The AVS Meat and Milk Quality program serves the combined livestock and dairy production sectors ($1.4 billion) of the Idaho economy, including the beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, and swine industries. Animal production agriculture (livestock and dairy) constitutes, along with plant production agriculture, over 21 percent of Idaho´s $13.6 billion state economy. The AVS Department conducts research and/or educational programs in the areas of muscle biology, animal growth factors, meat quality, safety, and consistency factors, HACCP procedures, and live animal and carcass evaluation. Considerable cooperative programming is conducted with the feedlot industry and with the packing and processing industry.

Clientele served include beef cattle producers, feedlots, swine producers, sheep producers, allied industries, packers and processors, industry consultants, youth, vocational agriculture teachers, students, and extension educators.