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Career Details : Animal Scientists

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Description

Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.

Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Education

A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Tasks

  • Studies nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive value of feed materials for animals and poultry.
  • Studies effects of management practices, processing methods, feed, and environmental conditions on quality and quantity of animal products, such as eggs and milk.
  • Develops improved practices in incubation, brooding, and artificial insemination.
  • Crossbreeds animals with existing strains, or crosses strains to obtain new combinations of desirable characteristics.
  • Determines genetic composition of animal population, and heritability of traits, utilizing principles of genetics.
  • Develops improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, and parasite and disease control of animals and poultry.
  • Researches and controls selection and breeding practices to increase efficiency of production and improve quality of animals.

    Related Careers

    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    Important Skills

    Frequent Work Context

    • Consequence of Error
    • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    • Indoors
    • Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
    • Sitting

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