Department of Dairy and Food Science

Vikram V. Mistry, Department Head
Department of Dairy and Food Science
Alfred Dairy Science Hall 136
605-688-4116
Fax: 605-688-6276
E-mail: vikram.mistry@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/ds/

Faculty

Professor Mistry, Head; Professors Anand, Krishnan, Metzger, Wang; Professors Emeritus Baer, Parsons; Distinguished Professor Emeritus Schingoethe; Associate Professor Emeritus Henning; Assistant Professors Anderson, Casper, Martinez-Monteagudo, Osorio, Rovai; Lecturer Bonnemann; Plant Manager Haberkorn; Farm Manager Linke.

Overview

The mission of the Dairy and Food Science Department is to help create a prosperous future for the dairy and food industry of South Dakota, the region, nation, and world. With expertise in Dairy Production, Dairy Manufacturing, and Food Science the department covers the entire spectrum of the dairy industry; from farm to product, as well as foods in general. The faculty are well recognized in their areas of expertise in research and are excellent instructors. The recently remodeled facilities offer both undergraduate students as well as graduate students opportunities for training on state-of-the art technologies.

Programs

Majors
Dairy Production (B.S.)  
Dairy Manufacturing (B.S.)  
Dairy Manufacturing (B.S.) - Microbiology Specialization   
Food Science (B.S.)   
Minors
Food Safety Minor  
Graduate Programs*
Biological Sciences (M.S.)
     Dairy Science Specialization
     Food Science Specialization
Biological Sciences (Ph.D.)
     Dairy Science Specialization  
     Food Science Specialization
* Graduate degrees are offered in collaboration with the Graduate School. For details, see the Graduate Catalog.

Facilities and Services

The department is housed in the recently renovated Alfred Dairy Science Hall. The Dairy Research and Training Facility (DRTF) of the Dairy and Food Science Department houses 300 Holstein and Brown Swiss cattle and is a research center in feeding, breeding, and managing a dairy herd. Equally important, it is the site for basic education in dairy cattle evaluation and other aspects of dairy farming. Milk produced at the DRTF is delivered to the new state of the art Davis Dairy Plant where it is processed into fluid milk, ice cream, butter, cheese, and other dairy products. These products are sold through the Dairy Sales Bar and used in campus dining facilities.  Food Science labs are located in Berg Agricultural Hall.

Student Support and Engagement Opportunities 

Students are encouraged to supplement their class instruction with summer internships, employment at the Davis Dairy Plant, the Dairy Research and Training Facility, and extracurricular activities. Leadership opportunities are available through participation in the Dairy Club, Dairy Cattle Judging, Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, and Dairy Products Evaluation Teams. The Department has strong research programs in Dairy Production, Dairy Manufacturing, and Food Science. It is an active member of the Midwest Dairy Foods Research Center. Research opportunities for undergraduate students are also available.