Agriculture

Master of Science (Animal Production)

The Master of Science in Animal Production is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in animal science, livestock production, and animal husbandry. The programme combines animal science theory with production management and livestock enterprise development.

Core areas include animal nutrition, animal breeding, animal physiology, livestock production systems, animal health, pasture management, animal biotechnology, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both animal science theory and practical livestock production application through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Egerton University, University of Eldoret, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology. All are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time mode of study.

Students develop competencies in animal nutrition, breeding, physiology, production systems, health management, pasture management, biotechnology, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, laboratory practicals, field visits, examinations, and a research thesis.

Egerton charges approximately KES 188,650/year (total KES 377,300). KU charges approximately KES 326,400/year for related animal science programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in animal production, agriculture, veterinary medicine, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as animal production specialists, livestock managers, breeding consultants, nutrition specialists, agricultural researchers, and lecturers in animal science and production across agricultural institutions, farms, research organisations, and universities.

Skills Required

Animal Nutrition and Feed Management
Animal Breeding and Genetics
Animal Physiology and Health Management
Livestock Production Systems Design
Pasture and Forage Management
Animal Biotechnology and Reproduction
Livestock Enterprise Management
Animal Welfare and Husbandry
Research Methods in Animal Science
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Animal Breeding and Genetics
Advanced Animal Physiology
Livestock Production Systems
Pasture and Forage Management
Animal Biotechnology and Reproduction
Animal Health and Disease Management
Research Methods in Animal Science
Livestock Enterprise Management
Thesis Research

Certifications

KALRO Associate Membership
Kenya Veterinary Association Partnership

Specializations

Animal Nutrition

Focuses on animal nutrition, covering feed management, nutritional physiology, feed formulation, and managing animal nutrition programmes.

Animal Breeding and Genetics

Examines animal breeding, covering breeding programmes, genetic selection, animal genetics, and managing breeding operations.

Livestock Production Systems

Covers livestock production systems, covering production management, livestock systems, enterprise development, and managing livestock operations.

Pasture and Forage Management

Focuses on pasture management, covering pasture establishment, forage production, grazing management, and managing pasture resources.

Animal Biotechnology

Examines animal biotechnology, covering reproductive biotechnology, genetic engineering, biotechnology tools, and managing animal biotechnology research.

Animal Health Management

Covers animal health, covering disease prevention, herd health, animal health programmes, and managing animal health in production systems.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 433,500
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Animal Breeding and Genetics
Advanced Animal Physiology
Livestock Production Systems
Pasture and Forage Management
Animal Biotechnology and Reproduction
Animal Health and Disease Management
Research Methods in Animal Science
Livestock Enterprise Management
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines feed management, nutritional physiology, feed formulation, ration balancing, and managing animal nutrition programmes.
Animal Breeding and Genetics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers breeding programmes, genetic selection, animal genetics, breeding evaluation, and managing breeding operations.
Advanced Animal Physiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines animal physiology, reproduction, digestion, metabolism, environmental physiology, and managing animal physiology.
Research Methods in Animal Science
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, and conducting animal science research, preparing students for their thesis.
Livestock Production Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers livestock systems, production management, enterprise development, and managing livestock operations.
Pasture and Forage Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines pasture establishment, forage production, grazing management, forage conservation, and managing pasture resources.
Animal Biotechnology and Reproduction
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers reproductive biotechnology, genetic engineering, biotechnology tools, artificial insemination, and managing animal biotechnology research.
Animal Health and Disease Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines disease prevention, herd health, animal health programmes, epidemiology, and managing animal health in production systems.
Livestock Enterprise Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers enterprise management, business planning, marketing, economics, and managing livestock enterprises.
Meat and Milk Production
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines meat production, milk production, product quality, processing, and managing meat and milk production systems.
Biostatistics in Animal Science
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers statistical methods, data analysis, research statistics, and analysing and interpreting animal science research data.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an animal production topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and animal science knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Animal Nutrition
Focuses on animal nutrition, covering feed management, nutritional physiology, feed formulation, and managing animal nutrition programmes.
Animal Breeding and Genetics
Examines animal breeding, covering breeding programmes, genetic selection, animal genetics, and managing breeding operations.
Livestock Production Systems
Covers livestock production systems, covering production management, livestock systems, enterprise development, and managing livestock operations.
Pasture and Forage Management
Focuses on pasture management, covering pasture establishment, forage production, grazing management, and managing pasture resources.
Animal Biotechnology
Examines animal biotechnology, covering reproductive biotechnology, genetic engineering, biotechnology tools, and managing animal biotechnology research.
Animal Health Management
Covers animal health, covering disease prevention, herd health, animal health programmes, and managing animal health in production systems.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Animal Production programme combines lectures, laboratory practicals, field visits, farm sessions, and independent study. Sessions cover animal nutrition, breeding, physiology, production systems, and pasture management. Animal nutrition sessions examine feed management, nutritional physiology, feed formulation, ration balancing, and managing animal nutrition. Breeding sessions cover breeding programmes, genetic selection, animal genetics, breeding evaluation, and managing breeding operations. Physiology sessions cover animal physiology, reproduction, digestion, metabolism, and managing animal physiology. Production systems sessions cover livestock systems, production management, enterprise development, and managing livestock operations. Pasture management sessions cover pasture establishment, forage production, grazing management, and managing pasture resources. Biotechnology sessions cover reproductive biotechnology, genetic engineering, biotechnology tools, and managing animal biotechnology. Animal health sessions cover disease prevention, herd health, animal health programmes, and managing animal health. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory practicals provide hands-on experience with feed analysis, reproductive techniques, laboratory analysis, and animal science techniques. Field visits and farm sessions provide practical experience with livestock operations, farm management, and field data collection. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in animal production. Guest lectures from experienced animal scientists, livestock managers, and researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on an animal production topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for animal production professionals with increasing livestock commercialisation and food security focus in Kenya.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (Egerton, UoE, JOOUST), providing institutional choice.
Programme combines animal science with production management, providing versatile skills for both research and practical application.
Egerton offers competitive fees at approximately KES 188,650/year with well-equipped animal science facilities.

