The animal science subject matter fields are strongly supported by course work in agricultural economics, biochemistry, biophysics, biology, genetics, statistics, and in veterinary anatomy, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, pharmacology and public health.

Laboratories available for graduate research include cytogenetics, dairy manufacturing, food technology, meat science, nutrition, molecular biology and reproductive physiology. The Robert Justus Kleberg, Jr. Animal and Food Science Center provides 39 laboratories for research and graduate training. Special equipment available in these laboratories or in readily accessible facilities, such as at the Computing Services Center, offer a wide array of opportunities for study and research.

Dairy, beef, horse and swine herds and sheep and goat flocks at the main station or at research centers afford opportunities to study various problems in physiology, breeding, management, nutrition and production. The Rosenthal Meat Science and Technology Center, equipped to fabricate and process all meat foods on a semi-commercial scale, is available for research problems. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station projects in all subject matter fields offer opportunities for graduate students to participate in current research activities.

Support areas such as biochemistry and biophysics, economics, genetics and statistics may be readily arranged. Food science and technology and nutrition courses are jointly listed.

There is no specific foreign language requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. A student's advisory committee may require a foreign language or additional course work in an unrelated area in lieu of a foreign language.

601. General Animal Nutrition. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Comparative nutrition of animal species contrasting digestive, metabolic and physiological functions involved in processing and using nutrients. Prerequisite: ANSC 303 or 318 or equivalent. Cross-listed with NUTR 601.

602. Energetics of Metabolism and Growth. (3-0). Credit 3. II

Current fundamental concepts in protein and energy metabolism relating to nutrients required for maintenance, growth and development of animals. Prerequisite: BICH 410 or approval of department head. Cross-listed with NUTR 602.

604. Ruminant Nutrition. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Current concepts in anatomy, physiology of digestion and metabolism in ruminant nutrition and their relationships to nutrition practice and research with emphasis on ruminants. Prerequisites: ANSC 601 or 602; BICH 411 or 603 and/or approval of department head.

605. Advancements in Beef Cattle Production. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Current knowledge and concepts in production of lean beef; review of research in beef cattle production, breeding, nutrition, reproduction and economics. Prerequisites: ANSC 305, 318 and 406 or approval of department head.

606. Advancements in Beef Cattle Production. (3-0). Credit 3. II

Continuation of ANSC 605 with emphasis on efficiency of growth and development of diverse types of cattle through computer simulation of beef production systems. Prerequisites: ANSC 307, 318 and 406 or 408 or approval of department head.

607. Physiology and Biochemistry of Muscle as a Food. (3-0). Credit 3. II

Biochemical, histological, anatomical and physical characteristics of muscle cells and factors associated with transformation of muscle cells into meat. Prerequisite: BICH 410 or approval of department head. Cross-listed with FSTC 607.

608. Beef Cattle Management. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Current knowledge of beef cattle ranch and feedlot production systems; nutrition, management, breeding, body composition, economics, health, pollution and sanitation control. Prerequisite: ANSC 406 or 408.

609. Physiology of Growth and Stress in Livestock. (3-0). Credit 3.

Basic biochemical, physiological and endocrine mechanisms involved in processes regulating metabolism, growth and stress in livestock; current research and management principles/concepts useful to study growth and stress physiology; anabolic agents, anti-stress agents, immunoneutralization; transgenic livestock. Prerequisites: BICH 410 and 411 or approval of instructor.

610. Applied Animal Ethology. (2-2). Credit 3.

Review and evaluation of ethological research and principles as they relate to the management of animals; research principles and techniques used in studying animal behavior; psychological and physiological aspects of stress; topics of interest to students; visits to laboratories of researchers studying aspects of animal behavior/ethology.

611. Equine Nutrition. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Review and evaluation of current research in equine nutrition; principles of digestive physiology and nutrition unique to equine species; comparative digestion; integration of scientific principles into feeding management systems to enhance productivity, health and longevity of the equine. Prerequisite: ANSC 601 or approval of department head.

612. Equine Reproduction. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Review of current research relating to equine reproductive physiology and endocrinology; concepts from current research in equine reproduction to develop integrated reproductive management systems for horses. Prerequisites: ANSC 433; graduate classification.

613. Protein Metabolism. (3-0). Credit 3.

Basic concepts and recent advances in protein metabolism in animals with emphasis on physiological and nutritional significances; discussion of protein digestion; absorption of peptides; absorption, synthesis and degradation of amino acids; hormonal and nutritional regulation of protein turnover; determination of protein quality and requirements. Prerequisite: BICH 411 or 601 or equivalent or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with NUTR 613.

614. Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Genetics. (3-0). Credit 3.

Theoretical and analytical approaches to the application of maximum likelihood for the estimation of parameters under linear and nonlinear models; single and polygene genetic models including Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, linkage analysis and quantitative trait loci detection. Prerequisites: GENE 603; STAT 651 and 652 or STAT 601. Cross-listed with GENE 614.

616. Equine Exercise Science. (3-0). Credit 3.

Review and evaluation of current research in equine exercise science; physical, physiologic and metabolic adaptation to physical training in the horse; bioenergetics; nutritional requirements; problems in the hard-working horse; management and training approaches to delay fatigue in race/performance horses. Prerequisites: ANSC 420; BICH 411; graduate classification.

