One of the country’s top academic institutions will this year launch the nation’s first undergraduate major focused on companion animals. The program, an offshoot of an existing animal science major at China Agricultural University, in Beijing, will train students to meet rising demand for talent in the rapidly expanding pet industry.

The new program, offered by the university’s college of animal science and technology, will admit 50 students in its inaugural class, with enrollment limited to select provinces.

Unlike traditional animal science majors, which focus on livestock and broader agricultural applications, the companion animal track specializes in pets such as dogs, cats, and horses. Coursework will include canine and feline behavior, equestrian culture, nutrition, breeding, and pet grooming.

According to the admissions brochure, first-year students will study at the university’s Beijing campus before completing the remaining three years at the Yantai Institute of China Agricultural University in eastern China’s Shandong province. Graduates will receive a Bachelor of Agriculture degree.

Liu Guoshi, deputy dean of the college, described the major as an intersection of traditional livestock science with innovations in pet care. “Companion animals are animals that live closely with humans and provide emotional connection and joy. This major reflects the fast-growing demand for talent in this field as urbanization continues,” he told domestic media.

In 2023, the urban pet market was valued at 279.3 billion yuan ($39.3 billion), with projections of 361.3 billion yuan by the end of next year, according to a report from the Pet Industry Branch of the China Animal Agriculture Association. As of 2024, more than 500,000 pet-related companies were registered nationwide.

In addition, the number of pet dogs in China reached 51.75 million in 2023, a 1.1% increase from 2022, while the number of pet cats rose to 69.8 million, up 6.8%. The proportion of pet owners increased across all urban areas, except second-tier cities, compared to 2022, with first-tier cities accounting for 28.9%, second-tier cities 41%, and third-tier and lower cities making up 30%.

“Graduates from the animal science major can work in fields such as genetics, nutrition, or smart farming,” a staff member from the college of animal science and technology told domestic media. “While those in the companion animal track are more likely to enter pet-related companies or equestrian clubs.”

The program builds on earlier efforts by the university to formalize pet-related studies. In 2020, it became the first in China to establish a department of companion animal science and has since offered related postgraduate programs. The core curriculum of its broader animal science major also includes companion animal science as a designated subfield.

As this is the program’s first year, there are no previous admissions scores for reference. However, university staff admitted that the companion animal track may have a lower entry threshold than the animal science major.

As of Thursday, the topic has attracted over 7 million views on microblogging site Weibo, with most comments praising the university for addressing a talent gap in the booming pet industry.

“More and more people will keep cats and dogs in the future, so the job prospects are promising,” said one highly upvoted comment. 

Previously, programs related to pet care, nutrition, and feed were primarily offered by vocational colleges, and their enrollment is expanding year by year. However, in recent years, some universities have also begun to place greater emphasis on pet-related knowledge within the framework of traditional animal husbandry education.

For example, Yangzhou University, in the eastern Jiangsu province, has also introduced various “micro-majors” — clusters of pet care courses offered alongside a student’s main degree for students majoring in animal science, aquaculture, grassland science, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, and food science.

“The pet industry has become a new growth area within the field of animal husbandry, and there is an urgent need for professionals with a background in companion animal science,” Liu Guoshi said. “In addition, the demand for pet-related specialists is steadily increasing across universities and research institutions, veterinary clinics, government agencies, and industry regulatory bodies.”

Editor: Tom Arnstein.

(Header image: VCG)