UCD Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Programme Office
Oifig Chlár Eolaíocht na Talmhaíochta agus an Leighis Tréidliachta, UCD
Dairy Business
See yourself as a future leader or making an important contribution in the dynamic dairy industry
Degree: BAgrSc (Dairy Business)
Direct entry CAO Code: DN252
Length of Programme: 4 years.
Required Subjects: Irish, English, Mathematics,
one laboratory science subject, two other recognised subjects.
Introduction
In
response to major changes taking place in the dairy industry throughout the
world, UCD are pleased to offer an exciting four year full time Bachelor of
Agricultural Science Dairy Business honours degree programme.
Understanding Your Degree:
The new programme is designed to provide students entering the dairy industry (dairy farming or supporting industries) with a high level of scientific, technical and business skills and has been developed following extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The Irish dairy industry makes a major contribution to the Irish economy adding in excess of €2bn to food exports and employing approximately 20,000 dairy farmers, 8,500 employees in the processing industry and supporting an additional 4,500 positions in ancillary services. It is predicted that the Irish dairy industry will undergo significant change over the coming years with a contraction in dairy farm numbers but a significant expansion in farm and herd size, which will be accelerated by the abolition of the dairy quota in 2015.
These changes will bring with them opportunities and this programme is designed to equip future leaders in the dairy industry with the necessary knowledge and skills base to cope with the business and enterprise expansion.
Stages 1,2 and 4 of the programme will be delivered at UCD while stage three will take place at Teagasc Moorepark Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Kildalton Agricultural College, Pilltown, Co. Kilkenny while also comprising of six months Professional Work Experience placement.
Mapping Your Degree:
Stage
1
Stage one combines a range of business, science, mathematics and technology
related modules delivered from across the University. Introductory
Chemistry, Animal Biology and Evolution and Cell and Plant Biology modules
will equip you with the necessary scientific foundation for your degree.
The business and technology related modules offered by the UCD School of
Business and the UCD School of Biology and Environmental Sciences will
provide you with a thorough grounding in these disciplines for future
modules.
Stage 2
In Stage two you will build on this scientific base by taking a wide range
of modules from relevant applied sciences such as Animal Reproduction,
Animal Breeding, Dairy Production and Animal Nutrition. Other modules will
further build on business and communication skills including Written
Communications, Managing Employee Relations and Business Management.
Options exist to increase the number of business modules taken in Stage 2
and also to study Agri-Environmental Issues and Policy.
Stage 3
In stage three of the programme, students will undertake “Technical
Management of a Dairy Farm” at Teagasc, Kildalton Agricultural College in
semester 1 prior to commencing Professional Work Experience placement.
Modules such as Grassland Management and Applied Dairy Cow Nutrition,
Applied Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Dairy Systems and Herd Health
will be undertaken at Teagasc Moorepark in semester two.
Stage 4
In stage four you will consolidate your understanding of all modules
studied and will undertake a range of business and science modules such as
Food and Agribusiness Strategy, Leadership and Change Management, Farm
Business Management, Advanced Dairy Production, Grass and Forage Production
and Entrepreneurial Management.
Professional Work Experience:
Professional Work Experience (PWE) is a unique selling point of the
programme and provides exciting opportunities for students to travel to New
Zealand and participate on a comprehensive work experience programme.
Students can apply the skills and knowledge gained whilst also receiving
exposure to cutting edge technologies. PWE takes place between July and
December of stage three, which offers students the opportunity to travel to
New Zealand during the busiest time of year in the dairy farming calendar.
Career Opportunities
In addition to the highly skilled role of dairy farm management, opportunities exist in a wide variety of areas including: advisory, research, animal feed industry, banking, teaching and consultancy services. Research opportunities to masters and PhD level will also be available.
Further Information:
Room G10
UCD Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Programme Office,
University College Dublin,
Belfield, Dublin 4.
Ph: +353 1 7167194
Fax: +353 1 7161118
E-mail: agandvet@ucd.ie
