Bachelor of Applied Animal Science at University of New Hampshire

The production of meat, milk and fiber from animals is expected to continue to grow for decades to come. Students interested in working in the highly technical, rapidly changing field of farm animal production and management, must become well versed in the many species of farm animals, including breeding, feeding, health care, housing and marketing. In the animal agriculture concentration, students apply many of the skills learned in the classroom on farms in the first few semester of the program. Students learn to work safely with farm livestock and poultry. They visit farms and engage in hands-on activities with their instructors. Students will learn to balance rations, identify and treat diseases, learn to design appropriate buildings, fences, and properly take of the land and environment necessary to support farm animals. Students visit and interact with nearby farms with beef, sheep, goats and swine.

Students also have the opportunity to work and study at the University's farms. UNH maintains two modern and well-equipped dairy teaching and research centers, and as an option students interested in dairy cattle can also collaborate to manage the CREAM (Cooperative for Real Education in Agriculture) herd. All students will also study at the UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm. Students will have the chance to also work with horses, sheep, and poultry on campus.

Students learn the business of farming through field exercises in land management, forage production, financial management, and computer use on a farm as well as through continued practical experience with farm livestock, poultry and dairy cattle. The program prepares students to work both on the farm and in related businesses.

The Thompson School's Animal Agriculture program is in a unique position with the baccalaureate animal science major. Students may start with the Thompson School program, obtain their associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree then transfer to a four-year major and obtain a B.S. in two to two additional years with a full-time course of study. This allows students to receive two degrees in as little as four years or obtain their A.A.S. degree and work in the field to later return for a B.S. Students wishing to follow this course of action need to work closely with their adviser and maintain a grade of C or better in key applied animal science courses.

Career Opportunities

Herd manager, agricultural sales and/or service employee, farm manager, artificial insemination (AI) technician, crop manager, farm owner, or animal care professional.

• Students will be able to describe the significance and unique characteristics of animal agriculture in New England, including species and breeds most appropriate for various agricultural enterprises.
• Students will demonstrate they can handle and restrain a variety of domestic animals for routine care, health management practices and training purposes.
• Students will be able to identify and describe the significant anatomical parts of and differences between horses, cattle, small ruminants and poultry.
• Students will understand the basis of disease, major pathogens causing disease, the techniques used in identifying parasites and pathogens, as well as keeping animals healthy through biosecurity measures.
• Students will gain an applied understanding of animal nutrition, animal selection and breeding and animal health practices through experiential coursework with dairy cattle, livestock and/or poultry.
• Students will be able to articulate the career opportunities available in the field of Animal Science.
• Students will be able to identify appropriate land, farm management strategies and forage crops in New England for farm animal feeding in the form of hay, silage and pasture.
• Students will demonstrate written and oral communication skills necessary for marketing animal products and services, information transfer, and animal related business development and promotion.
• Finally, students will demonstrate through the development of an animal related business plan that they understand the importance of market analysis, product promotion, sales techniques, labor management, financial statements, insurance and labor management.