Animal Sciences

Animal scientists will have a vital role to play in meeting the future demands of our growing population in a time of climate change.

Animals contribute to human society in many ways as they provide food, clothing materials, perform duties in the workplace, play key roles in some leisure activities and, as pets, provide us with companionship.

Well-trained biological scientists are in great demand by today's innovative bioscience companies, which make a significant contribution to the economy both in Scotland and the UK. 

For the land-based bioscience sector, recent advances have delivered numerous beneficial applications in environmental protection, crop and livestock production and animal welfare, as well as offering new possibilities such as the production of pharmaceuticals in milk and eggs.

SRUC has one of the largest animal welfare and behaviour research teams in Europe, working to understand and interpret the behaviour of managed animals and the impact on animal welfare.