Occupation Details
Animal Scientists
Conduct research in the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development of domestic farm animals.
Quick Navigation
Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$50,410.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$80,950.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$110,070.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
15,410
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
19,610
+420 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
1,767
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.3%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
More School - Graduate or advanced degree
Experience Requirements
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 Requirements
Most of these occupations 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 Details
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.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, physician assistants, and veterinarians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Food Production
Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Innovation
Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Analytic balances
- Animal blood analyzers
- Animal catching equipment
- Animal feed mixers
- Artificial insemination kits
- Atomic absorption AA spectrometers
- Automatic carbon dioxide CO2 incubators
- Balling guns
- Benchtop centrifuges
- Blood collection syringes
- Bomb calorimeters
- Brooders
- Bunsen burners
- Calf pullers
- Calf restraints
- Calorimeters
- Captive bolt stunners
- Cattle scales
- Cattle squeeze chutes
- Circulating water baths
- Computerized cattle feeders
- Conductance meters
- Dehorners
- Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequencers
- Desktop computers
- Dissecting kits
- Ear punches
- Electric stunners
- Electronic laboratory balances
- Erlenmeyer flasks
Technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Cowculator
- Database software
- Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequence analysis software
- Domestic Animal Diversity Information Service DAD-IS
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Email software
- Master Ration Calculator
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Nutrition Balance Analyzer NUTBAL
- Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals OMIA
- Oracle PeopleSoft
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- use biological testing instruments
- use microscope
- use laboratory equipment
- artificially inseminate livestock
- breed animals to propagate stock or to develop new types
- prepare reports
- prepare technical reports or related documentation
- direct and coordinate scientific research or investigative studies
- direct implementation of new procedures, policies, or programs
- adhere to safety procedures
- monitor animal health or quality
- write research or project grant proposals
- write business project or bid proposals
- develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
- develop plans for programs or projects
- plan scientific research or investigative studies
- record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
- confer with research personnel
- confer with engineering, technical or manufacturing personnel
- identify livestock characteristics
- recognize disease or parasites in animals
- understand animal habits or needs
- examine biological or other material specimens under microscope
- identify animal species
- communicate technical information
- make presentations
- confer with scientists
- advise clients or customers
- recommend improvements to work methods or procedures
- recommend further study or action based on research data
- advise governmental or industrial personnel
- develop new products based on scientific research results
- develop scientific or mathematical hypotheses, theories, or laws
- use chemical testing or analysis procedures
- follow infectious materials procedures
- use nutrition research techniques
- follow nutritional practices
- use scientific research methodology
- use knowledge of vivisection
- follow microbiology procedures
- use biological research techniques
- use knowledge of investigation techniques
- use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
- use quantitative research methods
- use library or online Internet research techniques
- use animal disease control techniques
- explain complex mathematical information
- write scholarly or technical research papers
- explain genetic data
- develop tables depicting data
- classify plants, animals, or other natural phenomena
- collect scientific or technical data
- collect statistical data
- research human or animal disease
- study development of plants, animals, or microscopic organisms
- make decisions
- resolve engineering or science problems
- select animals to be bred
- resolve animal breeding problems
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
- use relational database software
- use spreadsheet software
- use word processing or desktop publishing software
- develop or maintain databases
- analyze biological research, test, or analysis data
- analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
- conduct field research or investigative studies
- conduct laboratory research or experiments
- conduct standardized qualitative laboratory analyses
- conduct standardized quantitative laboratory analyses
- perform statistical analysis
- analyze organizational operating practices or procedures
- conduct analyses or tests of organic compounds
- identify nutritional value of foods
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- 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.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Agricultural and food scientists
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn MoreCornell University Summer College Program: Veterinary Medicine
<p>This program, offered at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine, will help you gain realistic and exciting insights into modern veterinary medicine. Explore the variety of disciplines and specialties within the field of veterinary medicine, including zoo animal medicine, marine mammal medicine, animal behavior, anatomy of domestic species, emergency medicine, pathology, and more.</p>
Learn MoreEurekAlert! Science for Kids Portal
The EurekAlert! Science for Kids Portal is a central, online source for kid-friendly news and resources. The Portal is housed within EurekAlert!, the editorially independent, online news service operated by AAAS, the science society. Content for the Portal is provided by hundreds of universities, associations, medical centers and other research organizations worldwide.
Learn MoreGenetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah: Cloning in Focus
Cloning in Focus helps you understand how genetics affects lives and society. There are interactive links that include: an introduction to cloning and how it's done, try it yourself in the mouse cloning laboratory, evaluate the reasons for using cloning techonologies, test your cloning savvy with an interactive quiz and more.
Learn More