The predecessor of the College of Animal Science and Technology dates back to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of Shandong Provincial College of Agriculture founded in 1949. In October 1958, it relocated with the university to Daizong Campus in Tai’an. The department was renamed the College of Animal Science and Technology in January 1994. The College of Veterinary Medicine was established in October 2006 and operated under a joint administrative office with the College of Animal Science and Technology. The two colleges became independent entities in March 2024. In April 2024, the College of Animal Science and Technology moved into the newly built Animal Science and Technology Building (Zoonoses Research Platform) on Panhe Campus.

Complete Academic System Boosting Integrated Innovation

The college features a full talent training system covering undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs. It runs a Postdoctoral Research Station in Animal Husbandry, a first-level discipline doctoral program in Animal Husbandry, and a professional doctoral program in Agriculture (Animal Husbandry). It also offers two first-level academic master’s programs in Animal Husbandry and Aquaculture, as well as two professional master’s programs in Agriculture (Animal Husbandry) and Fisheries Development. Three undergraduate majors are available: Animal Science, Smart Animal Husbandry Science and Engineering, and Animal Science (Sino-US Cooperative Program). The college also carries out a “3+2” consecutive training program for Animal Science in cooperation with Shandong Vocational College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine.

Distinguished Faculty Empowering High-quality Development

The college has 84 faculty and staff members, including 64 full-time teachers: 27 professors, 29 associate professors, 22 doctoral supervisors and 50 master’s supervisors. Its high-caliber talents include 1 recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 1 national young talent, 1 expert entitled to special government allowance from the State Council, 1 National Distinguished Young and Middle-aged Expert with Outstanding Contributions, 4 Position Scientists of the National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System, 2 Taishan Scholar Distinguished Experts, 2 Young Taishan Scholars, 1 Distinguished Young and Middle-aged Expert with Outstanding Contributions of Shandong Province, and 1 Chief Expert of Shandong Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System.

High-end Training Platforms Nurturing Talents

In November 2023, the Animal Science and Technology Building (Zoonoses Research Platform) of Shandong Agricultural University was officially put into use. Covering a total construction area of 25,000 square meters, the building has become a new landmark of the university. The college comprises two departments: Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, and Animal Nutrition and Feed Science. It hosts a National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center, the Key Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources (co-built by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Shandong Province), Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Livestock Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Nutrition & Efficient Feeding, Shandong Provincial International Joint Laboratory of Functional Polysaccharides, and the SDAU-UC Davis Joint Laboratory for Animal Biology.

Industry-Education Integration for Collaborative Talent Cultivation

The college keeps expanding university-enterprise cooperation platforms. Several well-known listed enterprises have jointly set up customized training classes and off-campus practical bases to support the college’s talent training system. Meanwhile, joint undergraduate and postgraduate training programs have been launched with Kentucky State University, Truman State University and other American universities to cultivate high-quality interdisciplinary talents with global vision. To date, the college has trained nearly 10,000 professional technicians for the animal husbandry industry, making vital contributions to the development of the livestock sector.