by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production involves the study of Animal/livestock Husbandry And Production. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Select, Breed, Care For, Process, And Market Livestock And Small Farm Animals. Includes Instruction In Basic Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, And Animal Health As Applied To Various Species And Breeds; Design And Operation Of Housing, Feeding, And Processing Facilities; And Related Issues Of Safety, Applicable Regulations, Logistics, And Supply. Continue reading for the key facts every animal/livestock husbandry & production student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering animal/livestock husbandry & production programs.
Nationwide, animal/livestock husbandry & production is a popular field of study, with 841 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production Schools ranking analyzes these 55 schools to determine the best overall colleges for animal/livestock husbandry & production students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of animal/livestock husbandry & production programs later in this article.
Studies in Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations animal/livestock husbandry & production graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a animal/livestock husbandry & production program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a animal/livestock husbandry & production major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several animal/livestock husbandry & production degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 115 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 334 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 14 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 378 |
People currently working in careers related to animal/livestock husbandry & production tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 53.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 11.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in animal/livestock husbandry & production careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying animal/livestock husbandry & production can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to animal/livestock husbandry & production.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to animal/livestock husbandry & production.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| Animal Breeders | 118,381 | 1.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of animal/livestock husbandry & production graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,195 |
| 4 years | $41,174 |
| 5 years | $47,624 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for animal/livestock husbandry & production graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers animal/livestock husbandry & production grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
| Animal Breeders | $49,553 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
With 55 different animal/livestock husbandry & production programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased animal/livestock husbandry & production school rankings to help you.
Those considering animal/livestock husbandry & production, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Production Operations, General | 820 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 769 |
| Crop Production | 516 |
| Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management | 458 |
| Aquaculture | 127 |
| Dairy Husbandry and Production | 60 |
| Agricultural Production Operations, Other | 17 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
