From the Department of Dairy and Animal Science
This regular column from Penn State’s Department of Dairy and
Animal Science features the research findings, student opportunities, and
resports on other important topics generated in the Department. The
back issues of the column are archived on Lancaster Farming’s
Internet www.lancasterfarming.com home page. Look for them.
Harold Karpster and
Gabriella Varga
Department of Dairy and
Animal Science
Penn State
With the spring semester well
underway we are both in a
“teaching mode” so let’s begin
this column with a quiz. What
animal industry;
1) Will
generate over $ll
billion in feed sales
in the US and over
$26 billion
worldwide 9
2) Has an
annual rate of sales
growth of 4 to 7%?
3)
Utilizes U.S.
crops at the rate of
over 3 5 million tons
of corn and a million
tons of soybeans
annually 9
4)
Utilizes over
1.5 million tons of
poultry, swine and
beef byproducts
annually and in so
doing directly
supports dairy,
livestock, and
poultry producers 9
5) Feeds
over 125 million
head of “livestock”
per day with the
equivalent of 850
railroad boxcar
loads of feed, each
containing 40 tons 9
6)
Directly
supports the
viability of many
rural farm
businesses?
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Yes, the answer in each case is
the pet food industry and these
figures do not include the untold
millions spent on veterinary care,
grooming, toys, equipment,
sporting and competitive events,
and many others.
Obviously an industry of this
magnitude requires a variety of
trained professionals. Until
recently few traditional animal
science departments have
provided undergraduate course
work m the companion animal
area. The demand for such
information is growing as more
students entering animal science
majors come from non-farm
backgrounds and many lack any
real experience with farm
animals. At Penn State we see
increasing numbers of new
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: A New Initiative in Animal
als
students indicate that companion
animals are their number one
species interest
To address this need, we
recently began to offer “Animal
Science 305 - Companion Animal
Care and Nutrition,” a 3 credit
course that students may use as
of their “animal
management” selections. We have
five learning objectives that we
expect students to accomplish:
one
Develop an
appreciation for the
role and importance
of companion
animals in our
society
Develop an
understanding of the
basic nutritional and
environmental needs
of companion
animals.
Develop skills
in the formulation of
diets for companion
animals.
4.
Develop the
basic management
skills required for
the proper care of
companion animals
Develop an
appreciation for the
economic
importance of
companion animals
and the career
opportunities they
offer.
In line with the interests of
many students, we emphasize
dogs and cats in our lectures.
However, other species are
addressed including birds,
reptiles, and several small
mammal species. We address the
nutritional and reproductive
biology of each species. The more
applied areas of feeding, housing
and management are also
discussed.
We have been very
fortunate in obtaining the help
and support of several off-campus
folks who have been valuable in
providing “real world”
experiences for our students. The
Lang family, owners of Dad’s
Products Company, INC. in
Meadville, PA., have been most
generous in hosting our class each
year. They have provided
transportation and lodging for a
two-day class trip to their pet food
facility. All aspects of pet food
MARYLAND
Whiteford - Deer Creek Equipment
PENNSYLVANIA
Altoona - Hines Equipment
Carlisle - Gutshall’s, Inc
Cresson - Hines Equipment
Easton - Forks Equipment
Fairmount City - Miller's Equipment
Honesdale - Marshall Machinery
Honeybrook - Dependable Motor Co
Johnstown - Hines Equipment
Lebanon - Umberger's of Fontana
Lititz - Binkley & Hurst Bros
Lynnport - Kermit K. Kistler.lnc
Marion Center - Allegheny Farm Service
Oley - Pikeville Equipment
Oxford - Deer Creek Equipment
Turbotville - Ag Resources
Washington - Bull International
Williamsburg - Longnecker’s, Inc
Science
manufacture are discussed and we
tour the entire plant. Most of our
students are astonished to see the
size and scale of the facilities for
modern pet food manufacture
Metzger Animal Hospital
in nearby State College has also
shared their time and talents. Dr.
Fred Metzger and Dr. Bob Rider
lecture in class on modem animal
health care followed by an
informative tour of their hospital
facility.
Finally, the Tom Battalina
family, owners of Tornado
Hollow Kennel in Cochranton,
PA. give the students an
overview of managing a family
owned kennel. Field-trial
retrieving demonstrations using
several of their outstanding
Labrador Retrievers leave us in
awe of the abilities of these
outstanding canines!
We certainly haven’t
abandoned our interests in
traditional animal agriculture, but
it’s been fun to branch out into
the companion animal species.
For those young people
considering enrollment in Penn
State’s Department of Dairy and
Animal Science, this course
represents an opportunity to gam
knowledge and experience in this
growing segment of animal
agriculture!
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