Animal Science Courses | 2024-2025 Academic Catalog | SIU

Designed for students with little or no horse riding experience. A holistic approach to handling and riding horses using natural laws governing horses and balance. Class time is primarily hands-on work with some classroom time. Students must be able to lead, groom, tack, mount and ride a horse. Horses are restricted to carrying 250 pounds. Facilities/Riding Fee: $300.

Credit Hours: 2

Focus on the basic science of companion animal nutrition and the nutrient needs of dogs and cats, rabbits, birds, aquarium fish, rodents and reptiles. Students will also learn the different types and forms of pets food, how to evaluate pets food, and regulations of pets food and labeling.

Credit Hours: 3

[IAI Course: AG 902] A general overview of dairy, meat animals (swine, beef, sheep), poultry, and horse industries with emphasis on how meat, milk, and poultry products are produced and distributed. The general application of genetic, physiologic, and nutrition principles for the improvement of animal production to further serve people.

Credit Hours: 3

[IAI Course: AG 902] Livestock facilities, demonstration of management practices of animals for human use and the processing of animal products. Laboratory fee: $40.

Credit Hours: 1

Provides students with limited previous livestock experience an opportunity to participate in the routine care and management procedures at one of the University's livestock centers. This practicum course is custom designed for the individual student and requires instructor consent.

Credit Hours: 1-2

Provides students with limited previous livestock experience an opportunity to participate in the routine care and management procedures at one of the University's livestock centers. This practicum course is custom designed for the individual student and requires instructor consent.

Credit Hours: 1-2

Provides students with limited previous livestock experience an opportunity to participate in the routine care and management procedures at one of the University's livestock centers. This practicum course is custom designed for the individual student and requires instructor consent. Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 1-2

Provides students with limited previous livestock experience an opportunity to participate in the routine care and management procedures at one of the University's livestock centers. This practicum course is custom designed for the individual student and requires instructor consent.

Credit Hours: 1-2

Principles and practice of proper feeding and care of companion animals, with emphasis on dogs and cats. Nutrition, digestive systems, reproduction, and health care will be discussed.

Credit Hours: 2

Processing and distribution of meat and dairy products. Consumption, nutritional value, cooking and serving of these products. Nomenclature and identification of meat cuts. Breeds, classes, and evaluation of meat and dairy animals. Fee: $10.

Credit Hours: 3

Selection and evaluation of breeding and/or market animals including livestock (beef, sheep, swine and goats); horses; or dairy cattle. Includes competitive judging, but participation on SIUC Intercollegiate Livestock, Horse, or Dairy Judging Teams is not a required part of this course. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-2

Designed for intermediate riders to improve their horse riding skills using primarily mounted exercises following the natural laws governing horses and balance, emphasizing independent use of the rider's natural aids. Students must be able to lead, groom, tack, mount and ride a horse. Horses are restricted to carrying 250 pounds. Course is repeatable up to 4 times during the student's academic career. Prerequisite: ANS 112 or consent of instructor (tryouts required). Facilities/Riding fee: $300.

Credit Hours: 2

(Same as HND 215) An up-to-date study of the principles of nutrition including classification of nutrients (physical and chemical properties) and their uses in order to provide the student a working knowledge of nutrition in today's environment.

Credit Hours: 2

Designed for the beginning science student or non-science majors with an interest in horses. Information on topics related to horse selection and care coupled with laboratory experience provide essential information for the care of horses owned for pleasure. Fee: $35.

Credit Hours: 4

Improvements in livestock production technology have resulted from research. These technologies contribute to the welfare of a growing population of humans. However, the application of new technologies often interact with a public perception of animals as exploited species in a manner conflicting with human values. These conflicts are discussed from a scientific and philosophic viewpoint.

Credit Hours: 3

This course explores the conformation and functional anatomy of the athletic horse, particularly as it relates to locomotion. Gaits and movement will be studied. Methods to influence movement will be considered and how these impact athletic ability or potential. Fee: $25.

Credit Hours: 3

Classroom, ground and mounted work explore communication and balance of the horse and rider combination. Feel, timing and balance are emphasized while working with horses needing further education. Time outside class required. Students must be able to lead, groom, tack, mount and ride a horse. Horses are restricted to carrying 250 pounds. Course is repeatable up to 4 times during the student's academic career. Prerequisite: ANS 212 or consent of instructor (tryouts required). Facilities/Riding fee: $300.

Credit Hours: 2

An introduction to grassland agriculture encompassing characteristics of forage species, forage/grazing management, and forage utilization with an emphasis in livestock systems. Laboratory/Field trip fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 3

Principles of applied animal nutrition. Ration formulation to meet specific nutrient needs of livestock. Feedstuff evaluation, including cost will be discussed.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will describe the basic characteristics of common feeds used in companion animal diets and the principles of utilizing these to meet animal requirements for maintenance and throughout the life-cycle. Prerequisite: ANS 215 or concurrent enrollment.

Credit Hours: 3

Students will learn principles of communicating tasks to horses using aids natural to horse behavior. Many different groundwork exercises are practiced. Prerequisite: ANS 112, 212, 312 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 2

A comparative study of domestic animal function is presented using an organ system approach. How cell, tissue and organ structure is related to physiological function is emphasized. The mechanism of animal growth and development will be discussed.

Credit Hours: 4

Principles of molecular genetics, Mendelian genetics, population genetics and quantitative genetics and their application to animal improvement. Prerequisite: ANS 121, MATH 108 or above.

Credit Hours: 3

One three-hour lab per week. Laboratory course provides experiences with genetic laboratory experimentation and interpretation of data. Prerequisite: Completion of, or concurrent enrollment in ANS 332. Lab fee: $35.

Credit Hours: 1

Principles of prevention and control of infectious, nutritional and parasitic disease of farm animals. Restricted to junior or senior standing. Course features occasional lab visits to University Farms. Prerequisites: ZOOL 118 and ANS 331 or consent of instructor. Lab fee: $30.

Credit Hours: 3

Work experience program in animal production units and agricultural agencies of the government or agribusiness. Restricted to junior standing. Special approval needed from the chair.

Credit Hours: 2-3

Focus on nutrients requirement and the feeding during the life cycle (maintenance, growth, gestation, lactation, seniors and performance) of cats and dogs. Nutrients digestion and metabolism, energy balance, and food processing, evaluation and labeling will be explored. Maximum enrollment is 15. Prerequisite: ANS 215 or concurrent enrollment.

Credit Hours: 3

A travel course to observe and study the operation and management of farms, ranches, and feedlots as well as agribusiness firms supporting animal production such as food processors, feed manufacturers, and housing or equipment companies in either the United States or foreign countries. A written report is required. The travel fee charged to the student will depend on the nature and the length of the course.

Credit Hours: 1-6

Discussion of problems and recent development in animal science. Prerequisite: ANS 121. Restricted to junior standing.

Credit Hours: 1

Assignment involving research and individual problems. Restricted to juniors and seniors only. Special approval needed from the chair.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Designed for students interested in the more scientific aspects of equine physiology and management. The class will take a more advanced look at anatomy and physiology of the systems of the equine and consider how they relate to selection, use and management. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: ANS 219 and 331. Fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 4

This course involves the advanced equestrian in the evaluation and resolution of special problems in horse training. Students will work with a single horse during the semester to master an individual training goal set in consulting with the instructor. Emphasis will be placed on the use of non-violent training techniques. Course is repeatable up to 4 times during the student's academic career. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: ANS 312 or consent of instructor. Facilities/riding expenses are $300 per class minimum.

Credit Hours: 2

Advanced principles and practices associated with digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients as related to domestic monogastrics, ruminants and horses. Prerequisite: ANS 215 and 315.

Credit Hours: 4

Designed for the advanced equine student planning a career in the horse field. Mastery of in-depth management techniques on an applied basis is emphasized. Farm, animal and personnel management are practiced. Extensive out-of-class practice time is expected. Prerequisite: ANS 409 with a grade of C or better. Lab fee: $90.

Credit Hours: 4

This course focuses on the behavior of dogs and horses and will incorporate hands-on training techniques as well as pack/herd observation. Students will understand the difference between classical and operant conditioning, negative and positive reinforcement and will have the opportunity to observe social behavior, reproductive behavior, eating behaviors as well as dominant and submissive behaviors. Key features of the course include a study of the work that dogs and horses perform for man as well as a history of how those working relationships developed. All students with a passion for animals are encouraged to enroll. Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 3

A study of world animal production practices with emphasis on the developing countries. Adaptability of animals to environmental extremes and management practices employed to improve productivity. Prerequisite: ANS 121. Restricted to junior standing.

Credit Hours: 2

The class will provide students with the most recent information on nutrients requirements and feeding of zoo animals. Students will also learn about zoo animals digestive system and physiology, feeding behavior, nutrition disorders and diseases. Field trips to local zoos. Prerequisite: ANS 215 and ANS 315 with grades of C or better.

