Program Overview

Major in Livestock Business Management

The Livestock Business Management degree program develops active decision-making, communication, and practical management skills to prepare graduates to be effective leaders and agents within the livestock industry.

Overview

Coursework within the program is selected to provide solid foundational understanding of biological processes and management opportunities within livestock systems as well as analytical and managerial principles in agricultural businesses across a range of scales and resource bases. On top of this fundamental foundation, students will be provided training in economic decision making and analysis that will explicitly integrate the biophysical dimensions with the financial dimensions to drive overall business decisions. In a series of experiential learning courses, students will work with an industry partner to identify a real-world challenge and will codevelop potential solutions with the organization.

Concentrations

In addition to the stand-alone Major in Livestock Business Management, two concentrations are also available:

• Animal Sciences Concentration
• Livestock Marketing and Trade Concentration
  • The Livestock Marketing and Trade Concentration is intended to provide additional exposure in agricultural marketing and trade. Courses unique to this concentration (AREC 311, AREC 415, AREC 422, and AREC 412/AREC 419) provide a more robust understanding of and exposure to agricultural marketing and trade. This will help support students seeking to enhance their degree program or prepare for a career in industry.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion, students will be able to demonstrate:

1. Professional Development: Embody a general awareness of issues relevant to the livestock industry and their implications in a larger societal context. Develop a network of personal and professional connections which will foster an understanding of the culture surrounding professional expectations and conduct.
2. Technical Competence: Demonstrate technical competency including the ability to appropriately use biophysical sciences, business management techniques, and economic theory in formulating analytical problems, identifying and gathering appropriate data, and employing appropriate methods to analyze those problems, utilizing appropriate resources and technologies available.
3. Problem-solving Skills: Demonstrate the ability to solve real-world livestock business management problems beyond the context of the classroom. Identify a problem and its scope, evaluate resources available to address the problem, formulate alternative solutions, and select the solution(s) most consistent with a stated objective.
4. Communication Skills: Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication in terms of substance, organization, mechanics, documentation, and synthesis. Proficient students will have the ability to clearly communicate findings, critically and analytically, at a professional level within their chosen profession.
5. Leadership: Develop leadership qualities that they will use in their professional, personal and community interactions leveraging the other competencies acquired in the program. These leadership qualities include vision, initiative, personal responsibility, team building, and motivating collective action.

Potential Occupations

• Risk and financial analyst
• Supply chain manager
• Livestock operator
• Marketing associate
• Sales representative
• Accounts manager
• Extension agent
• Operations supervisor
• Ranch manager
• Customer service specialist
• Procurement officer
• Commodity analyst and merchandiser

Program Requirements

Freshman

• ANEQ 101: Food Animal Science (4 credits)
• ANEQ 105: Introduction to Large Animal Anatomy (1 credit)
• AREC 192: Orientation to Agricultural and Resource Econ (1 credit)
• AREC 202: Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1) (3 credits)
• CO 150: College Composition (GT-CO2) (3 credits)
• LBM 133: Introduction to Livestock Business Management (1 credit)
• LIFE 102: Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) (4 credits)
• MATH 117: College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
• MATH 118: College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
• MATH 124: Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
• Select one course from the following:
  • AREC 230: Agricultural Data Management and Analysis
  • BUS 150: Business Computing Concepts and Applications
  • CS 110: Personal Computing
• Select one course from the following:
  • CHEM 107: Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)
  • CHEM 111: General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 30-31

Sophomore

• ACT 205: Fundamentals of Accounting (3 credits)
• ANEQ 305: Functional Large Animal Physiology (3 credits)
• ANEQ 328: Foundations in Animal Genetics (3 credits)
• AREC 310: Food and Agricultural Markets (3 credits)
• LBM 233: Leadership in the Livestock Industry (2 credits)
• SPCM 200: Public Speaking (3 credits)
• Select one course from the following:
  • STAT 201: General Statistics (GT-MA1)
  • STAT 301: Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
• Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
• Historical Perspectives (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 29

Junior

• ANEQ 320: Principles of Animal Nutrition (3 credits)
• AREC 305: Agricultural and Resource Enterprise Analysis (3 credits)
• LBM 333A: Livestock Business Engaged Research: Proposal Development (1 credit)
• LBM 333B: Livestock Business Engaged Research: Field Experience (1 credit)
• Animal Science Choice Block - select a minimum of 9 credits total from the following:
  • ANEQ 250: Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation
  • ANEQ 310: Animal Reproduction
  • ANEQ 313: Prevention and Control of Livestock Diseases
  • ANEQ 330: Principles of Animal Breeding
  • ANEQ 360: Principles of Meat Science
  • ANEQ 410: Applied Food Animal Behavior
  • ANEQ 448: Livestock Manure Management and Environment
  • ANEQ 460: Meat Safety
  • SOCR 320 or RS 300: Sustainable Forage Management for Livestock
• Ag Business Choice Block - Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following:
  • AREC 222: Economics of Food Systems (GT-SS1)
  • AREC 224: Introduction to Agribusiness Entrepreneurship
  • AREC 311: Agricultural and Resource Product Marketing
  • AREC 325: Personnel Management in Agriculture
  • AREC 330: Data-Driven Ag and Res Econ Decision Making
  • AREC 340/ECON 340: Introduction-Economics of Natural Resources
  • AREC 341: Environmental Economics
  • AREC 342: Water Law, Policy, and Institutions
  • AREC 346/ECON 346: Economics of Outdoor Recreation
  • AREC 375: Agricultural Law
  • AREC 415: International Agricultural Trade
  • AREC 419: Commodity Market Trading Experience
  • AREC 422: Food Supply Chain Management
  • AREC 454/REL 454: Real Estate Appraisal
  • AREC 460: Ag- and Resource-Based Economic Development
  • AREC 461A: Study Abroad--Italy: Economics of the Renaissance in Modern Italy
  • AREC 461B: Study Abroad--Italy: Food and Resource Economics
  • AREC 478: Agricultural Policy
• Advanced Writing (3 credits)
• Electives (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 29

