The LSU Board of Supervisors approved the merger of the LSU AgCenter’s Department of Veterinary Science into the School of Animal Sciences at its meeting Feb. 3.

The merger will strengthen the research and extension programs in both units and complement their move into the new Animal and Food Sciences Laboratory Building that is being built on the Baton Rouge campus, said LSU AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson.

“The historic missions of these two units have substantial overlap,” Richardson said. “While animal sciences encompasses all aspects of animal science, the faculty in veterinary science have a narrower scope that focuses on animal diseases.”

The faculty and research programs will not change, and shared teaching appointments with the School of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Agriculture will continue, he said.

“We believe the merger will encourage greater cooperation and collaboration among these faculty members,” Richardson said.

Rick Bogren