FAYETTEVILLE – For the second year in a row, the University of Arkansas has been ranked fifth among the 10 best meat and poultry-related programs in the nation by Meat and Poultry magazine.

The magazine, which is circulated throughout the United States and Canada, ranked the U of A fifth for the quality of its programs in poultry science and animal science. It also counted the contribution of the food science, biological and agricultural engineering, and agricultural economics and agribusiness departments for the quality of graduates entering the work force and problem-solving services to the industry.

Managing editor Joel Crews said the rankings are based on objective factors and the reputation of the universities for high-quality graduates and low-cost problem-solving services.

U of A Vice President for Agriculture Milo Shult said the national ranking reflects major advances in statewide Division of Agriculture animal science and poultry science programs since 1992, when the two departments were created by dividing the former department of animal and poultry science.

Keith Lusby was appointed animal science department head in 1995.  Walter Bottje is interim head of the poultry science department and director of the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science. He succeeded James Denton, first head of the department, who stepped down in January to return to a faculty position.

"Thanks to able leadership and the dedication of our faculty, our animal agriculture programs have achieved national prominence in a short time," Shult said.

"These are comprehensive, statewide research, extension and academic programs with Division of Agriculture faculty and facilities in Fayetteville, at the Livestock and Forestry Branch Station near Batesville, the Southwest Research and Extension Center at Hope, and at a research and extension complex at Savoy, west of Fayetteville," Shult said. "Our Extension faculty, coordinated by section leaders Tom Troxel and Frank Jones, in Little Rock and every Arkansas county also play a major role."

Greg Weidemann, dean of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and associate vice president for agriculture-research, said, "We are thrilled that the meat and poultry industry has recognized the impact of our programs.

"This ranking is a tribute to the hard work of our faculty, staff and students and to the investment the Division of Agriculture has made in facilities throughout the state with the support of the animal industry, the state legislature and our congressional delegation."

Lusby said the ranking means the degrees earned by U of A graduates from Bumpers College are respected nationally.

"We've established a reputation for preparing quality professionals for the meat and poultry industry," Lusby said. "And industry leaders know our research and extension programs are providing low-cost solutions for industry and consumer needs.

"Cattle and swine producers and industries have supported our teaching and research programs over the years, and this ranking validates their faith in us," he said.

Bottje said more than $32 million has been invested by USDA, state government and the poultry industry in UA poultry facilities over the past 10 years.

"We have tripled the number of faculty involved in poultry research to include poultry scientists, food scientists, biological and agriculture engineers and agricultural economists," Bottje said. "Because of these strategic contributions and expansions, we are able to provide the cutting-edge research necessary to keep our broiler, turkey and layer industries in positions of leadership in the global marketplace."

Animal and poultry science faculty numbers increased from 24 in 1990 to 54 in 2002. The increase in student enrollment from 1990 to 2002 is from 136 to 180 undergraduates and from 38 to 67 graduate students.

The Center of Excellence for Poultry Science was created with an infusion of federal, state and private funds to build the 112,000 square foot John W. Tyson Poultry Science Center, dedicated in 1995, a bio-secure poultry health laboratory, feed mill, pilot processing plant, broiler production houses and other facilities.

Virtually all research facilities for cattle have been rebuilt in the past five years, and a state-funded swine research and education unit was completed last year at Savoy. Two high-profile additions on North Garland Avenue were the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center in 1999, built with state, federal and private funds, and the Dorothy E. King Equine Pavilion in 2000, built with private funds.

A conference center and new research facilities were built at the Livestock and Forestry Substation near Batesville.

"Animal enterprises generate $4.1 billion, more than 118,000 jobs and $2.9 billion in wages for Arkansas," Shult said. "They involve complex biological systems with environmental, social and economic dimensions. We are grateful for the recognition of the needs by state government and our congressional delegation."

The Meat and Poultry top 10 list, in order, includes Texas A&M, Iowa State, Kansas State, University of Nebraska, University of Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Colorado State, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Texas Tech and Georgia Tech.