Ƶ

Skip to main content
Students standing in front of the swine unit

Department of Animal Science

Building the educational foundation for future leaders in the animal industry

Tomorrow's animal and natural resources industries leaders gain the educational foundation they need in the Department of Animal Science. These future leaders study under a dynamic faculty who not only teach but also set the pace with important research and aggressive outreach via Extension.

Throughout our curriculum, a student-centered focus allows ample room for growth and success, including scholarship opportunities and several enterprising clubs.

With our multi-disciplinary approaches towards production efficiency, product enhancement and natural resources management, both our undergraduate and our graduate students gain strong skill sets. Graduates of our program see career options unfold in a diverse and growing range of employment areas, from animal-related industries to natural resources management.

Many graduate students devise their own research or partner with faculty in our many facilities and laboratories, to solve the challenges of 21st century animal agriculture and environmental stewardship.

Animal Science Department Newsletter is archived on

Department of Animal Science News

See All Our News
Ƶ cheerleaders display the four lamb pelts auctioned off during the 2025 Lamb Bonanza. The auction raised $6,700 for student scholarships.

Successful Lamb Bonanza auction benefits student scholarships

The 2025 Lamb Bonanza at South Dakota State University featured the traditional auction of lamb pelts, this year raising $6,700 for student scholarships.
Three women holding Ƶ wool products in Wagner Hall

33rd Lamb Bonanza to showcase sheep industry during Ƶ basketball game

The 33rd annual Lamb Bonanza will showcase the integral role of the lamb and wool industry in South Dakota while supporting the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits with an afternoon of basketball.

Ƶ hosts taping of ‘AgDay College Roadshow’

With loud enthusiasm often reserved for athletic events, students, faculty and staff from South Dakota State University’s agricultural programs showed up in full force to welcome a live television taping of “AgDay College Roadshow” Oct. 30 on the Ƶ campus.