Bachelor of Animal Science

Learn how animal breeding and genetics can have a positive impact on animal industries and the New Zealand economy.

The Bachelor of Animal Science (Animal Genetics and Breeding) is a new degree and major on offer for study commencing in 2020. It is ideal for you if you have an interest in genetics in relation to animals and how effective breeding strategies can both improve animal health and be more effective for farming and agriculture.

New Zealand has a large pasture-based farming industry and continuously strives to produce animals with improved meat, milk, leather and fibre and related products. You will learn about reproductive physiology and reproductive technologies for the purpose of ensuring effective animal multiplication, which can, in turn, improve New Zealand’s export earnings. Through your study you will gain an understanding of breeding and genetics to help improve the performance of animals. This could be production animals (like cows and sheep) and sport animals (for example horses). You will learn how to set up a genetic improvement programme based on breeding goals and how to collect the relevant information, analyse it and make decisions to attain those goals. You will learn about reproductive technologies and how to factor these into animal breeding programmes.