In addition to animal health, performance and productivity, animal welfare is an important component of livestock research at Iowa State University. Anna Johnson, assistant professor of animal behavior and welfare in the Department of Animal Science, and Suzanne Millman, associate professor of animal welfare in the College of Veterinary Medicine, lead Iowa State's animal welfare efforts. While their research involves animals, Johnson says animal welfare depends on people. "Animal welfare depends on the person looking after the animals. The caretakers are the key. The best facilities won't matter if you don't have the best people working there," Johnson says. "Good animal welfare practices depend on experience and education."