Animal production is concerned with the science and management of beef and dairy cattle production, poultry, sheep, goats and pig production. In choosing animal science, you will study nutrition and reproduction (of both grazing animals and intensively housed animals), animal health and genetics, animal behaviour, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, and biochemistry and pasture science.

Your practical classes will be conducted in some of the best animal teaching and research amenities in the Southern Hemisphere, located on the UQ Gatton campus.

Animal science graduates can find employment as: Advisors and managers of animal production enterprises, and allied industries such as feed milling and stock equipment manufacturers and animal health companies; Extension and animal welfare officers; Research scientists with universities, government departments and CSIRO; Biosecurity officers with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service; International advisors and researchers for international development and aid programs.

As an agricultural scientist, you will apply your knowledge of scientific, technical, management, economic, environmental and social principles to a range of challenges, from climate change and food security, to ensuring sustainable production of food and fibre for global consumption.

You may be challenged to manage water resources more efficiently, control pests to economic levels while concurrently avoiding the development of genetic resistance, treat soils to ensure future generations are not disadvantaged or manage animals on the rangelands or in intensively housed conditions to meet welfare and environmental requirements.

Agricultural Science offers exciting, challenging careers in a wide variety of fields, including:

• agronomists and horticulturalists in companies and governments advising growers on cultivating crops to ensure maximum profitability and sustainability
• scientists in government, industry and international institutions researching areas as diverse as genetic engineering; or the application of soil, plant and animal science to diverse production systems
• agricultural consultants and advisors for producers and companies, domestically and internationally
• managers of agricultural enterprises, family and company-owned farms or agribusiness companies and rural industries
• advisers in banks and other financial organisations to ensure rural industry investments are economically sound
• animal scientists and dairy technologists with particular emphasis on domestic livestock
• agricultural and resource economists
• extension and inspection officers
• land information systems officers
• regulators of government policy such as keeping Australia free from pests and diseases
• educators (after completing a Graduate Diploma of Education)