Animal Science & Management

Domestic animals play a more significant role in our lives than we realise! Cows, sheep and poultry are vital to our food production. We share companionship with our pet dogs, cats, birds and even goldfish.

The Animal Science and Management major brings together studies in animal nutrition, growth and development, behaviour and welfare, genetics and breeding, health, livestock science and reproduction, and biotechnology. These studies allow people to manage animals in a way that integrates animal welfare with modern and demanding production requirements. You can choose to specialise in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Livestock Production, or Animal Science.

This major will help you develop an understanding of the biology of domestic and captive animals, as well as their care, management and use as a resource for food, fibre, recreation and companionship. You will learn about the complex ethical and moral issues facing society concerning animal ownership, and will have the opportunity to focus on the systems management of a chosen species or classification of animals.

Graduates with a major in Animal Science and Management can explore careers in the public or private sectors related to a wide range of animal production, environmental, biomedical and service industries, and community organisations concerned with public good.

These can include careers in the following sectors:

• Enterprise management: Manager of large livestock enterprises or farm service businesses (e.g. feed or animal health companies), livestock improvement officer, consultant or research scientist. Careers are available across the whole food supply chain, from the farm level to processing, distribution and marketing.
• Animal research and biotechnology industries: Animal molecular genetics and breeding, identification and quality assurance, biotechnology in health related research and management methods.
• Agriculture industries and animal production: Animal nutritionist, development of animal health products, environmental management in animal industries, quality assurance, horse industries, dairy herd and farm management, pig and poultry manager, pasture agronomist/adviser.
• Animal care and welfare: Animal welfare and protection, animal behaviour, improvement of conditions and treatment of animals, stockmanship and quality assurance, animal health services, improved and alternative management strategies.