Ensuring greater human and animal health
Our scientists are tackling some of the leading challenges in animal nutrition, food safety, production systems, technology and more. Research in the Department of Animal Sciences is in collaboration with the College of Agriculture and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.
Scientists in our department conduct research in the following areas:
Animal and forage production systems and nutrition
- Dr. Leanne Dillard: forages
- Dr. Paul Dyce: reproductive biology
- Dr. Maggie Justice: beef systems, management
- Dr. Kim Mullenix: beef systems
- Dr. Rishi Prasad: livestock production, nutrition
- Dr. Soren Rodning: herd health
- Dr. Marko Rudar: swine nutrition, metabolism, biology
- Dr. Brandon Smith: ruminant nutrition
Muscle food science, technology and safety
- Dr. Aeriel Belk: food science, production environment, animal host
- Dr. Jason Sawyer: production, packaging, food science
Regulatory biology
- Dr. Priyanka Banerjee: biochemistry, biotechnology
- Dr. Terry Brandebourg: genetics
- Dr. Wellison Diniz: genomics and bioinformatics
- Dr. Jacek Wower: biochemistry
Duncan McSorley, a master's student studying ruminant nutrition and forages, was named a recipient of the American Society of Agronomy’s Future Leaders in Science award.
The Animal Science and Forages team is making an impact not only in Alabama but increasingly on a global scale through their research and outreach efforts.
From first-timers to lifelong livestock exhibitors, Alabama youth will find livestock events tailored to every experience level in 2026.
