Animal Sciences - Welfare and Production
See study programmeThe bachelor's programme in Animal Sciences - Welfare and Production aims to:
- Provide a vocational education that qualifies candidates for holding high-skill positions in livestock advising and planning, for holding various positions in farming organisations, public farming management as well as in service and refining industries related to keeping of animals and livestock.
- Provide a satisfactory vocational education for livestock keepers who plan to keep livestock animals in a financially viable and animal welfare based manner. Many candidates from this programme now run their own farms.
The first year of study on this programme largely coincides with the year-long programme in livestock welfare. In addition to core subjects such as physiology and anatomy, genetics and chemistry, emphasis is placed on animal behaviour, health and welfare. Ex.phil. is also included. During the second and third years of this programme, focus lies on subjects related to nutrition, feed equipment, the planning of constructions and indoor mechanising, as well as economy, farming policies and livestock production. Operation management, analysis and planning are key subjects in the production-related courses. Knowledge from former courses is combined and applied to specific issues. Accounting and production data from active farms are analysed with a view to providing advice about improving operations. Through professional progression in the programme and several project assignments to be solved in cooperation with active farmers, the students' ability to analyse, plan and keep livestock under varying conditions is developed. The programme concludes with a bachelor's thesis comprising 15 ECTS credits, which is written during the third year of the programme. Students get the opportunity to specialise in a field of their own choosing through their bachelor's thesis.
Students must choose at least two of the three following courses: HUS2030 Horse and dog, HUS2501 Sheep and goat or HUS2510 Poultry. HUS2030 Horse and dog is taught every year. HUS2501 Sheep and goat and HUS2510 Poultry is taught every second year. The total number of ECTS credits should be 15.
Students may also choose courses from the bachelor's programme in Nature Management or from the bachelor's programme in Business.
Upon successful completion of the programme, the student shall:
Knowledge:
- have thorough knowledge of livestock anatomy and physiology, health, welfare and production
- have thorough knowledge of production economy and construction solutions in livestock production contexts
- have thorough knowledge of public laws and regulations that are important to livestock keeping
- is familiar with important research and development work in livestock production and is able to update his or her knowledge of agriculture
Skills:
- Can apply professional knowledge and results from research and development work to agricultural issues
- Can reflect upon how livestock farming should be conducted in order to achieve good animal welfare and good financial results
- Can locate, assess and apply academic knowledge to inform agricultural issues
- Can apply different tools to analyse, plan and present optimal operation plans for different kinds of livestock animals.
General competences:
- Has thorough knowledge and understanding of professional and ethical issues related to animal welfare and production
- Can plan and conduct various larger assignments, alone or as member of a group, in keeping with ethical norms and standards
- Can collect, quality assure and apply relevant information to professional contexts and present this to others
- Can exchange views and experiences in a professional community and through that contribute to the developing of profitable livestock keeping based on good animal welfare
- Is familiar with innovation and innovation processes and can apply this knowledge onto optimalisation of agricultural activities.
Norwegian language proficiency.
This programme is only taught in Norwegian. If you do not meet the Norwegian language proficiency requirements, you do not qualify for admission.
View general admission and documentation requirements.
As per 15.11.2017, the Faculty is in a process of renewing an existing agreement with the University of Minnesota.
We are also working on establishing further agreements. Please contact the programme tutors or the study advisor for further information about these opportunities.
No tuition fees. Costs for semester registration and course literature apply.
Students are expected to possess their own laptop computer, and must cover their own equipment such as webcam and headphones if and when needed for digital communication during the programme. Students should further expect costs to incur in relation to transportation, accommodation and catering related to non-mandatory excursions and field courses.