Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland, and the numbers back it up: the state had about 1.29 million milk cows as of early 2026, according to USDA data reported by state dairy sources.
At UW-Madison, graduate study in this field now runs through the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. An important update: admissions to the standalone Dairy Science M.S. were suspended as of fall 2026, and the program is set to be discontinued as of fall 2029. It has been replaced by a new Animal and Dairy Sciences M.S., offered starting in fall 2025.
The new program covers research areas including nutrition, rumen microbiology, reproductive physiology, lactational physiology, genetics, animal breeding, and animal health. Students typically need a background in a biological science, a GPA of 3.2 or higher, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and transcripts.
Graduate students work with a faculty advisor and a mentor committee, complete coursework and a research project, and defend their work at the end of the program. Funding often comes through research or teaching assistantships arranged with a faculty advisor.
Earlier versions of this article claimed top-10 rankings, a 95 percent placement rate, and 30 percent job growth. None of those figures could be verified, so they have been removed. Students interested in related fields can explore sustainable agriculture programs, veterinary public health, and data science training, which is increasingly used in dairy research.

