Meat Science

More Than Just a Meat Lab

The meat lab is more than a processing facility, it serves as a learning environment for workers and students alike. The lab allows students to work hands-on with meat, learning the different parts of the carcass, the various cuts of meat, and how to properly handle and package the finished product. It also serves the Tarleton Meat Judging Team with the tools they need to study and practice judging carcasses, and various cuts of meat. A prime location for practices, members of the team can inspect and examine cuts in preparation for the multiple contest they travel to every year.

Students in Meats Lab
Beef Cut of Meat

The meat science program at Tarleton State University encompasses a wide array of emphasis in the realm of meat science, livestock and meat evaluation, meat grading, meat animal processing, processed meats, food microbiology, quality assurance, and topics related to the current trends within the industry. In addition, students who are interested in focusing on careers in the food and meat industry have the opportunity to be involved in a myriad of exponential learning through:

  • Meat Judging
  • Academic Quiz Bowl
  • Value-Added Product Development
  • Competitive Cooking Teams

The skills frequently sought highly within the workplace (multi-tasking, critical thinking, and communication) are further enhanced outside of the classroom when students have the opportunity to engage in the activities listed above. More information about an animal science degree can be found at the Department of Animal Science.