Animal researchers have a variety of specialties, including animal physiologists who perform tests on animals, biologists and zoologists who study animal behavior and research, and research veterinarians who study animal treatment. Animal scientists study domestic or agricultural animals to improve breeding and production. Career paths depend on interests and goals, and some may oppose animal testing.
An animal researcher is a pretty broad job description, as there are many specialties in the field of animal research. This can involve everything from an animal physiologist, who may perform tests on animals to study the effects of certain drugs, to a zoologist or biologist, studying animal behavior and researching various types of animals in depth. The type of career or educational path an animal researcher chooses depends largely on his or her career interests and goals, and the body of work he or she wants to contribute. Animal testing, for example, is controversial work to which many animal lovers are morally opposed; therefore, it would naturally not be a logical career choice for someone who shares these values.
Generally, an animal physiologist is that type of animal researcher who performs tests on animals. This may involve testing certain prescription drugs on animals, whether for human or animal use, as well as testing other products. A physiologist may also be working to find out if new feed formulations from animal feed companies are also providing enough nutrition for the animals. The term “animal researcher” does not usually refer to an animal physiologist.
There are many other types of animal researcher jobs, with a completely different focus, these include animal biologists and zoologists, as well as research veterinarians. Biologists and zoologists study the behavior of practically all types of animals, such as reproduction and mating habits or migration habits, for example. They look for changes and patterns over time and often use this data to suggest various conservation efforts to preserve ecosystems or protect endangered species. A research veterinarian may work for a college or university and strive to study improved ways to treat animals, such as curing animal diseases or developing better surgical techniques.
Another type of animal researcher is an animal scientist, although this type of researcher studies domestic or agricultural animals. This type of researcher is largely tasked with studying the genetics and development of these animals to make them more effective breeders and improve meat/dairy/egg production depending on the animal. They can work to try to breed animals with certain traits that make them more desirable for production or to survive in certain living conditions. They can conduct research to see how changes in the conditions animals are kept under affect their behavior or physiology. Ultimately, it is up to the animal researcher to determine the type of work he or she wants to do and whether to work for the ultimate benefit of animals or for the benefit of people.
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