UF Animal Sciences Department

05/29/2026

Our Spring 2026 Have You Herd Newsletter is LIVE! 📣

Check out this volume to see our spring event recaps, course and faculty highlights, and learn more about the department's accomplishments. We are so proud of our students, faculty, and staff, and we look forward to watching their continued success unfold!

You can read the newsletter using this link!
https://tinyurl.com/SpringHaveYouHerd

05/27/2026

Summer is in full swing! ☀️

We hope you are taking some time to have fun and relax. Whether you're traveling, completing an internship, or enjoying time with family, we can't wait to hear about everyone's adventures!

What are your plans for the summer? Comment below what you're most excited about during break! 🐊 ☀️🏖️🌴

05/22/2026

Our Meats Retail Store is OPEN Today! 🥩

Stop by and see us from 9 AM to 4 PM and grab some treats for the weekend! The Meats Retail Store is open every Friday, excluding holidays and official University of Florida closure days.

We can't wait to see you at 2250 Shealy Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608!

05/19/2026

Happy National Beef Month! 🐮

This month, we are taking the time to recognize the importance of the Beef Industry! We appreciate the ranchers who work to take the utmost care of their herds while also stewarding their land and natural resources.

Did you know that beef contains many essential nutrients that we need in our diet, like protein, iron, zinc, selenium, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, phosphorus, pantothenate, magnesium, and potassium? We hope you enjoy beef products as much as we do, and we hope you celebrate this month with a lasting appreciation for the steaks, burgers, and other meals that wouldn't be complete without beef!

05/13/2026

Recently, the 2026 UF/IFAS ANS Meat Judging Team closed out the semester, earning 1st and 3rd overall team finishes at the Southeastern Meat Judging Contest! The competition was hosted at The Ohio State University and the University of Kentucky. 🎉

Team members include Presli Busby, Leydializ Aviles, Chelsea Davis, Madison King, Catarina Petrovic, Samantha Salemi, David Triana-Rodriguez, Irene Lewis, and Kendall Bechtold. They were coached by Thachary Mayer, Rayna Heartquist, and Lauren Higgins.

The UF Orange Team received 1st Place Overall Team, 1st in Beef Judging and Specifications, 2nd in Reasons and Pork Judging, 3rd in Overall Beef and Total Placing, 4th in Lamb Judging, and 5th in Beef Grading. The UF Blue Team obtained 3rd Place Overall Team, 1st in Reasons, 2nd in Beef Grading, Beef Judging, Overall Beef, and Lamb Judging, and 5th in Pork Judging and Specifications.

We would also like to congratulate these individuals on their accomplishments.

Presli Busby:
2nd Overall High Individual, 1st Individual Reasons, 1st Specifications, 2nd Lamb Judging

Leydializ Aviles:
3rd Overall High Individual, 2nd Beef Judging, 3rd Specifications

Catarina Petrovic:
6th Overall High Individual, 3rd Pork Judging, 4th Specifications, 5th Individual Reasons

Chelsea Davis:
8th Overall High Individual, 2nd Specifications

Samantha Salemi:
2nd Beef Grading, 3rd Overall Beef

Kendall Bechtold:
4th Lamb Judging

David Triana-Rodriguez:
5th Lamb Judging

Irene Lewis:
6th Lamb Judging

Madison King:
10th Specifications

We are so proud of this team and look forward to watching their continued success unfold next semester! Go Gators! 🐊🥩 🎉

05/11/2026

On May 1, the department hosted our 7th Annual Bull & Heifer sale on Live Ag! 🐮

The sale welcomed 42 bidders with a total of 1,781 bids from five different states. 15 Bulls and 15 Heifers were included in our lots, with sales averaging at $5,733 for Bulls and $10,200 for Heifers. Our highest selling Bull was Lot 13, who went to W.D. Cattle of Floresville, TX. Our highest selling Yearling Heifer was Lot 25, who set a new sale record receiving 187 bids! This outstanding polled heifer went to Blackwater Cattle in Lake Park, GA.

The Volume Buyers were Lazy J Ranch of George West, TX, and Blackwater Cattle in Lake Park, GA, who both purchased 3 heifers. Proceeds from this sale support our Teaching, Research, and Extension programs in the UF/IFAS Animal Sciences Department, and we are so grateful for all contributions received from our buyers, supporters, and organizers!

05/08/2026

Senior Spotlight!

Ashley Baca received her Bachelor's with an Animal Biology Specialization! She plans to continue working as a research assistant in Dr. Faciola's Lab and hopes to attend Veterinary School in the future.

She has been involved in the Dairy Science Club and undergraduate research, and has participated in events like CALS Kickoff, Family Day at the Dairy, and ANS New Student Orientation. Ashley feels as though her most meaningful experiences as a student started with her participation in these opportunities. She says, "The most meaningful part of my experience as an Animal Sciences student has been combining leadership, research, and involvement within the department. Serving as an officer for the Dairy Science Club helped me build leadership and communication skills, while my undergraduate research in the Faciola Lab provided valuable hands-on experience and strengthened my interest in ruminant science."

