125 years of animal science: Purdue department celebrates milestone

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Animal Sciences Department is celebrating its 125th anniversary during the 2024-2025 school year.

The department was established in the 1899-1900 school year when Charles Sumner Plumb was named associate professor of animal industry and dairying. This was the first time Purdue offered courses in the animal agriculture industry.

Since then, the department has grown to the largest enrollment of undergraduate students in the College of Agriculture, with more than 716 students as of fall 2022.

Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Bret Marsh shared his thoughts on the department’s anniversary.

“I reflect fondly on my experience coming to Purdue as a first-generation student entering the animal sciences program and having great professors like Martin Stob,” he said.

“Martin Stob was my academic adviser. I was heading off that summer to work on a ranch in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. It was the first time we’d ever met.

“That fall, when I walked into Lilly Hall, he asked ‘Bret, how was your experience at the ranch?’ I was so impressed that he remembered my name.”

Opeadura Osunbami, a current doctoral student, is proud to be a part of the department.

“I want to express my heartfelt congratulations on the incredible milestone of 125 years,” she said. “Though I am still a student within the department, I have experienced firsthand a massive part of this department on faculty, students and the community at large.

“The collaborative spirit within the department is truly, truly inspiring. I’m truly proud to be part of that.”

Undergraduates in the department can seek bachelor’s degrees in animal agribusiness, animal production and industry, behavior/well-being, biosciences or pre-veterinary medicine.

“Our primary teaching mission is to instill knowledge of the biology, production, products and well-being of animals and their contribution to society,” says the department’s teaching and advising mission statement.

“We must conscientiously help students develop their communication and mathematical, interpersonal, analytical and problem-solving skills.

“We are committed to the creation of an environment that promotes intellectual development, especially in providing undergraduate research opportunities, increasing international awareness and interest, and enhancing an intellectual environment for both students and faculty.”

Learn more at ag.purdue.edu/department/ansc/.