Course summary

Food security is vital to the success and stability of any country and its population. Meeting the world's increasing demand for food is one of the most important challenges of the twenty-first century. Livestock Science is, and will remain, central to meeting this challenge. Not only is food quantity important but so is quality, with consumers continuing to demand a high quality product at an affordable price. These demands can only be met by the development and implementation of innovative concepts and ideas by suitably well-qualified post graduates, who will also then drive forward these exciting developments in livestock science and production. A range of biological science modules will be taught in the first semester which will cover animal growth and development, breeding, genetics, immunology, parasitology, bacteriology, endocrinology, and principles of animal nutrition. This will provide you with an advanced biological science knowledge which will then be applied in semester 2 which will cover subjects such as: livestock reproductive physiology, grassland science, livestock nutrition, molecular genetics for production animals and emerging techniques in veterinary science. Throughout the course, especially in the second semester, you will have increasing opportunity to explore specific areas of your own interest; this will culminate in your research dissertation. In addition to gaining specialised knowledge in Livestock Science the course aims to develop your more general skills such as written and oral communication, research skills, data handling and statistics, team work, information technology, problem solving etc.