural and food industry , and you have managerial positions in the areas of production, product development protection and technology of companies, as well as responsible activity in technology companies and the renewable energy industry . Animal scientists are also predestined leadership roles in research, development, management and marketing (quality or marketing managers or management - Trainee ) to take over.

Potential employers include:

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Agricultural Faculty of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn - Master of Science in Animal Sciences
  2. ↑ a b uni-bonn.de: Study structure
  3. ↑ a b c lwf.uni-bonn.de: Module Handbook - B.Sc. Agricultural Sciences - Examination Regulations Version 2012 ( Memento of the original from December 26, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.lwf.uni-bonn.de
  4. ↑ uni-hohenheim.de: Agricultural Sciences B.Sc. - Course content
  5. ↑ uni-hohenheim.de: Agricultural Sciences - Bachelor of Science - curriculum
  6. ↑ a b uni-giessen.de: Agricultural Sciences - Course: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.): Agricultural Sciences - Course Structure
  7. ↑ a b c auf.uni-rostock.de: Bachelor "Agricultural Sciences"
  8. ↑ a b agrar.wzw.tum.de: Technical University of Munich - Structure of the Bachelor's degree in Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences