Clemson University. Dept. of Animal Science.

Clemson University's Animal Science Department is directly concerned with Extension, Research and Teaching pertaining to beef cattle, horses, sheep and swine industry in the state. The Animal Science Extension provides educational programs for adults and youth throughout the state with livestock enterprises. Major areas of emphasis are in breeding, feeding, management, and marketing. To promote the beef, horse and swine industries there are demonstrations, county producer meetings, field days, breed associations, and state commodity organizations.

Communication is generally through county extension agents, meetings and news articles. Research programs in Animal Science have been in the areas of animal breeding, beef cattle, swine and horse nutrition, reproduction, forage systems for beef cattle, and meats. Most research in the department is financed from state and federal funds allocated through the South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Some faculty members have received grants from industry for specfic research projects. Research findings are published in research series, bulletins, abstracts, and journal articles.

An animal husbandry division was established at Clemson Agricultural College in 1897. After January 1, 1898, there was a separation of the cattle into a dairy division and a division of animal science. The degree offered at that time was a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. It was not until 1962 that a degree was offered in Animal Science. During the early 1900s as the curriculum was restructured, the program was called Agriculture and Animal Industry (or Husbandry) and also Dairying and Animal Husbandry. In 1918 Dairy Husbandry became a separate division. In 1934 the college changed from five departments to six schools and so the Division of Animal Husbandry became the Department of Animal Science. In 1951, when a graduate school was organized at Clemson College, graduate level courses were offered in Animal Husbandry. The following chronology shows changes within the Agriculture Department: 1897-1934: Division of Animal Husbandry, Department of Agriculture; 1934-1965: Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture; 1966-1971: Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences; 1972-1995: Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Sciences; 1996-1988: Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences; School of Animal, Biomedical, and Biological Sciences; College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences.

Mr. Lawrence V. Starkey was named department head in 1951 and served until Richard F. Wheeler became head in 1956. When Dr. Wheeler retired in 1980, D.L. Cross became acting head until L.T. Frobish was appointed head in July 1981. Charles W. (Bill) Foley became department head in 1988 and is currently serving in that position. The Bachelor of Science degree program in Animal Industries includes the Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences curriculum. In addition to the general education requirements of the university, there are three areas of emphasis: Business and Production, Preveterinary and Science, and Meat and Dairy Foods. For additional information on the Animal Science curricula, consult the Clemson University Undergraduate Announcement. The Animal Science Department operates a modern swine center, a combined horse and sheep center, a bull test station, a steer feeding facility, and the T.E. Garrison livestock arena which opened in 1991.