Career Opportunities in Livestock – SS3 Livestock Farming Lesson Note (Third Term)

Livestock careers are jobs in the livestock value chain, from animal health and farm advice to business and food processing.

Behavioural objectives

1. Explain why livestock offers more careers than farming alone.
2. Describe the role of a livestock extension officer.
3. Name the roles in veterinary services and state what each does.
4. List careers in agribusiness and in processing and food technology.
5. State what a precision livestock specialist does.
6. Match their own interests to a suitable livestock career.

What careers are available in livestock?

There are five main career paths in livestock: extension work, veterinary services, agribusiness and marketing, processing and food technology, and livestock ICT.

• Extension work: carrying research and new methods to farmers.
• Veterinary services: protecting the health of animals and the safety of meat.
• Agribusiness and marketing: managing farms, supplying inputs and studying markets.
• Processing and food technology: turning raw milk, meat and eggs into finished products.
• Livestock ICT: using technology and data to manage animals.

Why does livestock offer more careers than farming?

The livestock industry is a value chain, which means a series of steps from the farm to the buyer, and each step needs a different professional.

• Farming is one branch: being a farmer is a respected and profitable job, but it is only one part of the chain.
• Many steps: the chain runs from helping a cow give birth to selling a bottle of yoghurt.
• Many talents: people who like science, talking to people, business or technology can all find a place.

Who is a livestock extension officer?

A livestock extension officer is a professional who takes research findings to farmers and teaches them to use the findings on their farms.

• Link between research and farm: the officer connects universities and research institutes to local farmers.
• The role: the officer explains new findings, such as a way to prevent bird flu, in simple language farmers can use.
• Possible employers: government agriculture departments, development programmes and farmer organisations.
• Skills needed: good communication, patience in teaching and willingness to travel to farms.
• Why it matters: without extension officers, new methods stay in books and never reach the farms.

What do veterinary services involve?

Veterinary services are the professional care of animal health, and there are three main roles: veterinary doctor, veterinary technician and public health veterinarian.

• Veterinary doctor (DVM): diagnoses complex diseases, performs surgery and prescribes drugs.
• Veterinary technician or assistant: helps with vaccination, wound dressing and daily health checks on large farms.
• Public health veterinarian: inspects animals and meat at the abattoir (slaughterhouse) so that meat is safe and free from disease.
• Skills needed: a strong background in Biology and Chemistry, and patience, since animals cannot say where it hurts.

What careers are there in agribusiness and marketing?

Agribusiness is the business side of livestock, covering the management, supply and sale of animals and animal products.

• Farm manager: oversees the whole farm, hires staff, buys feed in bulk and keeps the farm profitable.
• Input supplier: runs a shop selling inputs such as day-old chicks, feed, drugs and equipment.
• Livestock marketer: finds buyers and sells animals, eggs, milk and meat.
• Livestock economist: studies market trends, such as why egg prices rise, to guide investment decisions.
• Skills needed: good mathematics, organisation and the ability to negotiate prices.

What careers are there in processing and food technology?

Processing and food technology is the work of turning raw livestock products into safe products sold in shops and supermarkets.

• Dairy technologist: turns raw milk into products such as cheese, butter and yoghurt.
• Meat scientist: studies how to slaughter, package and preserve meat, for example in making kilishi or sausages.
• Quality control officer: checks in factories that each product is safe and meets NAFDAC standards.
• Skills needed: interest in food science, hygiene and machinery.

What is precision livestock farming?

Precision livestock farming is the use of technology and data to monitor and manage animals more accurately.

• Precision livestock specialist: sets up and uses tools such as electronic records and monitoring devices on farms.
• Record keeping: computer programmes store data on feed, growth, egg production and health.
• Skills needed: comfort with computers, data and gadgets, plus basic knowledge of animal production.

Which career path fits you?

A career fits best when it matches what you enjoy, as the table shows.

Class discussion and career reflection

1. Self-assessment: which of the five paths in the table interests you most, and why?
2. Local hero: do you know anyone in your community who works in veterinary services or agribusiness? What does a typical day look like for that person?
3. The future: as Nigeria’s population grows, more food will be needed. Which of these careers do you think will be most in demand in the next 10 years?

Evaluation

1. Explain why a livestock student does not have to become a farmer.
2. Describe the role of a livestock extension officer and state two skills the job needs.
3. State what each of these does: a veterinary doctor, a vet technician and a public health veterinarian.
4. List two careers in agribusiness and two careers in processing and food technology.
5. State the career that suits a student who likes computers and data, and say what the person does.

Assignment

Choose one career from this lesson and write a short paragraph on what the person does and the skills needed for the job.