Animal Science

Poor performance can have more than one potential explanation. An animal scientist may compare nutrition, genetics, reproductive status, environmental stress, housing, stocking or management conditions, production records, and changes within or between groups of animals. Examining several factors together can help determine whether the available records support a management or production explanation rather than attributing the outcome to a single factor without supporting evidence.

Relevant records may include breeding dates, sire and dam information, reproductive histories, conception or pregnancy data, birth records, mortality, age, body condition, nutrition, environmental conditions, and production history. A suitably qualified animal science expert can examine whether patterns in those records are consistent with the breeding and management program being evaluated. Detailed diagnosis of infertility or reproductive disease may require veterinary expertise, including theriogenology where appropriate.

Useful materials may include feed formulations and invoices, ration records, production and growth data, breeding records, herd or flock inventories, mortality records, housing and environmental logs, husbandry protocols, photographs, laboratory analyses, veterinary records, and correspondence concerning changes in animal performance. Records showing conditions before and after the disputed period can be particularly useful when the issue involves a change in productivity, reproduction, growth, or management.