Program overview
In simple terms, this major is about studying how to make animals reproduce better, grow faster, and stay healthier. You'll learn foundational theories like animal genetics, quantitative genetics, and molecular genetics, and also get hands-on with cutting-edge technologies such as genomic selection, gene editing, and embryo transfer. Core courses include animal breeding, animal reproduction, bioinformatics, and experimental design. It's perfect for students who love biology, enjoy hands-on work, and are curious about the livestock industry—for example, if you raised chickens or ducks as a kid or are interested in pet breeding, this major will be fascinating. Chinese universities have unique strengths in this field: China Agricultural University has decades of data on pig breeding, Huazhong Agricultural University is a world leader in genomic selection for chickens, and many schools have large experimental farms where you can get direct, practical experience.