The College of Animal Science and Technology is one of the largest and strongest colleges of Northwest A&F University. On February 26, 2002, it was renamed from the College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine. On September 28, 2007, according to the development plan of constructing domestic top-grade and internationally renowned university, the new College of Animal Science and Technology was founded After more than 70 years’ development, the College of Animal Science and Technology has become an important base for professional training and scientific research in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine.
At present, the College has formed a diversified and multi-disciplinary teaching and research system based on graduate and undergraduate programs. The college has one level I state key discipline and one level I discipline of PhD degree authorizations in Animal Husbandry, one provincial name brand specialty in Animal Science which was awarded one of the best specialties in Shaanxi Province in 2007. It offers 7 doctoral programs including Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction, Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Genetics, Zoology, Pratacultural Science, and the Rearing of Special-type Economic Animals, 4 master’s programs in agronomy, namely, Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction Science, Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Pratacultural Science, and Rearing of Special-type Economic Animals, and 3 master’s programs in science, namely, Genetics, Zoology and Hydrobiology. Currently there are 428 graduate students enrolled for these programs. The College also offers 3 undergraduate programs of Animal Science, Pratacultural Science and Aquaculture for some 873 enrolled students. Adult education programs are also available: 1 undergraduate program in Zoology and 2 three-year college programs in Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine for correspondence students, 1 undergraduate program in Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine and 1 three-year college program in Animal Husbandry for self-study students with total students over 2,000. The college has awarded degrees to more than 6400 graduates in the field of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, of whom 820 are conferred master’s or doctoral degrees, and has contributed greatly to the development of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine in China, especially in Shaanxi province.
The College enjoys excellent academic and research capabilities. The number of its faculty and staff amounts to 181, including 17 professors or researchers and 38 associate professors or associate researchers, among whom 14 are supervisors for Ph.D. students and 21 supervisors for M.S. students. There are 3 candidates of the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University, 1 provincial outstanding expert and 6 candidates of the Three-Five Talent Supporting Project of Shaanxi Province.
The College has established long-standing academic exchanges with more than ten countries and regions, such as the USA, Canada, Japan, etc., and there are more than 40 professors holding positions in academic organizations at home and abroad. The college has set up 2 institutes, namely, the Institute of Sericulture and Silk and the Herbivores Research Centre, established 9 teaching and experimental stations such as Veterinary teaching and experiment station, Forage and Lawn Base, etc., and 34 off-campus teaching and demonstration bases. Priorities and unique expertise were displayed in research areas of Animal Genetic Resources, Animal Breeding and Application of Biotechnology, Silkworm Genetics, Breeding and Feeding Technology, etc.. In recent 10 years, the college has obtained 97 provincial or ministerial awards, published 1833 scientific papers and 193 academic books. Currently the college is taking the responsibility of 206 research projects funded by the state, ministries and provinces. Four academic journals at home and abroad are sponsored by the college: Journal of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Journal of Cattle Science, Journal of Livestock Ecology, and Journal of Northern Sericulture.
In order to adapt itself to the need of social and economic development, the college has actively conducted further studies on the integration of teaching, research, and enterprise and established various teaching and research stations and institutes with many enterprises. A batch of high-tech veterinary enterprises represented by Ningxia Farm and Land Reclamation Group has attracted much attention from the society.