Virginia Tech School of Animal Sciences

06/14/2024

Excellent work from the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab at Virginia Tech! Check out their latest paper ⬇️

Dogs are often housed alone in shelter settings to reduce injury and disease spread. However, social isolation can be a stressor for dogs. Prior studies have suggested that cohousing can produce behavioral and physiological benefits. These studies have typically focused on laboratory dogs or shelter...

06/13/2024

🎉CONGRATULATIONS to Dr. Rebecca Cockrum on her promotion to associate professor with tenure! ➡️ https://news.vt.edu/articles/2024/06/bov-promotion-tenure.html

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

06/07/2024

Congratulations to Michelle (Shelly) Rhoads on her recent election to ADSA Director for the Dairy Production Division!

Learn more ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/mr32z6et

06/03/2024

Virginia Beef Cattle University to be held July 14-16 at the Inn at Virginia Tech!

Register ↗️ https://vabeefcattleu.com/registration/

# Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

📢 Only 30 Days Left to Register! 🥩📅

Don't miss out on the Virginia Beef Cattle University, happening in just 44 days! 🗓️ Join us for a three-day educational extravaganza at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skeleton Conference Center. Gain insights from top agriculture industry keynote speakers, participate in educational breakout and hands-on sessions, and network with leaders at our tradeshow and happy hour. Plus, enjoy a Monday night Prime Rib Dinner with live entertainment, yard games, and a delicious dessert food truck! 🎤🍖🍦

Secure your spot now before it's too late! Click the link to register today: https://vabeefcattleu.com/registration/

05/31/2024

The June Dairy Pipeline is now available!

In this issue: Every Second Counts; Does Milk Replacer Composition Impact Calf Gastrointestinal Health?; Upcoming Events

Visit https://sas.vt.edu/extension/vtdairy.html to access the articles.

09/21/2022

We are super EXCITED about these new facilities! They're a welcome addition to the program and we can't wait to put them to use! 🐴

New livestock teaching buildings are coming to Virginia Tech! 🐴

Click the link to read more ➡ https://bit.ly/3xrahfm

09/15/2022

Save the Date!

The 10th Annual Southwest AREC Field Day & Ram Sale is (next) Friday, September 23, 2022.

More information ⤵️
https://www.apsc.vt.edu/extensionandoutreach/Sheep-Extension/sheep-programs/swarec-ram-test.html

08/31/2022

Check out this cool video on the Meat Center! They really ARE a cut above!

Additional information about products and ordering can be found at https://www.apsc.vt.edu/facilities0/VTMeatCenter.html.

Virginia Tech's Meat Lab is a cut above. 🥩

The VT Meat Science Center lab, a hub for teaching and research, operates as a fully functional, state-inspected processing plant, offering a unique educational experience to student employees who participate in animal processing, fabrication, sanitation, and retail sales.

Learn more here! ⤵️
https://vtx.vt.edu/videos/k/2022/07/1_x327at12.html

07/18/2022

The MARE Center collaborates with academic and industry partners around the world to advance the health and well-being of horses through innovative research efforts & exceptional educational programming in equine science.

https://vtx.vt.edu/videos/k/2022/07/1_uyieirdp.html?utm_source=cmpgn_news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtUnirelNewsDailyPublicCMP_071822-public

Situated in the heart of Virginia’s horse country, the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension (MARE) Center is one of Virginia Tech’s 11 ARECs. The MARE Center collaborates with academic and industry partners around the world to advance the health and well-being of horses through innovat...

07/15/2022

Great article!

The 2022 Virginia Ram Test Sale will be held on Saturday, August 27th. To access the 2022 Ram Test data, visit https://www.apsc.vt.edu/extensionandoutreach/Sheep-Extension/sheep-programs/vt-ram-test.html. 🐏

The VA Tech-Southwest Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center Ram Test is the only program in the U.S. to evaluate ram lambs for parasite resistance through a forage-based performance test.

