The purpose of this graduate program is to provide a high-quality education for graduate students with diverse goals and to develop, through research, the knowledge and technology necessary to continually improve productivity, efficiency, and sustainability of animal agriculture. Students interested in a professional career in the animal sciences are exposed to educational and research experiences involving the many facets of animal nutrition, physiology, microbiology, and genetics through a rigorous curriculum of graduate-level courses and challenging experimentation approaches. The most current ideas and concepts in animal sciences are provided to the students through their daily interactions with the faculty members in both the classroom and laboratory environments. All students are required to use the most relevant experimental methods and techniques in answering questions to improve the understanding of animal biology in an effort to provide high-quality food products that enhance people's lives.