This four-year course aims to provide students with an understanding of recent developments in animal science, the underlying scientific principles, and how these can be applied to animal production systems. This is a strongly science-based course, combining the study of pure and applied sciences as they relate to farm animals. It is ideal for those who enjoy studying science and how scientific principles can be used to prevent disease and improve the health and welfare of farm animals, and who want to learn more about the biology of farm animals and how food animals are produced on farms. The degree will give you a good understanding of how animals’ bodies work, what is needed to maintain health and what happens in the case of disease. There is a good proportion of laboratory work, although not ‘animal experimentation’ in its sensationalist form. The course also includes some study of how modern technologies can be used to maintain and improve health. The degree is a farm animal-based course but some core modules consider other species. There are also opportunities to choose some modules which relate to horses and companion animals. This allows you to specialise or gives you the flexibility to study over a wide area. An Honours Research Project in your final year gives you the opportunity to conduct research into an area in which you are particularly interested.

There are a wide range of career opportunities available to Animal Science graduates in animal nutrition, animal health, advisory roles and technical sales. Your in-depth knowledge of farm animal health and production systems will qualify you for careers such as animal health and welfare inspector for a local authority or Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Or you may choose to work in the animal feed industry developing new diets or in an animal health company, for instance. Some students prefer to use their skills as enterprise managers, or to go on to postgraduate study.