Voices from the Field: Why Poultry is a Career You Shouldn’t Ignore?
Jim Smith – Swine Nutritionist, Agricultural Product Development, Cross-Functional Team Leader
“I’ve been telling prospective graduate students and animal science undergrads not to ignore the poultry industry. That hurts me to say as a Swine Nutritionist, but from a jobs perspective—particularly for graduate students—the poultry industry has many more options than the swine industry right now.”
James Krotz – Coordinator of Career Services and Alumni Relations, Purdue Animal Sciences
“Students, listen up. The poultry industry isn’t always flashy or glamorous. Hardly anyone thinks of working with chickens, turkeys, or ducks when they first enroll in Animal Sciences. But the industry cares about the next generation. They invest in their interns. They pay well. They feed the world. They’re on the leading edge of veterinary health. As you prepare to look for summer 2026 internships, get out of your comfort zone and apply for a poultry internship—you’ll be glad you did.”
Key Takeaways for Students & Job Seekers:
Poultry offers more career opportunities right now than many other livestock sectors.
Companies invest in young professionals and offer competitive pay internationally.
📢 Message to Our Members: Let’s share these insights widely—because the poultry industry is not just feeding the world, it’s building the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Poultry Professionals Society, PPS