The tests conducted provide an important service to the sheep industry by tracking and isolating animals that are resistant to the barber pole worm. 🐏

Learn more: vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/06/ext-ram-test.html

07/01/2022

The departments of Dairy Science and Animal & Poultry Sciences have combined to form the new School of Animal Sciences.
With the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia’s approval – effective today – the school becomes one of the largest animal science programs east of the Mississippi.

https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/07/cals-sas.html'.html

Today, the departments of Dairy Science and Animal and Poultry Sciences – which include the former departments of Poultry Science and Animal Science – are being combined into a new School of Animal Sciences, which strengthens their impact on Virginia, the nation, and the world.

06/30/2022

Congratulations, Lauren!

A huge congratulations to Lauren Tsao for successfully defending her fascinating Master's research! She is our first M.S. graduate from Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare concentration through OMALS - Virginia Tech. Her work and presentation were both top notch. Congratulations, Lauren! Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Virginia Tech Animal & Poultry Sciences

06/15/2022

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences graduate students in the OMALS - Virginia Tech program spent a week in Blacksburg learning about animal behavior. The optional, in-person experience is designed to supplement their otherwise online education. Students worked with horses at the VT Campbell & Smithfield Horse Centers and dogs at the Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center.
Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab at Virginia Tech

https://vtx.vt.edu/videos/k/2022/06/1_cquzncgp.html

Graduate students in the Online Master of Agricultural and Life Sciences program spent a week in Blacksburg learning about animal behavior. The optional, in-person experience is designed to supplement their otherwise online education. Students worked with horses at the Smithfield Horse Center and do...

05/10/2022

Congratulations to Dr. Luciana Bergamasco!
Dr. Bergamasco received one of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Certificate of Teaching Excellence Awards for her excellence in the classroom, advising, and beyond.
“Lucy is a huge part of a core group of advisors that gives tirelessly to advising activities with our students,” said Dave Gerrard, head of the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences. “Given her teaching schedule and the number of hours she spends in the classroom, advising more than 50 students per year is a lot of extra work, but for someone so committed to undergraduates, she finds this type of interaction invigorating and enjoyable. I think it is fair to state that without Lucy, our department and its undergraduate program would be in a much different place without her in our faculty.”

https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/04/cals-commencement-2022-awards.html

During the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 2022 commencement ceremony, faculty, staff, and students will be honored for their achievements and successes both inside and outside of the classroom.

05/03/2022

Dual major(APSC & DASC) Kelli Gillespie didn't plan to work with livestock before coming to VT; however, thanks to a bovine reproduction project, she will be attending the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine to become a large animal veterinarian.
Way to go!
https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/05/cals-kellig.html

The research project started at Kentland Farm before it transitioned to Virginia Tech’s main campus. As an undergraduate research assistant, Gillespie helped with feedings, record keeping, and twice-a-day milking at noon and midnight, which the dairy cattle need twice a day, seven days a week, 365...

04/29/2022

Congratulations to our 2022 Outstanding Senior, Marie Piechnik!
Marie, a Beyond Boundaries Scholarship recipient, studied abroad in Germany, volunteered with Girls on the Run, and helped rehabilitate a horse during her time at Virginia Tech.

Through her role as Gamma Phi Beta at Virginia Tech financial vice president, she also worked to develop 5 new scholarships to support members who demonstrated the chapter’s values and financial need.

https://www.cals.vt.edu/academic-programs/current/outstanding-seniors.html

04/08/2022

Three of our amazing women were featured in the Virginia Tech Magazine today! Way to go Bailey, Brooke, and Jordan! https://vtx.vt.edu/videos/k/2022/04/1_t1u5um79.html?utm_source=cmpgn_news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vtUnirelNewsDailyCMP_040822-fs VT Meat Science Center

We asked Hokies around campus: Who is a Virginia Tech woman that inspires you?

02/26/2022

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed on !
We were able to surpass our challenge goal of 60 donors so we unlocked the generous gift of $3,500 from Winston Samuels '81, "83 and Marilyn Samuels '82.

02/24/2022

"When I first submitted the general scholarship application, I did not think I would receive any scholarships because I thought I was competing against the whole university. However, when I discovered I had earned the Lou Dixey Beef Industry scholarship within the APSC department, I was ecstatic! It is nice receiving awards and recognition for my achievements within a specific industry. These specified scholarships allow students to be rewarded for their achievements in a certain area of study!"

