Masked worker in lab with microscope and computer

Research

Fields and grazing herds of cattle

Environmental Sustainability

Animal agriculture is committed to environmentally sustainable production. It is critical that we provide producers with the most recent technological innovations and to provide information regarding the economic implications of adoption of those technologies.

Faculty
Addison Carroll
Kristen Johnson
Michael Phelps
3d render of dna structure, abstract background

Genetics/Genomics

Research encompasses genome science and biotechnology. In particular, projects include understanding the genome structure, function and evolution, and developing quantitative and molecular genomic approaches for improving animal production, product quality and health.

Faculty
Kimberly Davenport
Min Du
Zhihua Jiang
Holly Neibergs
Michael Phelps
Chinook male

Growth/Muscle/Meat Science

Projects span the gamut of basic and applied research and include defining the molecular mechanisms of muscle development, physiological responses to growth regulators, meat quality improvement and food safety.

Faculty
Min Du
Zhihua Jiang
Paul Kuber
Michael Phelps
Katie Shira
Nancy Irlbeck feeding sheep

Nutrition

Animal nutrition is critical to appropriate animal husbandry for agricultural, companion and zoo animals, the economics of animal production, and use of by-products of that arise from human food. Research is conducted across the span of applied to fundamental nutrition. This work includes energy nutrition of laboratory animals, beef and dairy cattle, use of by-product feeds, forage, comparative nutrition and trace mineral metabolism.

Faculty
Addison Carroll
Min Du
Nancy Irlbeck
Kristen Johnson
Don Llewellyn

Salmonid Aquaculture and Conservation

The salmonid aquaculture and conservation research and training program in the WSU Animal Sciences Department utilizes state-of-the-art technology to understand the biology of salmon and apply this knowledge to enhance aquaculture production and sustainability, while protecting wild fish populations.

Faculty
Michael Phelps