Department History
The Board of Directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas initiated the development of the Animal Husbandry Department in 1903. In 1965, the department became more encompassing and was renamed the Department of Animal Science.
Today, the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University has achieved national and international prominence as the largest and most complex department of animal science in the nation. As part of its land grant mission, the Animal Science Department strives to meet the needs of all citizens by providing outstanding teaching, research and extension programs.
Currently, disciplines within the department include reproductive physiology, animal breeding and genetics, food science, microbiology, equine science, dairy science, animal nutrition and meat science. The department responds to the Texas animal industry through research and education programs in equine, beef, dairy, swine, sheep and goats.
The mission of the Department of Animal Science is to improve lives through discovery, integration, dissemination and application of science-based knowledge of animals and animal products.
Celebrating 100 years of Excellence
Early research efforts of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, (TAES), were largely production oriented. This emphasis on product-increasing technology was further augmented by efforts to extend information to farmers, an effort that was finally culminated with the formation of the Texas Agricultural Extension Services (TAEX) in 1914. Agricultural production vastly increased in the United States due to expanded acreage from western expansion, mechanization and the completion of the transcontinental railroad. However, with this, came market flooding and serious economic problems.
Higher farm prices during most of the 1910-1919 decade, growing out of World War I added further emphasis on increased production. Farm prices collapsed soon after the close of the war, declining 40 percent from mid-1919 to the close of 1920. As these depressed farm prices continued into and through the 20s, it was apparent that the time for addressing economic issues of agriculture and for improving economic literacy of both graduates from the agricultural college and farmers and ranchers had arrived. In 1922, out of discussions and immense need across the state, the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University was born with its inaugural degree program in Agricultural Administration. Over the next 100 years, the department would become a leading source of information for Texas farmers, ranchers and policy makers and would train the next generation of informed, skilled graduates.
History excerpt taken from Agricultural Economics: Its History and Development at Texas A&M University Through 1983 by John A. Hopkins and Katherine Sue Durden (1985).
The Future of Department of Animal Science
Future students will find other first-class peers along with extremely friendly faculty and staff that care about each student individually. As a student, you will receive scientific training and hands-on experience that allows you to incorporate knowledge from several fields of study. You will meet other students with similar interests, while gaining experience working with animals through hands-on laboratories, student clubs, and judging teams.