Animal Science in Canada

Animal scientists study the feeding, breeding and management of domestic animals, particularly those of agricultural significance, from herd genetics and high-performance diets to animal vaccines and environmentally sound animal management.

Animal science blends basic and applied sciences in animal production technology preparing our graduates to respond to the changes in the animal industry. The department provides both undergraduate and graduate studies including animal behaviour and welfare, genetics, nutrition, biochemistry, and physiology.

Applied Animal Biology offers opportunities for advanced study and research leading to a M. Sc. degree in animal physiology, behaviour, welfare, and management of livestock, companion animals, research animals, wildlife species, aquaculture, and on the human-animal relationship.

The program is enriched through collaboration with colleagues in other UBC graduate programs such as Zoology, Population and Public Health, and with agencies such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Dairy Farmers of Canada and other livestock agencies and the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA).

On-campus teaching and research facilities are located in the MacMillan Building. Off-campus research facilities available to students include: the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre in Agassiz; shared research facilities at Fisheries and Oceans Canada at West Vancouver; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the BC SPCA.