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The decline of academic poultry science in the United States of America

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

Y. Vizzier Thaxton ,
J.A. Cason ,
N.A. Cox ,
S.E. Morris  and
J.P. Thaxton
Y. Vizzier Thaxton*
Affiliation:
Mississippi State University, Department of Poultry Science
J.A. Cason
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS, Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, PO Box 5677, Athens, GA 30604, USA
N.A. Cox
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS, Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, PO Box 5677, Athens, GA 30604, USA
S.E. Morris
Affiliation:
Mitchell Memorial Library, PO Box 5188, Mississippi State, MS 39762
J.P. Thaxton
Affiliation:
Mississippi State University, Department of Poultry Science
*
*Corresponding author: e-mail: yvizzier@poultry.msstate.edu
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Abstract

Academic poultry science in the United States had its origins in the early part of the 20th century. It reached its peak with 45 active departments in the 1940's, but then started to decline significantly in the 1960's. Today, there are only 7 active departments. There have been a number of published theories as to why as the industry grew the academic programs disappeared. Declining student numbers and failure to address industry concerns are the primary theories. This paper addresses all of the available published work together to present the situation as it evolved and point to the potential outcome.

Keywords

poultry scienceacademicdepartmental status

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Type
Reviews
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 59 , Issue 3 , September 2003 , pp. 303 - 313
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

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