Pet Food Processing - September 2023 - 72

ACADEMIC PARTNERS
AUBURN
University
The university's animal
science programs are
geared to provide
the next generation
of companion animal
experts with soft skills
and experiences to
help them prepare for
their future careers.
©Katherine Welles -
stock.adobe.com
A
Auburn University offers a robust range of animal science
programs spanning nutrition, meat science, breeding
and genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology,
microbiology and more. The university offers four majors
with applications in animal science and nutrition
- Animal & Allied Industries, Equine Science, Meat
Science, and Pre-Vet Med and Pre-Professional.
" All of the options include coursework that provides
a scientific foundation to prepare students for multiple
career fields, such as veterinary medicine, human medicine,
equine industry, food safety, animal production,
pet food industries and numerous related areas, " said
Don Mulvaney, associate professor of animal sciences at
the Auburn University College of Agriculture.
Additionally, students can select a minor in animal
science to study nutrition, health and management, behavior,
breeding and reproduction of companion animal
species including dogs and cats. All these programs are
designed to provide students with soft skills, build leadership
and teamwork abilities, and instill ethical practices
into the next generation of companion animal experts.
" Strengths of the curricula are found in nutrition
(monogastric and ruminant), biochemistry and metabolism,
which prepares students for the pet food industry
in areas of manufacturing processes, supply chain
dynamics, product packaging, sales, marketing, operations,
communications and complexities of the regulatory
world, " Mulvaney added.
The Auburn University College of Agriculture is
also home to a formidable research platform called the
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES).
Several undergraduate students studying companion
animal nutrition are currently involved in research related
to nutritional fermentation, mitigating animal-based
carbon emissions, evaluating the microbiological factors
of certain packaging materials, and better understanding
canine performance.
Aside from its animal science curriculum, Auburn
University also strives to be a partner to professionals in
the pet nutrition industry.
72 PET FOOD PROCESSING | September 2023 | www.petfoodprocessing.net
Offering a breadth of animal
science education and expertise.
" Members of our department routinely interact with
the industry in areas of research and outreach, which
asks questions about nutritional and microbiological
safety, product quality and packaging, animal health,
environmental sustainability areas and many additional
areas of stakeholder needs, " Mulvaney said.
The university offers custom short courses and workshops
to industry professionals to support continued
education and training. Pet nutrition professionals can
also pursue thesis and non-thesis graduate programming
and degree opportunities through the university.
http://www.petfoodprocessing.net
Pet Food Processing - September 2023

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