Credit Hours: 4

(Same as HND 425) The interrelationship of cell physiology, metabolism and nutrition as related to energy and nutrient utilization, including host needs and biochemical disorders and diseases requiring specific nutritional considerations. Prerequisite: ANS 215 or HND 320, CHEM 140B, PHSL 201 and 208.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as PHSL 426, ZOOL 426) Comparison of mechanisms influencing hormone release, hormone biosynthesis, and the effects of hormones on target tissues, including mechanisms of transport, receptor kinetics, and signal transduction. Prerequisites: ANS 331 or ZOOL 220 or PHSL 310 with a minimum grade of C. Laboratory/Field Trip fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 3

The class will provide students with the most recent information on nutrient requirements and feeding of zoo animals. Students will also learn about zoo animals' digestive system, feeding behavior, physiology, nutrition disorders, and diseases. Prerequisites: ANS 215 and ANS 315 with grades of C or better.

Credit Hours: 4

Study of the diverse horse industry and business management practices involved with the operation of a successful horse enterprise. Analysis of a commercial horse operation will be explored through an in-depth, self-directed farm project. Field trips and guest speakers will inform students for the farm project. An on-campus horse event will be planned and executed as a class project. Prerequisites: ANS 409, ABE 350 or 351. Field trip fee: $40.

Credit Hours: 2

Application of the principles of breeding, physiology, and economics to management of a profitable dairy herd. Breeds of dairy cattle, housing, milking practices, and quality milk production. Prerequisite: ANS 315. Lab/Field trip fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 4

Comparative anatomy and physiology of the male and female reproductive system of domestic animals; hormones; reproductive cycles; mating behavior; gestation and parturition; sperm physiology; collection and processing of semen; artificial insemination, pregnancy tests; diseases. Course includes a weekly lab. Prerequisite: ANS 121, ANS 331. Laboratory fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 4

(Same as AGSE 433, CSEM 433, HORT 433, PLB 433, PSAS 433) This course will cover the basic principles of plant and animal biotechnology using current examples; gene mapping in breeding, transgenic approaches to improve crop plants and transgenic approaches to improve animals will be considered. Technology transfer from laboratory to marketplace will be considered. An understanding of gene mapping, cloning, transfer, and expression will be derived. Restricted to senior standing.

Credit Hours: 3-7

Anatomy and physiology of milk secretion; endocrine control; milk precursors and synthesis; milk composition; physiology and mechanics of milking; lactation-related disorders and diseases; transgenic milk. Prerequisite: ANS 331.

Credit Hours: 2

(Same as CSEM 435) Molecular biology is rapidly making important contributions to agricultural science through biotechnology. An appreciation of the techniques of molecular biology and their application to plant improvement is important to all in agriculture and biology. The relationships between plant molecular biology and the biotechnology industry will be discussed. Presentations on particular research problems will be made. Graded P/F only.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Nutrition and feeding management of canine and feline during obesity, cancer, diabetes, urolithiasis, dental disease, dermatological disease, hepatic and gastrointestinal disorders, mobility and muscular disorders, heart diseases, and critical care. Prerequisite: ANS 215 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 4

Scope and problems associated with animal nutrient management; current regulations and laws on environmental protection. Principles covering waste management technology and current livestock nutrient management systems are presented. Field trips will be scheduled. Restricted to junior standing.

Credit Hours: 2

Swine production systems and management techniques including breeding and selection, reproduction, nutrition, herd health and disease prevention, housing and waste management, marketing, production costs, and enterprise analysis. Field trip. Prerequisite: ANS 315 or consent of instructor. Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 4

(Same as ZOOL 477) Production of food, game and bait fishes. Design of facilities, chemical and biological variables, spawning techniques, diseases and nutrition. Two lectures per week and one four-hour laboratory on alternate weeks. Prerequisites: BIOL 200A or BIOL 211 or ZOOL 118 or ANS 121 with grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to develop written communication skills while learning to critique literature concerning current topics in the field of companion animal nutrition. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: ANS 115 and ANS 365.

Credit Hours: 3

Beef cattle production systems and management, breeding and selection, reproduction, nutrition, and herd health with emphasis on the most economical and efficient systems. Prerequisite: ANS 315, ANS 332 or concurrent enrollment. Lab/Field trip fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 4

Provides the Equine Science students with the opportunity for diversified, practical experience in their area of career-goal interest. One semester will be spent working in a commercial horse-related industry. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: ANS 409, 419. Restricted to senior standing. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 4-8

Acquaints the students with different teaching environments and styles. Students will be expected to participate in instructing animal science courses. Restricted to junior standing. Special approval needed from the instructor. Not for graduate thesis option credit.

Credit Hours: 1-6