Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy in Livestock Production Systems

The Doctor of Philosophy in Livestock Production Systems is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on livestock production, animal nutrition, breeding, health, and sustainable livestock systems, contributing to food security and agricultural development in Kenya and beyond.

Students engage with advanced animal science, livestock production systems, animal nutrition, breeding and genetics, pasture management, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field and laboratory research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to livestock science.

Kenya's livestock sector is a significant contributor to the national economy, supporting millions of pastoralists and farmers. The programme addresses national food security priorities under Vision 2030 and the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy by training researchers who can improve livestock productivity, sustainability, and resilience in diverse production systems.

Teaching methods include lectures, laboratory sessions, field research at livestock farms and pastoral areas, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to UoN’s veterinary and agricultural research facilities at the Kabete and Upper Kabete campuses.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, livestock researchers, animal production consultants, breeding specialists, and agricultural policy advisors in universities, KALRO, Ministry of Agriculture, international agricultural research centres, and livestock development organisations. The programme provides advanced expertise for leadership roles in livestock research and agricultural development.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master’s degree in animal science, livestock production, agriculture, or related agricultural sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in livestock production and food security.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 428,000
Private, up to: Ksh 300,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 8 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Livestock Production Systems
Animal Nutrition
Animal Breeding and Genetics
Pasture and Rangeland Management
Research Methodology
Animal Health and Disease
Sustainable Livestock Systems
Thesis Research
Biostatistics
Agricultural Policy

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Livestock Production Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of diverse livestock production systems including pastoral, agro-pastoral, intensive, and semi-intensive systems in Kenya
Advanced Animal Nutrition
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Nutritional requirements, feed formulation, utilisation, and nutritional strategies for different livestock species
Animal Nutrition and Feed Science
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Animal nutrition, covering nutritional science principles, dietary assessment methods, and their application in public health.
Animal Breeding and Genetics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Quantitative genetics, breeding strategies, genetic improvement programmes, and molecular tools for livestock breeding
Pasture and Rangeland Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Forage production, pasture management, rangeland ecology, and sustainable grazing systems in Kenyan environments
Research Methodology and Biostatistics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Research design, statistical methods for agricultural and livestock data analysis, and scientific writing
Dairy Science and Production
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Dairy science, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral study in this area.
Animal Health and Production Interactions
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Interactions between animal health, production, and economics including impact of diseases on productivity
Research Methods in Animal Science
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.
Sustainable Livestock Systems and Climate Adaptation
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Climate-smart livestock production, adaptation strategies, and sustainability of livestock systems under climate change
Departmental Seminars
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research presentations and peer review of doctoral work, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in.
Livestock Economics and Policy
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Economic analysis of livestock production, market systems, value chains, and livestock policy in Kenya

Specialisations

Livestock Production Management
Specialization in Livestock Production Management, preparing graduates for careers such as livestock-production-manager.
Agricultural Extension
Specialization in Agricultural Extension, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-extension-officer.
Agricultural Research
Specialization in Agricultural Research, preparing graduates for careers such as agricultural-research-scientist.
Livestock Farm Management
Specialization in Livestock Farm Management, preparing graduates for careers such as livestock-farm-manager.
Animal Nutrition Specialisation
Specialization in Animal Nutrition Specialisation, preparing graduates for careers such as animal-nutrition-specialist.
Animal Nutrition Research
Specialization in Animal Nutrition Research, preparing graduates for careers such as animal-nutritionist.
Animal Breeding
Research on animal breeding and genetics
Sustainable Livestock Systems
Research on climate-smart livestock
Dairy Science
Research on dairy production
Animal Nutrition
Research on animal nutrition

A day as a student

A typical day combines laboratory analysis of feed and biological samples with field research at livestock farms, data analysis, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and conduct fieldwork in diverse livestock production systems.

The trade offs

In its favour

Directly contributes to Kenya's food security and livestock sector development
Kenya's livestock sector creates strong demand
Diverse career paths in academia, research, consulting, and policy
Addresses climate change adaptation in livestock systems

Against it

Field research in remote pastoral areas can be logistically challenging
Requires animal science and statistical knowledge
Tuition fees are relatively high at KES 396,000 per year
Research funding for agricultural science is competitive

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public337k to 428k

337k at Kenyatta University428k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 300k

150k at Mount Kenya University300k at Strathmore University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 428K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). KU & Strathmore unverified for this programme

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and ILRI research fellowships for livestock research in developing countries.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
ILRI Research Fellowship
Fellowship

Scholarships

5 recorded

DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
NACOSTI Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Science and technology researchers in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
ILRI Research Fellowship
FellowshipKenyan
Researchers working on livestock production in developing countries
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Master's Degree
MSc in Animal Science, Livestock Production, Agriculture, or related agricultural science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in agriculture, animal science, or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Laboratory and Field Reports
Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Graduates collaborate with KALRO and ILRI on livestock research.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

7 roles

University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in animal science departments
Breeding Specialist
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Breeding at KAGRC and farms
Livestock Researcher
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Research at KALRO and ILRI
Livestock Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Conducts livestock research at KALRO, ILRI, or international agricultural research centres
University Lecturer (Animal Science)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches animal science and conducts research in university agriculture departments
Agricultural Policy Advisor
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises government and international organisations on livestock and agricultural policy
Animal Production Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 150,000
Advises livestock farmers, companies, and development organisations on production improvement

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, livestock researchers, animal production consultants, breeding specialists, and agricultural policy advisors in universities, KALRO, ILRI, Ministry of Agriculture, and international agricultural organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Livestock production research is only about farming
Livestock production systems research encompasses animal nutrition, breeding, genetics, health, pasture management, economics, and sustainability, applying advanced science to improve productivity.
A PhD in livestock production has limited career prospects
Graduates work in universities, KALRO, ILRI, Ministry of Agriculture, FAO, and international agricultural research centres with strong demand for livestock expertise.
Livestock research is not relevant to Kenya's development
Kenya's livestock sector supports millions of pastoralists and farmers and contributes significantly to GDP, making livestock research critical for food security and economic development.
Livestock production is only for rural communities
Livestock production systems include commercial dairy, poultry, beef, and emerging urban and peri-urban livestock systems, requiring diverse research approaches.