Agriculture

Master of Science in Animal Nutrition and Management

The Master of Science in Animal Nutrition and Management is a postgraduate programme that combines animal nutrition science with management principles for livestock enterprises. The programme prepares graduates to manage livestock production operations with expertise in nutrition, business management, and enterprise development.

Core areas include animal nutrition, feed formulation, livestock management, agribusiness management, animal production economics, enterprise management, feed quality control, and research methods. Students engage with both nutritional science and business management principles.

The programme is offered by Moi University, Chuka University, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, with Kenyatta University as a college. KU offers MSc in Animal Nutrition and Management through its Department of Animal Science. The programme is designed for animal science and agriculture graduates seeking to combine nutrition expertise with management skills.

Students develop competencies in feed formulation, livestock enterprise management, production economics, nutritional consulting, business planning, and research. The programme includes coursework, laboratory sessions, field practicals, examinations, and a research thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time and part-time study modes. Students complete coursework and a research thesis combining nutrition and management aspects.

Graduates pursue careers as livestock enterprise managers, animal nutrition consultants, agribusiness managers, feed company managers, agricultural project managers, and lecturers in livestock businesses, feed companies, agricultural organisations, and universities.

Skills Required

Animal Nutrition and Feed Formulation
Livestock Enterprise Management
Agribusiness Planning and Management
Animal Production Economics
Feed Quality Control and Assurance
Livestock Production Systems Management
Financial Management for Livestock Enterprises
Nutritional Consulting and Advisory Services
Supply Chain Management for Feed Industry
Research Methods in Animal Science

Key Subjects

Animal Nutrition
Livestock Management
Agribusiness Management
Animal Production Economics
Feed Formulation and Quality Control
Enterprise Management
Financial Management for Agriculture
Livestock Production Systems
Agricultural Marketing
Research Methods in Animal Science

Certifications

KEBS Feed Quality Certification
ILRI Livestock Management Certification

Specializations

Livestock Enterprise Management

Focuses on managing livestock enterprises, production planning, financial management, and operating profitable livestock businesses.

Animal Nutrition Consulting

Examines nutritional consulting, advising farmers and organisations on feeding systems, ration formulation, and nutritional management.

Feed Business Management

Covers feed business management, feed manufacturing operations, marketing, quality control, and managing feed companies.

Dairy Enterprise Management

Focuses on dairy enterprise management, dairy nutrition, milk production economics, and managing dairy farming operations.

Poultry Enterprise Management

Examines poultry enterprise management, poultry nutrition, production economics, and managing poultry farming operations.

Agricultural Project Management

Covers agricultural project management, planning and implementing livestock development projects, and managing agricultural development programmes.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 326,400
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 18 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Animal Nutrition
Livestock Management
Agribusiness Management
Animal Production Economics
Feed Formulation and Quality Control
Enterprise Management
Financial Management for Agriculture
Livestock Production Systems
Agricultural Marketing
Research Methods in Animal Science

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Animal Nutrition
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines advanced animal nutrition principles, nutrient requirements, digestive physiology, and applying nutritional science to livestock feeding and management.
Livestock Enterprise Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers livestock enterprise management, production planning, enterprise operations, managing livestock businesses, and optimising production systems.
Agribusiness Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines agribusiness management principles, business planning, strategic management, marketing, and managing agricultural enterprises.
Feed Formulation and Quality Control
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers feed formulation, ration balancing, feed quality control, feed analysis, and ensuring feed quality in livestock production.
Animal Production Economics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines animal production economics, cost-benefit analysis, enterprise budgeting, profitability analysis, and economic decision-making in livestock production.
Financial Management for Agriculture
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers financial management for agricultural enterprises, budgeting, investment analysis, risk management, and financial planning for livestock businesses.
Livestock Production Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines livestock production systems, dairy, beef, poultry, and pig production systems, and managing different livestock production operations.
Agricultural Marketing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers agricultural marketing, livestock product marketing, market analysis, value chains, and marketing strategies for livestock enterprises.
Supply Chain Management for Feed Industry
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines supply chain management for the feed industry, raw material sourcing, inventory management, distribution, and managing feed supply chains.
Research Methods in Animal Science
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for animal science, experimental design, data analysis, and conducting animal nutrition and management research.
Agricultural Project Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines agricultural project management, planning and implementing livestock development projects, monitoring, evaluation, and managing agricultural programmes.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an animal nutrition and management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Livestock Enterprise Management
Focuses on managing livestock enterprises, production planning, financial management, and operating profitable livestock businesses.
Animal Nutrition Consulting
Examines nutritional consulting, advising farmers and organisations on feeding systems, ration formulation, and nutritional management.
Feed Business Management
Covers feed business management, feed manufacturing operations, marketing, quality control, and managing feed companies.
Dairy Enterprise Management
Focuses on dairy enterprise management, dairy nutrition, milk production economics, and managing dairy farming operations.
Poultry Enterprise Management
Examines poultry enterprise management, poultry nutrition, production economics, and managing poultry farming operations.
Agricultural Project Management
Covers agricultural project management, planning and implementing livestock development projects, and managing agricultural development programmes.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Animal Nutrition and Management programme begins with morning lectures on animal nutrition, livestock management, or agribusiness management. Students engage in theoretical discussions on nutritional science, enterprise management, and production economics. Laboratory sessions involve feed analysis, proximate analysis, and evaluating feed quality. Management sessions cover business planning, financial management, enterprise operations, and managing livestock businesses. Feed formulation sessions use computer software to balance rations and optimise feed costs. Production economics sessions examine cost-benefit analysis, enterprise budgeting, and profitability analysis for livestock operations. Field visits to livestock farms, feed companies, and agricultural enterprises provide practical exposure to livestock enterprise management. Guest lectures from livestock industry professionals, feed company managers, and agricultural consultants provide real-world insights. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing. The programme combines nutrition science with management, preparing graduates for both technical and managerial roles. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme uniquely combines animal nutrition with management, preparing graduates for both technical and leadership roles in the livestock sector.
Kenya's growing commercial livestock sector creates demand for qualified managers with nutrition and business expertise.
Offered at multiple public universities including Moi University and Kenyatta University, providing geographic access.
Strong career opportunities in feed manufacturing, dairy and poultry enterprises, agribusiness, and agricultural consulting.

