A new $18.5
million Animal and Dairy
Science complex will make
the University of Georgia
an even better resource for
Georgia farmers and consumers.
“It’s a stepping stone for UGA to move into the elite,”
said Sam Hodge, a
senior majoring in meats science, to the crowd of more than
400 who dedicated the facility
Feb. 6.
Advantages for
Georgia
Karen Holbrook,
UGA Senior Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Provost,
said the complex offers a unique advantage in economic
development on the UGA campus.
By allowing for “leading-edge research,” she
said, “this facility will
serve as an incubator for companies. The community and the
academy will now be able to
work together within the same walls.”
“The (ADS) department serves a livestock industry
with $850 million in
cash receipts. . .” ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Larry Benyshek
Larry
Benyshek, animal and dairy science
department head with the UGA College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, said, “We will be able to
compete with anyone in the
United States with these facilities.”
Center Facts and
Figures
The new complex includes a large animal research unit.
It will allow for intensive
research studies in physiology, nutrition and genetics.
It also has a meats science and technology center.
There, scientists will conduct
studies for product quality, consistency and safety.
A 150-seat auditorium will eventually be equipped as a
distance learning classroom.
Faculty
Focus
Benyshek said his faculty focuses on comprehensive
programs dealing with the livestock
that have an economic impact on Georgia farmers and
consumers.
Scientists conduct research leading to new technology
and transfer that technology and
information statewide through on-campus classes and the
adult education programs of the
Extension Service.
“The department serves a livestock industry with $850
million in cash receipts
from beef, dairy, hogs, sheep, horses and aquaculture,” he
said. “These farm
cash receipts transfer into a multibillion-dollar
agribusiness industry.”
UGA ADS
Programs
The UGA department’s quantitative genetics program has
gained national attention in
beef cattle. The addition of a leading scientist working
in the area of cloning has
brought in new technology in reproductive biology and adds
to the efforts developing
mammalian transgenesis.
The beef and pork industries have identified product
quality and consistency as major
research areas. “The new meat science center will provide
the facility to carry on a
flourishing program in this area,” Benyshek said.
Department
Partnerships
“The department is becoming more and more active in the
Georgia Research Alliance
effort to promote science leading
to economic development,” he said.
The fourth floor of the new complex houses four
companies in leased space. The
companies were founded by faculty members on the UGA
campus.
“This will become a model for the partnership between
science and economic
development,” Benyshek said.
