Animal Sciences Giving Priorities

Auburn University’s Department of Animal Sciences is nationally recognized for excellence in beef cattle research and its service to Alabama’s cattle industry. To strengthen this leadership and expand our capacity for innovation, the department is advancing plans for a new Beef Cattle Evaluation Center on Auburn’s campus in 2026.

The Beef Cattle Evaluation Center:

• Advances research in nutrition and reproduction by providing a modern facility where faculty can conduct state‑of‑the‑art trials that address current production challenges faced by Alabama cattlemen, including feed efficiency, reproductive performance, forage utilization, and emerging technologies.
• Strengthens Auburn’s role as a hub for producer engagement by offering dedicated space for workshops, demonstrations, certification programs, youth education, and field days that showcase applied research and best practices in beef cattle systems.
• Expands experiential learning opportunities that supports hands on training, knowledge exchange, and workforce development in beef cattle production.

• this facility would support steps towards the development of a center of excellence in beef production, which would facilitate research, teaching, and Extension programs and position Auburn as the regional leader in forage-based beef systems. 

• Training undergraduate and graduate students in modern research methods and industry practices related to beef management.
• Conducting timely, relevant research on grazing, forage technologies, and cattle performance.
• Delivering educational programs that improve land stewardship, animal management, and the production efficiency of beef cattle operations.

Auburn University continues to prioritize investment in its livestock and meats judging programs, which play a critical role in student development and industry engagement. Building long‑term support through an endowment will strengthen these programs and ensure their continued success.

Key Points:

• Provides long‑term stability for livestock and meats judging programs by establishing an endowment that supports travel, training, and program needs for both teams.
• Expands experiential learning and professional development opportunities by enabling students to compete nationally, gain hands‑on industry experience, and build the communication, decision‑making, and teamwork skills essential for career success.
• Strengthens Auburn’s reputation and industry pipeline by supporting student teams that represent the university on national stages and consistently produce graduates who excel in animal and meat science careers.

The Upchurch Endowment in Auburn Animal Sciences provides essential support for experiential learning, ensuring students gain the hands‑on, real‑world experiences needed for success in the animal agriculture industry. This fund strengthens our academic programs by opening doors to opportunities that extend learning far beyond the classroom.

Key Highlights of the Upchurch Endowment:

• Supports high‑impact student experiences such as the Spring Break Study Tour and study‑abroad programs focused on global animal agriculture, giving students firsthand exposure to diverse production systems and industry practices.
• Enhances academic and professional development by funding undergraduate research projects that allow students to explore scientific inquiry, build technical skills, and work directly with faculty mentors.
• Empowers student success through competition and leadership by providing resources for teams participating in events like the Academic Quadrathlon, Quiz Bowl, and other academic competitions that strengthen critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills.