More than one third of the WCVM's overall research activity relates to food animal health care and management — a traditional focus for the WCVM's research program. WCVM-based research projects provide vital insight into the health issues and management of beef and dairy cattle, swine, sheep, poultry and specialized livestock.  

Researchers in several WCVM departments conduct basic and applied investigations in areas such as reproduction, genetics, infectious diseases, zoonoses, epidemiology, diagnostic pathology, herd health, veterinary public health and food safety.

While the federal and provincial governments provide the bulk of the funding for WCVM's food animal research initiatives, many WCVM scientists also receive support from a wide variety of livestock industry organizations across Canada. The college's food animal-focused faculty are also involved in research collaborations and teaching initiatives that span the globe.