American Society of Animal Science

Organizing ASAS (originally called the American Society of Animal Nutrition) began on July 28, 1908, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. A committee of animal nutritionists decided to present a plan for the new society during the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago that fall. When the society first officially gathered on November 26, 1908, 33 charter members represented 17 state experiment stations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Canada. The goals of the new society were: "(1) to improve the quality of investigation in animal nutrition, (2) to promote more systematic and better correlated study of feeding problems, and (3) to facilitate personal interaction between investigators in this field." During the first year, the society had 100 members join.

At the society business meeting in 1912, the members made plans to broaden the membership base. On November 30, 1915, members changed the society name from the American Society of Animal Nutrition to the American Society of Animal Production. Members passed an amendment to the constitution to include members interested in teaching, breeding, and management investigations as well as nutritionists.

By the 50th anniversary year of the society, in 1958, there were 1829 members. A second name change was approved in 1961, when the official name became the American Society of Animal Science.

In 2008, ASAS celebrated its centennial. As of 2012, the society has more than 5,000 members. Members include animal scientists in academia, the animal industry, and state and federal agencies. The society also has student members and members working in animal and food production.