Ashley believes the mentorship she received in the department was very impactful, and the hands-on experiences she gained from her classes helped her to discover new interests and shape her academic journey. She would like to give a shoutout to "Dr. Faciola and Gerald Salas-Solis for their incredible mentorship and support. They have played a huge role in my academic and professional growth, always encouraging me, sharing their knowledge, and helping me pursue my passion for dairy science."

Ashley feels as though her involvement fostered the best undergraduate experience, and she hopes incoming students have an equally fulfilling journey. She says, "My biggest piece of advice for incoming freshmen and current students is to be involved. Get engaged in clubs, research, and departmental events early on, as these experiences help you build connections, develop skills, and discover your passions within animal sciences."

Congratulations, Ashley! 🎉 🐊

05/06/2026

Our next Senior Spotlight is Rebecca Lyons!

Rebecca has obtained her bachelor's degree with an Integrative Specialization, and will begin pursuing her Master of Science in Animal Sciences at Washington State University this fall! Her thesis project will focus on the interactions between reproductive biology and immunology in dairy cattle, and she hopes to pursue a career working in cattle embryology and reproductive management.

In addition to her studies, Rebecca was a member of the UF Equestrian Club's Western Team, Brahman Show Team, Dairy Judging Team, and the Academic Quadrathlon Team. She also served as an Animal Sciences Ambassador, on executive boards for UF Block and Bridle and the Dairy Science Club, and a TA for the Introduction to Animal Sciences Lab for three years. Rebecca also had the opportunity to help with on-farm collections and lab work including IVF and cell culture while performing undergraduate research.

She believes some of her most meaningful experiences emerged from attending our Summer Industry Tours, where she was exposed to many aspects of animal agriculture, from operational systems to career opportunities. She also appreciates the relationships she was able to build with fellow students and faculty and feels that many individuals had a great impact on her experience as a student. She says "Amie Imler and Allyson Trimble had the greatest impact on my undergraduate experience through their unwavering support and exceptional mentorship. They encouraged me to strengthen my communication and teaching skills as a teaching assistant and provided numerous opportunities to travel and gain new experiences. Both served as mentors and sounding boards, consistently offering guidance and encouragement in my academic and professional endeavors. Their genuine investment in me, as well as in other undergraduate students, played a defining role in shaping my undergraduate journey."

Her advice to an ANS student is, "Always keep an open mind, take a chance on the opportunities that come your way, and be present. The four years go by way too fast so enjoy every moment."

Congratulations, Rebecca! 🎉🐊

05/05/2026

We had an incredible time hosting the 75th Annual University of Florida Beef Cattle Short Course!

On April 29-30th, 2026, we gathered to share and learn about advancements and trends in the cattle industry. We also presented the 2nd Animal Sciences Bull Gator Award to Billy Kempfer, recognizing his dedication and contributions to UF/IFAS Animal Sciences Department and the Florida Beef Industry.

This event wouldn't be possible without the support of our sponsors, volunteers, and speakers, and we are so grateful for their contributions. Thank you to Dr. Todd Thrift for organizing the 75th Annual UF Beef Cattle Short Course, and to our speakers for taking the time to share your knowledge with us!

We would like to extend a special thank-you to our generous sponsors, whose support made this event possible: Alligare, Farm Credit, Purina, CKP, The Last Farm, Carden Insurance, Westway Feed, ABS Global, McNess, Nine Twenty Company, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., Datamars Livestock, Zoetis, FERA, Triangle Group, Alltech, Ducks Unlimited, MWI Animal Health, and Orion Solutions for generously sponsoring this event!

Go Gators! 🐊 🐮

05/05/2026

Thank you to all of those who supported the Annual University of Florida Equine Sciences Program Sale in the Swamp!🐴🧡

THANK YOU for supporting our annual Sale in the Swamp!

Because of you, this year’s sale was a success! From those who purchased horses, placed bids, or generously donated breedings - your support means everything to us. We truly couldn’t do this without such an incredible community behind us, and we’re so grateful for each and every one of you.

We’re proud to continue producing quality prospects and can’t wait to see what the future holds.

UF Animal Sciences Department

04/27/2026

It's time for another Senior Spotlight!

Phyllis Wah is graduating with her Bachelor's specializing in Animal Biology and will be attending Vet School in the fall! During her time as a student, she was involved with UF Club Badminton, UF choir, UF student government committees, the Pre-Vet Club, AASU, and served as a TA. She believes her most meaningful experience in the department was serving as a Teacher's Assistant, where she was able to build relationships and mentor fellow pre-vet students. Phyllis also enjoyed taking the Introduction to Animal Sciences Lab, where she was able to interact with many large animals while also exploring her interests in the Animal Sciences field.

She would like to give a shoutout to Mrs. Amie Imler, who she feels provided guidance and support during her experience as a student. Phyllis says "She gave a lot of career and life advice from my freshman year to now graduating, guiding me to the right path, and encourage me to succeed and try new things."

Her advice to a student in ANS is "Cold email, cold call, apply! The worst thing you can get back is a no, and who knows!"

Congratulations, Phyllis! 🐊 🎉