617. Experimental Techniques in Meat Science. (1-6). Credit 3. I

Methods used in separating and identifying muscle proteins and fats; techniques for determining postmortem changes of muscle tissue as a result of antemortem treatments. Prerequisites: ANSC607; BICH 411. Cross-listed with NUTR 617.

618. Lipids and Lipid Metabolism. (3-0). Credit 3.

Chemical nature of various classes of lipids and lipid-derived hormones; absorption and metabolism of fatty-acids and lipids; regulation of lipid biosynthesis and obesity; relationship between lipid metabolism and cholesterol homeostasis; lipids as hormones. Prerequisite: BICH 410 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with NUTR 618.

626. Analyses of Gene Expression. (1-3). Credit 2.

Proficiency in handling DNA and RNA gained during exercises used routinely in analyses of gene expression; RNA preparation and analysis on Northern blots; in vitro transcription and polyacrylamide gel analysis of nucleic acids; sub-cloning and mRNA quantitation using polymerase chain reaction. Prerequisites: GENE 450 or approval of instructor; radiation safety training. Cross-listed with GENE 626.

627. Carcass Composition and Quality. (3-0). Credit 3. II

Survey of scientific literature regarding carcass composition; quality and palatability of meat animals; factors that affect differences among animals of the same specie; impact on value and usefulness. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.

628. Animal Breeding. (2-2). Credit 3. II

Concepts from Mendelian, population and quantitative genetics; heritability, selection response, selection criteria, selection index, genetic relationship, inbreeding, mating systems, hybrid vigor and genetic-environmental interaction applied to livestock breeding and to production systems; interactions between genetics and nutrition, reproduction, production and management for both established concepts and recent trends emphasized according to special interests of students. Prerequisite: ANSC 305 or POSC 414.

630. Reproductive Biology I. (4-0). Credit 4.

Embryological, physiological, hormonal, cellular and molecular mechanisms involving the endocrine and reproductive systems of mammals; emphasis on domestic livestock, rodents and humans; current theories evaluated and discussed using information from recent scientific publications. Prerequisites: ANSC 433; BICH 411 or equivalent.

631. Reproductive Biology II. (4-0). Credit 4. I

Embryological, physiological, hormonal, cellular and molecular mechanisms involving the endocrine and reproductive systems of mammals; emphasis on domestic livestock, rodents and humans; current theories evaluated and discussed using information from recent scientific publications. Prerequisites: ANSC 630 or approval of instructor.

633. Concepts in Reproduction. (3-0). Credit 3. II

Concepts from current research in physiology of reproduction evaluated and applied for enhancement of livestock production efficiency; ovulation control, embryo transfer, multiple births and control of parturition. Prerequisite: ANSC 433 or equivalent or approval of department head.

647. Technology of Meat Processing and Distribution. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of meat and meat products as related to food technology processing operations; manufacturing, preservation, packaging and merchandising. Cross-listed with FSTC647.

650. Issues in Animal Agriculture. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II, S

Nonmarket factors related to food production and consumption. National and global nutritional, environmental, ethical, social and political issues faced by agricultural systems. Animal agriculture is used as a model. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

654. Molecular Endocrinology. (3-0). Credit 3.

Structure-function relationships of hormones, their receptors and biologic activities. Prerequisites: BICH 410 or equivalent; BIOL 649 or VTPP 653; or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with VTPP 654.

657. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System. (3-0). Credit 3.

Examination of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles specifically related to meat and poultry; microbiological and process overviews; good manufacturing practices (GMP) and standard operating procedures (SOP) development; team-building and implementation into industry operations. Cross-listed with FSTC 657.

667. Industrial Processed Meat Operations. (2-2). Credit 3. II

Application of scientific principles and business practices to manufactured meat products; interrelationships among marketing, manufacturing, product development, regulatory compliance and quality assurance in commercial processed meat operations. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Cross-listed with FSTC 667.

677. Instrumental Methods and Food Analysis: Theory and Practice. (2-6). Credit 3.

Advanced course in chemistry/analytical instrumentation theory and practice for non-chemistry majors; understand the operational principles of current instrumentation; "hands-on" experience with a variety of sample preparation techniques and modern laboratory instruments. Prerequisite: CHEM 316/318 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with FSTC 677.

681. Seminar. Credit 1 each semester. I, II

Important current developments in field of animal science; review of current literature and presentation of papers on selected animal science topics. Prerequisite: Graduate classification in animal science.

684. Professional Internship. Credit 1 or more each semester. I, II, S

Experience in the application of formal training to a commercial operation under supervision of the operations manager and a designated faculty member. The student will investigate a matter of mutual interest to the enterprise manager and to Texas A&M University; will collect, analyze and interpret the data and report the results in a professional paper approved by his or her graduate committee.

685. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4 each semester. I, II, S

Advanced studies in animal science problems and procedures. Problems assigned according to experience, interest and needs of individual student. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

689. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4. I, II, S

Special topics in an identified area of animal science. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.

691. Research. Credit 1 or more each semester. I, II, S

Investigations leading to student's thesis or dissertation in fields of animal production, meats, wool and mohair, nutrition, inheritance of farm animals and physiology of reproduction.