Animal and Livestock Production: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this program gain comprehensive expertise in the sustainable management and development of livestock and small farm animal systems. The curriculum emphasizes practical and scientific approaches to animal production, preparing individuals for roles in modern agricultural enterprises, agribusiness, and rural development.
- Animal Science Fundamentals: Explores the biological and physiological principles underlying animal growth, reproduction, and behavior across species, forming the basis for informed decision-making in production systems.
- Animal Nutrition and Feeding Systems: Focuses on formulating balanced diets, evaluating feed resources, and optimizing nutritional strategies to support health, productivity, and efficiency in diverse livestock operations.
- Animal Health and Disease Management: Covers preventive healthcare practices, biosecurity protocols, and diagnostic techniques to maintain herd wellness and comply with animal welfare standards.
- Facility Design and Management: Teaches the planning, construction, and operation of housing, feeding, and processing infrastructure tailored to animal needs and environmental sustainability.
- Reproductive and Breeding Strategies: Examines genetic selection, breeding programs, and reproductive technologies to enhance productivity, resilience, and genetic diversity in livestock populations.
- Regulatory Compliance and Safety Standards: Addresses federal, state, and industry regulations governing animal care, food safety, environmental impact, and worker safety in production environments.
- Supply Chain and Market Dynamics: Investigates logistics, marketing channels, value-added processing, and economic factors influencing the movement of livestock and animal products from farm to consumer.
Animal and Livestock Production Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Animal and Livestock Production Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Animal and Livestock Production degrees, including Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary and First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 56,130 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers 11-9013 | $87,980 | $51,700 - $156,530 | 5,910 | $42.30 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1041 | $86,350 | $49,080 - $160,870 | 8,700 | N/A |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers 45-1011 | $59,330 | $39,610 - $90,840 | 29,530 | $28.53 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators 25-9021 | $58,120 | $36,780 - $85,230 | 10,260 | $27.94 |
| Animal Breeders 45-2021 | $52,000 | $37,130 - $89,970 | 1,730 | $25.00 |
Animal and Livestock Production Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $51,873 in Arkansas to $91,820 in Maryland—a 77% difference. The highest-paying states include Maryland, Illinois, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 56,130 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Animal and Livestock Production by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 55 institutions offering Animal and Livestock Production programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Animal and Livestock Production is found at Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (188 graduates), Moorpark College (65 graduates), Wilkes Community College (WCC) (45 graduates), Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) (38 graduates), and College of the Sequoias (COS) (33 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 841 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Other Award
|
188 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Moorpark College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
65 | Moorpark, California | Public | moorparkcollege.edu |
| Wilkes Community College (WCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
45 | Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Public | wilkescc.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
38 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| College of the Sequoias (COS) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Visalia, California | Public | cos.edu |
| Merced College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
30 | Merced, California | Public | mccd.edu |
| Bakersfield College (BC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Bakersfield, California | Public | bakersfieldcollege.edu |
| Redlands Community College |
Other Award
|
24 | El Reno, Oklahoma | Public | redlandscc.edu |
| Black Hawk College (BHC) |
Other Award
|
22 | Moline, Illinois | Public | bhc.edu |
| Reedley College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Reedley, California | Public | reedleycollege.edu |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | cvtc.edu |
| Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
| Modesto Junior College (MJC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Modesto, California | Public | mjc.edu |
| Hinds Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
19 | Raymond, Mississippi | Public | hindscc.edu |
| Sampson Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Clinton, North Carolina | Public | sampsoncc.edu |
| Wayne Community College (WCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Goldsboro, North Carolina | Public | waynecc.edu |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (Southwest Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
15 | Fennimore, Wisconsin | Public | swtc.edu |
| PPG Technical College (PPG) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
14 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Private | estudiappg.com |
| Victor Valley College (VVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Victorville, California | Public | vvc.edu |
| Niagara County Community College (SUNY Niagara) |
Associate's
|
13 | Sanborn, New York | Public | niagaracc.suny.edu |
| Mitchell Technical College (Mitchell Tech) |
Associate's
|
12 | Mitchell, South Dakota | Public | mitchelltech.edu |
| Feather River Community College District |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Quincy, California | Public | frc.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
10 | Senatobia, Mississippi | Public | northwestms.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRU) |
Associate's
|
10 | Utuado, Puerto Rico | Public | uprutuado.edu |
| Aims Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | aims.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Associate's
|
9 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute |
Associate's
|
9 | Wooster, Ohio | Public | ati.osu.edu |
| Hawkeye Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Waterloo, Iowa | Public | hawkeyecollege.edu |
| Southeast Community College Area (SCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | southeast.edu |
| Yuba College |
Other Award
|
6 | Marysville, California | Public | yc.yccd.edu |
| John Wood Community College (JWCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Quincy, Illinois | Public | jwcc.edu |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Granite Falls, Minnesota | Public | mnwest.edu |
| Shasta College |
Associate's
|
5 | Redding, California | Public | shastacollege.edu |
| Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Calmar, Iowa | Public | nicc.edu |
| Ridgewater College |
Other Award
|
5 | Willmar, Minnesota | Public | ridgewater.edu |
| Jefferson Community College (JCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Watertown, New York | Public | sunyjefferson.edu |
| Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Cleveland, Wisconsin | Public | gotoltc.edu |
| Joliet Junior College (JJC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Joliet, Illinois | Public | jjc.edu |
| Huntington University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Huntington, Indiana | Private | huntington.edu |
| Indian Hills Community College (IHCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Ottumwa, Iowa | Public | indianhills.edu |
| Surry Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
4 | Dobson, North Carolina | Public | surry.edu |
| Lassen Community College |
Associate's
|
3 | Susanville, California | Public | lassencollege.edu |
| Cleveland Community College (CCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Shelby, North Carolina | Public | clevelandcc.edu |
| Northwood Technical College (Northwood Tech) |
Other Award
|
3 | Rice Lake, Wisconsin | Public | northwoodtech.edu |
| Southwestern Community College (SWCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Creston, Iowa | Public | swcciowa.edu |
| South Central College (SCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | North Mankato, Minnesota | Public | southcentral.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Master's
|
2 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Pendleton, Oregon | Public | bluecc.edu |
| Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Walla Walla, Washington | Public | wwcc.edu |
| Woodland Community College (WCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Woodland, California | Public | wcc.yccd.edu |
| Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Woodland Hills, California | Public | lapc.edu |
| College of Central Florida (CF) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Ocala, Florida | Public | cf.edu |
| Lake Land College |
Other Award
|
1 | Mattoon, Illinois | Public | lakelandcollege.edu |
| Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Torrington, Wyoming | Public | ewc.wy.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Animal and Livestock Production programs
How much can I earn with a Animal and Livestock Production degree?
Salaries for Animal and Livestock Production graduates vary by role and location. Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers earn a median of $87,980 annually, while Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $86,350. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Maryland average $91,820 compared to $51,873 in Arkansas. Approximately 56,130 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Animal and Livestock Production programs?
Currently 55 accredited institutions offer Animal and Livestock Production degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (188 graduates), Moorpark College (65 graduates), and Wilkes Community College (WCC) (45 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Animal and Livestock Production growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 648 in 2010 to a peak of 1,038 in 2020, before declining slightly to 841 in 2023-24. This represents a 30% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Animal and Livestock Production degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, and First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers. Related occupations employ approximately 56,130 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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