Against it

Other university fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options.
Programme requires background in agriculture or animal science, which may limit access for some students.
Career prospects may be concentrated in agricultural sector, limiting options in other sectors.

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

Public110k to 434k

110k at Rongo University434k at University of Nairobi

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 ~433.5K/yr (animalproduction.uonbi.ac.ke). Rongo 110K/yr (eafinder.com). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KALRO may provide training support for research staff. FAO may provide training support for animal production professionals. Some agricultural organisations and livestock companies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KALRO Training Support
FAO Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KALRO Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization supports training for research staff.
FAO Training Support
GrantKsh 250,000
FAO provides training support for animal production professionals in developing countries.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in animal science, agriculture, or related field. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, seminar presentations, practical demonstrations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering animal nutrition, breeding, physiology, production systems, and pasture management.
Practical and Laboratory Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory exercises, farm practicals, field visits, animal handling, and demonstrating animal science skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an animal production topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and animal science knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Egerton University, University of Eldoret, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (all public) offer MSc in Animal Production. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in animal production. Graduates are eligible for KALRO associate membership and Kenya Veterinary Association partnership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Egerton University, University of Eldoret, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (all public) offer MSc in Animal Production. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in animal production. Graduates are eligible for KALRO associate membership and Kenya Veterinary Association partnership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Animal Production Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages animal production programmes, overseeing nutrition, breeding, production systems, and managing animal production operations.
Livestock Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages livestock operations, overseeing production, health, breeding, enterprise management, and managing livestock farms.
Breeding Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Consults on breeding programmes, overseeing genetic selection, breeding evaluation, and managing breeding operations.
Nutrition Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages animal nutrition programmes, overseeing feed formulation, ration balancing, and managing animal nutrition.
Agricultural Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts animal science research, overseeing research design, data collection, analysis, and managing agricultural research.
Animal Science Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches animal science at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, laboratory supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Feed Analysis Equipment
EquipmentPrimary
Feed analysis equipment for nutrition research, covering feed composition analysis, nutritional assessment, and managing feed analysis.
SPSS
Software
SPSS statistical software for animal science research, covering data analysis, statistical tests, and managing research data.
Breeding Management Software
Software
Breeding management software for animal breeding, covering genetic evaluation, breeding records, and managing breeding programmes.
Laboratory Equipment
Equipment
Laboratory equipment for animal science, covering reproductive techniques, blood analysis, and managing laboratory analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Animal production is just about keeping livestock.
Animal production covers comprehensive animal science including nutrition, breeding, physiology, biotechnology, and production system management.
This programme is only for those working on farms.
Animal production skills are valuable in research, government, agribusiness, consulting, and any organisation dealing with livestock and animal science.
Animal production has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing demand for animal protein, livestock commercialisation, and food security focus, demand for animal production professionals is growing in Kenya.
This programme is the same as veterinary medicine.
Animal production focuses on livestock production and management, while veterinary medicine focuses on animal health and disease treatment.
Animal breeding is just about mating animals.
Animal breeding involves genetic selection, breeding programme design, genetic evaluation, and biotechnology for genetic improvement.
Animal production is not relevant to modern challenges.
Animal production is critical to food security, climate-smart livestock, sustainable intensification, and livelihood improvement in Kenya.