What Does An Animal Nutritionist Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Animal Nutritionists

The primary responsibility of Animal Nutritionists is to help plan a nutritionally balanced diet for animals. They might work for clients who have animals, or they can work for feed companies and veterinarians. They can also work in research centers.

Salary

$77400

Education

Bachelor's degree

Personality

The Thinker

Interest Match

Animals

What they do
What is the job like
Where they work
How to become one
Should you become one

An Animal Nutritionist is someone who understands the dietary needs of animals. They might work with domestic pets, livestock, and zoo animals. They do research and plan diets that are nutritionally balanced for different animals, and they might work for feed companies, veterinarians, or farms. They try to help clients make sure their animals are eating an ideal diet.

An Animal Nutritionist should have a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Nutrition or a related field. When they begin working, they will normally specialize in a particular type of animal, which may be small domestic pets, specific types of livestock, or exotic animals.

What they do

Develop Feeding Plans for Animals

Animal Nutritionists can work for individual clients to help develop feeding plans for their animals. If they work with small animals, they might work in a veterinarian’s office, where they assess animals’ condition and help clients determine the best feed for their pets. They might also travel to farms to advise clients on feeding programs for horses, cattle, or other livestock.

Animal Nutritionists usually specialize in a particular type of animal and often work with a veterinarian. They are able to address the dietary needs for clients and help them understand the best possible feeding plan.

Evaluate the Nutritional Content of Animal Feeds

Animal Nutritionists also evaluate the nutritional content of animal feeds. They analyze the vitamins, minerals, supplements, and byproducts in feeds and help feed companies formulate better products. They also evaluate samples of forage, including hay and grass. When an Animal Nutritionist works for a feed company, they can help them create better feeds for specific types of animals and test the feeds to make sure that they are nutritionally balanced.

Educate Farmers, Zookeepers, and Others on How to House and Feed Animals

An Animal Nutritionist will educate clients on how to best care for animals so their nutritional needs are met. They will begin with basic nutritional needs, but they can teach clients how exercise and housing play a role in the nutritional needs of the animals. This professional does not normally work with all different kinds of animals; as they get settled in their careers, they usually specialize in a specific type of animal, such as domestic small animals, zoo animals, livestock, or exotic pets. They can specialize further and work with a specific type of animal, such as horses or cattle.

Research Animal Nutrition

Animal Nutritionists might also work in a lab setting conducting research on nutrition and types of fillers for animal feed. They can work with scientists or feed companies to help them come up with new formulas that will better meet the nutritional needs of different types of animals.

What is the job like

Pros

You get to work with animals

If you love animals, this is a very rewarding job. You can choose your favorite type of animal, and you will spend your days advising people on how to give it the best possible diet.

You are not stuck in an office all the time

Animal Nutritionists often travel to see clients on a daily basis. Even when they spend some time in an office, they spend time traveling to feed mills, stores, or clients’ farms.

You are always learning

As an Animal Nutritionist, you will work closely with veterinarians, feed manufacturers, and scientists, and you will always be on the cutting edge of the best nutritional information. If you enjoy learning, you will always be expanding on your knowledge in this career.

You can help develop better food products for animals

You probably wouldn’t choose this career if you didn’t care about animals, and you will have the benefit of working to improve feed products for animals so they are getting the best possible diet.

Cons

You might work long hours

You might work long hours, especially if you work with farm animals. You will likely work on the weekends as well.

You need a lot of experience and knowledge to get into this career

It is important that you have experience and knowledge to get into this career. You will want to spend time working for a vet or a feed company before you become an Animal Nutritionist.

Where they work

Veterinarian’s Offices

Feed Companies

Farms

Science labs

Animal Nutritionists usually work in veterinarian offices or for feed companies. Some of them work directly for large farms to make sure that the animals are being fed the best possible diet, and others will work at a zoo where they help zookeepers understand the nutritional needs of animals. It is normal for Animal Nutritionists to specialize in a particular type of animal, and this will determine where they work.

How to become one

Step 1: Earn a Relevant Degree

You will need to earn your Bachelor of Science in Animal Nutrition or a related field such as biology or animal science. If you plan to work as a researcher in a university, you will need to continue your education and earn a Master’s Degree or a PhD.

Step 2: Gain Experience in the Field

While you are studying animal nutrition, you can gain valuable hands-on experience by working closely with a vet or in a zoo. You can get a job as a vet tech where you assist a veterinarian in caring for animals. This will give you a lot of experience and help you gain contacts so that you can get started in your career when you finish your education.

Step 3: Choose Your Specialty

When you are ready to begin working as an Animal Nutritionist, you will need to choose your specialty. If you work with clients who own animals, you will choose small domestic pets, livestock, zoo animals, or exotics. You can specialize even further to work with a specific type of animal. You might also work for a feed company where you help formulate feeds. It is important to choose what you want to do so that you can find the ideal job.

Step 4: Get a Job

Once you know what you want to do, you can apply for jobs. This is where your work experience during school will help you have a leg up. This is a specialized field, so the more experience you have, the easier it will be to find a job.

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Thinker

People with this personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Animal Nutritionists are naturally inquisitive and curious, and they enjoy solving problems. They try to evaluate animals and determine the best nutritional plan, and these traits will help them succeed. They are compassionate and empathetic people, and they have a good academic mind. They have skills that allow them to work together with others as part of a team.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.