An illustration appears on the screen that reads, “Career Pathways.” In this circular diagram, the following pathways are listed: Animal Systems, Biotechnology Systems, Environmental Service Systems, Food Products and Processing, Natural Resource Systems, Plant Systems, Power, Structural, and Technical Systems, Agribusiness Systems. The selection "Animal Systems" is highlighted.
Animal systems is one of the eight agriculture career pathways. This career pathway offers many opportunities in management and production of livestock, small animals, and companion animals.
In the slide titled “Animal Systems Pathway,” a small livestock image appears in the corner. The slide is divided into three parts: Animal Production, Show, Sport & Work, and Animal Health. Images of goats and cows emerge under Animal Production. Two cows standing in a farmland are shown.
The pathway can be divided into a number of areas. The first is animal production. Animal production involves the raising of livestock and some smaller animals for everyday products we consume. These products include meat, dairy products, and wool.
Images of a horse rider and a dog appear under Show, Sport & Work, transitioning to a professional horse rider performing stunts.
Another career area focuses on working with livestock and companion animals for show, sport, and work. These careers involve events such as rodeos, local, national, and international shows, and herding animals.
Images of animal medicines and a veterinarian emerge under Animal Health, transitioning to a man blending substances with animal feed on a farm.
You can also focus on animal health careers, including animal pharmaceuticals and veterinary medicine. Nutrition careers involve designing and formulating feeds for animals to ensure optimal health, growth, and performance.
A woman showcases a sheep, transitioning to another woman presenting beef cattle in an open farm.
In the animal career pathway, you can learn skills such as how to identify, select, and manage animals with preferred physical characteristics and how to prescribe and implement treatment programs for disease. If you are interested in this pathway, you should consider gaining work-based learning through your SAE.
Images of beef cattle transition to footage of someone feeding meat to a wild owl. A group of individuals cleans a forest.
For instance, you could breed and show rabbits or beef cattle or work in a veterinary clinic. You might also decide to help rehabilitate wild animals or help restore animal habitats for local parks or forest preserves.
A montage of people raising and selling pets, transitioning to two girls sitting with a dog, playing with it, and then a smiling woman carrying a goat. Two men, one woman, and two dogs participate in a dog competition.
Another option includes raising and selling pets. You might consider operating a pet sitting or walking service or starting a dog grooming business. If you enjoy working with and caring for animals of all sizes, and want to pursue a career working with animals, an animal-based SAE will help you learn the necessary skills to be successful.
An inspector examines an animal storage facility, transitioning to footage of a veterinarian with a dog in the office. A woman interacts with him while the veterinarian takes notes.
Careers in the animal systems pathway range from small and companion animal care to raising livestock or game animals. Many careers in the pathway require training or education beyond high school. Entry-level medical positions, such as a vet tech, require certification from a vet tech program at a trade school or community college. Advanced medical professions, such as a veterinarian, require a four-year undergraduate degree and a minimum of four years of veterinary school.
A man picks up a young snake from a box.
Becoming a surgeon or specializing in a species often requires additional schooling.
A goat is shown, transitioning to a woman petting and caring for the goat.
Career opportunities in the animal systems pathway will continue to grow as the human population increases and we strive to meet the demand for pets and for animal-based proteins.