[Lexington, Ky.] - Alltech, a global leader in animal nutrition, has announced the official launch of its 2008 Young Animal Scientist (YAS) award program. The program is listed online at www.alltech.com/yas.

"We're so proud to be able to do this each year and are thrilled that now, in the third year of the program, it's more popular than ever. It really speaks to the love of learning that is present in so many young people throughout the world," said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president of Alltech.

The program continues to grow each year, with 300 entrants in 2007 and 12 students from around the world already registered nearly a year in advance to take part in the 2008 competition. The winner will be announced at Alltech's global headquarters in Kentucky during Alltech's 24th International Feed Industry Symposium in April 2008, and will receive a prize of $5,000 USD along with a trophy of recognition.

The winners of the 2007 competition included overall winner Lucas Mascardi, from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; European winner William Betts, from Harper Adams University College, Edmond, England; North American winner Stephanie Perras, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; and Asia-Pacific winner Amitesh Mandal, West Bengal University, Kolkata, India.