Animal Scientists

What the job really is

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

At a glance

• Sector: Life, Physical & Social Science
• O*NET-SOC code: 19-1011
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 9
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.
• Write up or orally communicate research findings to the scientific community, producers, and the public.
• Develop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of animals.
• Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts.
• Conduct research concerning animal nutrition, breeding, or management to improve products or processes.
• Study effects of management practices, processing methods, feed, or environmental conditions on quality and quantity of animal products, such as eggs and milk.
• Research and control animal selection and breeding practices to increase production efficiency and improve animal quality.
• Determine genetic composition of animal populations and heritability of traits, using principles of genetics.
• Crossbreed animals with existing strains or cross strains to obtain new combinations of desirable characteristics.

Tools and technology

Autodesk AutoCAD, ESRI ArcGIS software, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Oracle PeopleSoft, SAS, Structured query language SQL, Tableau, Analytic balances

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Food Scientists and Technologists
• Soil and Plant Scientists
• Microbiologists
• Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
• Veterinarians
• Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
• Biochemists and Biophysicists
• Geneticists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Animal Scientists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.