Livestock Production Management

We have two programs that may be of interest to you: Livestock Production and Management and .

Livestock Production and Management (AAS)

The Livestock Production and Management Associate of Applied Science program focuses on the animal care and management, business management, and associated services that are part of a livestock enterprise or related industry. Students choose a species specialization in Beef, Small Ruminants, or Swine.

Students study the principles and processes of nutrition, reproduction, genetics, live and carcass evaluation, and health and management of livestock, as well as accounting and farm business.

Internship/Practicum

Students in the Livestock Production and Management program complete an industry internship of full-time employment. Ohio State ATI helps students find appropriate internship positions in Ohio and across the country. Students are typically paid for their employment, graded on their job performance, and awarded academic credit. Internships are a great way for students to explore career opportunities before graduation.

Practicum is a supervised, practical work experience at the Ohio State ATI Learning Laboratory that provides students with the opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom. Students are encouraged to think independently and evaluate and solve problems under the guidance of the livestock facilities manager.

Career Prospects

Career opportunities for technical workers in beef, small ruminant, or swine production and management are available in the areas of production, sales, and management. Graduates fill positions such as:

• Livestock herdsman
• Livestock manager
• Artificial insemination technician
• Livestock buyer
• Sales representative

Additional allied industries opportunities are available for work in research and with companies that supply goods and services to livestock producers. Ohio State ATI graduates have recently been hired by such firms as:

• Mid-States Woolgrowers
• Great American Lamb Company
• Summitcrest Performance Angus
• Wolfe's Neck
• Kalmbach Farms
• Hord Livestock Company, Inc.

Facilities

At Ohio State ATI students utilize specialized facilities and equipment, including:

• A 125-cow herd of Angus, Murray Grey, and crossbred cattle
• A new beef cattle handling facility, designed by renowned animal behaviorist Temple Grandin. The only one of its kind in Ohio, the facility includes a corral, a dual chute system with a hydraulic squeeze chute and breeding box, and sorting pens.
• Access to OARDC's 300-head sheep flock
• A 75-sow farrow-to-finish operation that produces 750 market hog and 750 feeder pigs annually. The operation has a two-staged, raised deck nursery with a 400-pig capacity.

Livestock Science (AS)

Students in Ohio State ATI's Livestock Science program gain practical, hands-on experience from their first day of classes — something students at other universities may not get until their third or fourth year.

The Associate of Science, or transfer, degree in Livestock Science allows students to complete 50 percent of the requirements for a bachelor's degree in Animal Sciences from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences in Columbus. Students in the Livestock Science program choose one of three specializations: Beef, Small Ruminant, or Swine.

The curriculum is a balance between livestock classes and general education designed to help a student excel upon graduation or as they transition into a bachelor’s degree. The livestock classes include principles in nutrition, health, reproduction, genetics, anatomy, and management systems. Students may also take courses in sustainable agriculture, forages, animal appreciation, and manure management.

Livestock Science students will also participate in supervised, practical management classes at the Ohio State ATI Farm. These courses provide students with the opportunity to apply skills about routine cattle, sheep, or swine management learned in the classroom. Students are encouraged to think independently and evaluate and solve problems under the guidance of the livestock facilities manager. Students assist in the daily husbandry and responsibilities of the livestock.

Internships

Students in the Livestock Science programs have the option of completing an industry internship of full-time employment. Ohio State ATI helps students find appropriate internship positions in Ohio and across the country. Students are typically paid for their employment, graded on their job performance, and awarded academic credit.

Career opportunities for workers in Livestock Science are available in the areas of research, development, production, sales, and management. With continued education graduates fill positions such as:

• Livestock Manager
• Nutritionist
• Meat Inspector/Grader
• Feed/Pharmaceutical Sales
• Technical Support
• Industry Promotions
• Veterinarian

Ohio State ATI graduates who also completed a bachelor’s degree have recently been hired by such firms as:

• American Angus Association
• Pfizer Animal Health
• Renaissance Nutrition, Inc.