The livestock industries of New York account for some $2 billion of farm income, which represents over 60% of total farm cash receipts for the state. The Department of Animal Science has a major responsibility for the development and coordination of extension programs which will help keep those in livestock and related industries fully abreast of the latest research findings in animal breeding, nutrition, reproduction and management.
The department has active extension programs for producers of most agriculturally important species, including dairy, beef, sheep, swine, poultry and horses. In addition, the youth extension program provides for the interests of many of its clients in pet animals such as dogs, cats and rabbits.
Disciplinary and interdisciplinary expertise is provided in genetic selection, nutrition, reproduction, growth and development, as well as animal and systems management. Our aim is to provide New York's animal industries with information and technology which will help keep them biologically efficient and economically profitable and competitive in an increasingly challenging and environmentally-conscious world.
Youth programs involve rural, suburban and urban young people in animal-related projects that enhance basic knowledge and skills in animal biology and production systems, as well as encourage personal development as contributing members of society.
The Department Extension Leader (currently Associate Professor David Galton) is responsible for development and coordination of our programs. In many instances the extension programs in animal science are also linked cooperatively with programs in other departments.
All faculty with extension appointments also have substantial research appointments and are expected to have active research programs. In most cases this involves not only conducting research, but also grantsmanship, graduate student training, advising and personal improvement commitments similar to those of faculty with teaching and research appointments. This policy is intended to keep the extension faculty fully abreast of the latest research in their areas of expertise.
Another (perhaps unique) feature of Animal Science Extension at Cornell is the degree to which extension and undergraduate teaching in dairy management are intertwined and cross-fertilized. This involves both extension faculty in the classroom and students on farm visits analyzing problems with agriservice and extension personnel.
The faculty specialists interact closely with, and serve as resource people for, others in the extension and agriservices network, including extension associates, county and regional agents, veterinarians, feed, breeding and management service representatives, cooperatives, producer groups, private consultants and others. Methods used to transfer research information to the ultimate clients vary greatly but include conferences, schools, seminars, workshops, publications, videos, software, interactive computer linkages and telephone calls. Several major computer models have been developed to assist animal producers with management decisions.