Against it

Programme may be perceived as less specialised than pure animal nutrition or pure management programmes.
Specific fee structures for most listed universities could not be independently verified from official sources.
Requires background in both animal science and management, which may exclude some graduates.
Career opportunities may be concentrated in commercial farming areas, limiting options in urban centres.

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

Public130k to 326k

130k at Chuka University326k at Kenyatta 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

Chuka 130K/yr (chuka.ac.ke), KU 326.4K/yr (mawese). Moi & private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. ILRI provides research grants for livestock research in Africa. AU-IBAR supports livestock development capacity building. The programme's agribusiness focus attracts agricultural development donor funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
ILRI Research Grants
AU-IBAR Livestock Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate animal science and management studies at recognised universities.
ILRI Research Grants
GrantKsh 400,000
ILRI provides research grants for livestock research in Africa, supporting postgraduate training and research in animal nutrition and management.
AU-IBAR Livestock Grants
GrantKsh 400,000
AU-IBAR provides livestock development grants for capacity building in Africa, supporting postgraduate training in livestock management.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is designed for animal science and agriculture graduates seeking to combine nutrition expertise with management skills. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time study modes. The programme combines nutritional science with business management, preparing graduates for both technical and managerial roles in the livestock sector.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, enterprise analysis exercises, feed formulation reports, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering animal nutrition, management, economics, and agribusiness, conducted at end of each semester.
Practical and Project Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of practical skills including feed analysis, enterprise planning, management projects, and field reports from livestock enterprise visits.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an animal nutrition and management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University offers MSc in Animal Nutrition and Management through its Department of Animal Science. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate animal science and management training.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University offers MSc in Animal Nutrition and Management through its Department of Animal Science. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate animal science and management training.
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
Professional accreditation
KEBS provides standards for animal feeds and feed quality in Kenya. Graduates working in feed businesses may require KEBS-compliant quality management.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Livestock Enterprise Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages livestock production enterprises, overseeing operations, nutrition programmes, financial management, and ensuring profitable livestock production.
Animal Nutrition Consultant
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Consults on animal nutrition and management, advising farmers and organisations on feeding systems, production management, and enterprise profitability.
Agribusiness Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages agribusiness operations in the livestock sector, overseeing business planning, marketing, supply chain, and enterprise development.
Feed Company Manager
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages feed manufacturing companies, overseeing production, quality control, marketing, and business operations for feed businesses.
Agricultural Project Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages agricultural and livestock development projects, overseeing project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation for development organisations.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches animal nutrition and management in universities, conducting research and training future animal science and agribusiness professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as livestock enterprise managers, animal nutrition consultants, and agribusiness managers in livestock businesses, feed companies, and agricultural organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Feed Formulation Software
SoftwarePrimary
Computer software for ration formulation, balancing diets, optimising feed costs, and formulating diets for different livestock species.
SPSS/R for Data Analysis
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for animal nutrition and management research, analysing production data, and conducting enterprise analysis.
Financial Analysis Software
Software
Financial management software for enterprise budgeting, cost analysis, investment appraisal, and managing livestock enterprise finances.
Proximate Analysis Equipment
Equipment
Laboratory equipment for feed analysis, measuring moisture, protein, fat, fibre, and ash content in animal feeds.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Animal nutrition and management is just about feeding and farming.
The programme combines nutritional science with business management, economics, and enterprise development, preparing graduates for leadership roles in the livestock sector.
This programme is the same as animal nutrition and feed science.
This programme adds management and business components, preparing graduates for enterprise management and agribusiness roles, not just technical nutrition.
Livestock management careers have limited prospects in Kenya.
Kenya's growing livestock sector, dairy industry, and commercial farming create demand for qualified managers with nutrition and business expertise.
This programme is only for those from farming backgrounds.
The programme is designed for any animal science or agriculture graduate, with career paths in management, consulting, research, and agribusiness.
Management training is unnecessary for animal nutrition graduates.
Management skills are essential for running livestock enterprises, feed companies, and agricultural projects, making the combination highly valuable.
This programme leads only to farming careers.
Graduates pursue diverse careers in feed manufacturing, consulting, agribusiness, project management, research, and academia, not just farming.