Bailey Watson
Class of 2023

Support our students by donating just $5.00 on Giving Day(before noon on Thursday, Feb 24th).

https://bit.ly/APSC2022

02/23/2022

"Hands-on classes have by far been my favorite classes at Virginia Tech. I have learned that being able to complete tasks related to a subject hands-on is the best ways for me to learn and retain the knowledge. These classes have also improved my education by allowing me to create memories, gain experience with completing tasks, and gain stories to tell in the process."

Katie Kirkpatrick
Class of 2023

Support our students by donating just $5.00 during Giving Day.
https://bit.ly/APSC2022

02/23/2022

"Being a Virginia Tech student has benefited me in many ways, one of the most beneficial being all of the hands-on courses that are offered at Tech. With being an Animal Science major, I spent a lot of time in the barns and gained some essential knowledge that I'll be able to carry forward to a future career. I am very thankful for the experience I have gained through hands-on learning.
Go Hokies! "

Makenna Hallinan
Class of 2022

https://bit.ly/APSC2022

02/23/2022

Giving day is here! brings Hokies from all around the world together to support all things VT! Join us in supporting our hands-on learning experiences by giving as little as $5.00 to unlock a generous gift of $3,500 from Winston Samuels '81, '83 and Marilyn Samuels '82.
bit.ly/APSC2022

02/18/2022

is still a few short days away, but you can already help students win some extra funding by visiting Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences page and liking the video below!
Every Virginia Tech college has posted it, and the one with the most likes by this Monday (Feb. 21) wins! Don't forget that Giving Day is 🗓️February 23-24, noon to noon🗓️.

02/18/2022

Highly contagious avian influenza has been confirmed in Virginia by the USDA.

The disease could be economically devastating to Virginia poultry industry and could also cause backyard owners to lose their entire flock, says Michael Persia, a Virginia Tech expert.

Read more: https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/02/cals-avian-flu-confirmed-va.html?fbclid=IwAR1rXwP1wxuVI7TYaNMnjWG_nNFe3-56YT_ywTe6q3dqfXlYYuIFv_lUP8I

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds in two states – a backyard flock of mixed species birds in Fauquier County, Virginia, and a flock of commercial broiler chickens in Fulton County, Kentucky.

02/14/2022

is Feb. 23-24!
Help spread the word and become an ambassador, it's as easy as You+2 – make a gift, encourage other to do the same, and score some Giving Day merch! https://givingday.vt.edu/giving-day/42940/signup

02/01/2022

The International Poultry Scientific Forum (IPSF) was held January 24-25 in Atlanta, GA. The forum was sponsored by the Southern Poultry Science Society, the Southern Conference on Avian Diseases, and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. The forum presents information on industry topics such as environmental management, nutrition, physiology, pathology, processing and products, and avian diseases. Five graduate students and one undergraduate student presented at the forum.

01/28/2022

Congratulations to Dr. Vitor R. G. Mercadante for receiving the Outstanding Young Animal Scientist Award - Research from the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science - ASAS!

https://www.asas.org/sections/southern-section/awards?fbclid=IwAR3-8uqzPgRe7rbzTm7jcI76Q4cIFdWb6jtkTqNDmULSoLu7YJXYry1tGvo

12/26/2021

Our dedicated staff work 365 days a year taking care of our Hokie animals. Thank ewe!

11/19/2021

The Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare Lab in the Virginia Tech Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences is partnering with the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA to examine the effects of foster care on the welfare and behavior of dogs in shelters. The CASPCA is just one of two shelters in the country to participate in this important research.
To assist in this study, the shelter is seeking foster care for approximately 50 dogs. Caretakers will need to commit to sheltering a dog for a seven-day period, from either Dec. 5-12 or Jan. 15-22. The ideal foster home is free of other pets, or, homeowners can keep the dog separate from other pets. Behavior support, crates, and supplies will be provided.

Individuals interested in participating, please read article for more details.

This winter, dog lovers in the Charlottesville area will have the opportunity to offer up their homes, temporarily, to a special group of furry friends.

Students and faculty in the Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare Lab in the Department of Virginia Tech Animal & Poultry Sciences are teaming up with the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA to examine the effects of foster care on the welfare and behavior of dogs in shelters.

Learn how you can help!👇
vtx.vt.edu/notices/cals-shelter-dog-study.html