Livestock Science - MSc

Now Technical sales Specialist with Grassland Agro

After completing an undergraduate degree in Animal Science I returned to the Emerald Isle and started working with Grassland Agro. Grassland Agro are first and foremost a fertilizer company which also have a range of ruminant mineral supplements. I was in this job for just under a year, and at this stage I had spoken to a number of senior management in Grassland Agro and also in different companies about career progression. They all had different opinions, however the one thing they all agreed on was that a MSc would practically be a “must have” in the not so distant future.
It was at this stage I started to begin to look into the different MSc options. With a keen interest in livestock function and nutrition, the MSc in Livestock Science at Aberystwyth University seemed to provide everything I was looking for! The course was broad enough that many different aspects of livestock science were covered while also allowing you to focus on what really interested you, by allowing you to choose the titles of your assignments and dissertation. An excellent night life and rugby may have also contributed to this decision to come to Aber. . . . .
For my dissertation I worked with Professor Jamie Newbold investigating the effects of a plant extract (saponins) on the protozoal population in the rumen. After completing the lab work I moved home to Ireland to write up the dissertation. I was also lucky enough that Grassland Agro had held my position, so I was able to start working straight away when I moved home. On a typical day such as today (4/6/14) I met with a few merchants which sell our stock and also walked potato, wheat and silage crops which were treated with our fertilizer. The purpose of walking such crops is to demonstrate to the farmer the benefits of using our products, so they will hopefully continue to buy the product.
The knowledge and experience I gained from completing an MSc in Livestock Science is vital in an industry which is increasingly getting more technical and complex. Having now completed the MSc I am very confident I have many of the skills required to progress my career within the agricultural industry.

PhD student Aberystwyth University

I enrolled on an MSc Livestock Science at Aberystwyth University in 2013 after graduation from a BSc in Agriculture with Animal Science. Unlike the BSc, the MSc allowed me to specialize in aspects of livestock production and health, which are my main interest within agriculture.

The MSc greatly exposed me to scientific research, thanks to the many lectures from highly active researchers, the Gregynog and BSAS conferences, and my dissertation where I researched mastitis risk factors for ewes. These experiences fuelled a growing interest in this research, and ultimately led me to apply for a PhD at IBERS looking at the epidemiology of rumen fluke here in Wales. Thanks in part to my MSc degree I was able to secure funding for this PhD, and the knowledge and experience gained from the course has substantially contributed to my progression during my first three years of my PhD.

Owner of a mixed animal veterinary practice in Greece

I was working as a Veterinary Surgeon in the Greek Livestock industry for three years when I felt the need to improve my knowledge and understanding in the area of livestock nutrition. A significant number of health issues in livestock derive from improper nutritional management and I was seeking a course which could enrich my knowledge and offer me the potential to implement on-farm nutritional strategies. The Livestock Science MSc in Aberystwyth University was the most suitable for my needs. IBERS is globally the most recognizable institute in livestock nutrition, combining numerous aspects of animal science. Vast research on livestock productivity, microbiology, genetic improvement in both livestock and plants are a few of the scientific areas covered in IBERS.

So here I was in Aberystwyth. A small, but 'big', town at the same time. Nice memories with my fellow students and professors but most importantly a scientific lift off. During the course I had the opportunity to discover in depth the connections between livestock nutrition, productivity and disease development. State of the art laboratories with the latest equipment, a library with vast resources and teaching personnel always willing to assist, turned the course into a journey to knowledge.

This last year scientifically I was more equipped, ready to provide solutions for farmers and the feeding industry. With my dissertation I made my contribution to the research on bovine lameness investigating the impact on productivity. However Livestock Science MSc added to my personality as well as scientific knowledge. Cooperation with students from all around the globe, team work and above all getting to live in original Welsh scenery and getting to meet the true warm Welsh people.

After my Welsh journey I returned to Greece and applied my knowledge to my clients. Running a mixed animal veterinary practice is a hard task itself however my experience in IBERS assisted me in providing optimal nutritional services, which add extra value to my practice.

If your target is professional improvement and scientific enrichment in the livestock nutrition area do not hesitate to become a member of the vast IBERS family. Pob lwc

Nia Davies, Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Promotion Wales
After completing a FDSc degree in Agriculture at Aberystwyth University I made the decision to ‘top up’ and went onto completing a BSc (hons) in Agriculture. During the final year of my degree and after graduating I worked for Wynnstay Group plc as a Trainee Dairy Specialist. However, during my time with Wynnstay I knew I could better myself and wanted to further develop my personal and professional skill set, especially with the ag industry becoming both increasingly technical and competitive.
To put it simply I really enjoyed completing my MSc in livestock science at Aberystwyth University. Although it was quite challenging at times, the course was incredibly rewarding. I came to understand complex scientific developments, wrote project proposals and disseminated and presented research. The range of modules from Infection and Immunity to Grassland Science really does provide anyone with a broad and extensive understanding of livestock sciences. Personally, statistical analysis was not my strength before starting the course, however after completing the research methods module I was able to successfully run statistical analysis on all my dissertation data, which is a great achievement.
Above all, completing this course really boosted my confidence. Confidence in myself and my knowledge, which became evident once I started to seek employment. There is no doubt that the MSc helped me achieve my role at Hybu Cig Cymru as Research and Development Officer. I would most certainly recommend anyone interested in progressing their academic or professional career to undertake this course.

After a few years in veterinary practice the MSc in Livestock Science was the obvious choice as the first step into academia and research. The course was varied and gave a good rounding in a variety of areas. Teaching staff were knowledgeable, approachable, and engaged in ongoing research. The course equipped me with skills that have stood me in good stead as I study for my PhD. My PhD is on Novel approaches to improving calf health: new technology and data analytics at the Scottish Rural College and University of Edinburgh.