Senior

• AREC 428: Agricultural Business Management (3 credits)
• AREC 492: Senior Seminar in Ag and Resource Economics (1 credit)
• LBM 333C: Livestock Business Engaged Research: Communications (1 credit)
• LBM 433: Integrated Livestock Business Mgt Workshop (1 credit)
• Ag Business Analytic Courses - Select two courses from the following:
  • AREC 405: Agricultural Production Management
  • AREC 408: Agricultural Finance
  • AREC 412: Agricultural Commodities Marketing
• Production System Courses - Select two courses from the following:
  • ANEQ 470: Meat Processing Systems
  • ANEQ 472: Sheep Systems
  • ANEQ 473: Dairy Systems
  • ANEQ 474: Swine Systems
  • ANEQ 476: Feedlot Systems
  • ANEQ 478: Beef Systems
• Remaining Animal Science Electives (see Junior year list): (3 credits)
• Remaining Ag Business Electives (see Junior year list): (3 credits)
• Other Business-focused Elective: (3 credits)
• Other Livestock-focused Elective: (3 credits)
• Electives: (0-2 credits)
• Total Credits: 31-32

Program Total Credits: 120

Semester 1

• ANEQ 101: Food Animal Science (4 credits)
• AREC 192: Orientation to Agricultural and Resource Econ (1 credit)
• AREC 202: Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1) (3 credits)
• LIFE 102: Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) (4 credits)
• MATH 117: College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
• MATH 118: College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
• MATH 124: Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
• Total Credits: 15

Semester 2

• ANEQ 105: Introduction to Large Animal Anatomy (1 credit)
• Select one course from the following:
  • AREC 230: Agricultural Data Management and Analysis
  • BUS 150: Business Computing Concepts and Applications
  • CS 110: Personal Computing
• Select one course from the following:
  • CHEM 107: Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)
  • CHEM 111: General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)
• CO 150: College Composition (GT-CO2) (3 credits)
• LBM 133: Introduction to Livestock Business Management (1 credit)
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 15-16

Semester 3

• ANEQ 305: Functional Large Animal Physiology (3 credits)
• AREC 310: Food and Agricultural Markets (3 credits)
• LBM 233: Leadership in the Livestock Industry (2 credits)
• Arts and Humanities (3 credits)
• Historical Perspectives (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 14

Semester 4

• ACT 205: Fundamentals of Accounting (3 credits)
• ANEQ 328: Foundations in Animal Genetics (3 credits)
• SPCM 200: Public Speaking (3 credits)
• Select one course from the following:
  • STAT 201: General Statistics (GT-MA1)
  • STAT 301: Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
• Arts and Humanities (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 15

Semester 5

• ANEQ 320: Principles of Animal Nutrition (3 credits)
• AREC 305: Agricultural and Resource Enterprise Analysis (3 credits)
• Animal Science Choice Block (see List in Program Requirements) (3 credits)
• Ag Business Choice Block (see List in Program Requirements) (3 credits)
• Advanced Writing (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 15

Semester 6

• LBM 333A: Livestock Business Engaged Research: Proposal Development (1 credit)
• LBM 333B: Livestock Business Engaged Research: Field Experience (1 credit)
• Animal Science Choice Block (see List in Program Requirements) (6 credits)
• Ag Business Choice Block (see List in Program Requirements) (3 credits)
• Elective (3 credits)
• Total Credits: 14

Semester 7

• LBM 333C: Livestock Business Engaged Research: Communications (1 credit)
• Select two Analytic Courses from the following:
  • AREC 405: Agricultural Production Management
  • AREC 408: Agricultural Finance
  • AREC 412: Agricultural Commodities Marketing
• Animal Science Choice Block (see List in Program Requirements) (3 credits)
• Production Systems Choices (see List in Program Requirements) (6-7 credits)
• Total Credits: 16-17

Semester 8

• AREC 428: Agricultural Business Management (3 credits)
• AREC 492: Senior Seminar in Ag and Resource Economics (1 credit)
• LBM 433: Integrated Livestock Business Mgt Workshop (1 credit)
• Ag Business Choice Block (see List in Program Requirements) (3 credits)
• Other Livestock-focused Elective (see List in Program Requirements) (3 credits)
• Other Business-focused Elective (see List in Program Requirements) (3 credits)
• Electives (0-2 credits)
• Total Credits: 14-16

Program Total Credits: 120