Program Overview

Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health

The Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health is a 16-month program designed for Irish conditions and production systems. The program draws on the experience gained by the UCD Dairy Herd Health Group in investigating many herd problems throughout Ireland.

Program Overview

The program consists of modules in:

• Herd health skills
• Dairy herd fertility
• Nutrition and production disease
• Milk quality and mastitis
• Calf health and heifer rearing
• Bio-secure/infectious diseases

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

• Possess a degree in Veterinary medicine that is registerable with the Veterinary Council of Ireland
• Have access to dairy farms and dairy farm data to complete relevant coursework
• Have at least three years of relevant veterinary practice experience
• Demonstrate a significant interest in dairy cattle practice

Program Delivery

The program is delivered online through problem-based learning, with current herd problems providing the necessary material. Students are expected to attend four to five face-to-face teaching days at Lyons research farm. The program includes:

• Online-learning activities
• Hands-on teaching of herd-based clinical skills
• Practical sessions to teach skills such as body condition scoring, locomotion scoring, and teat scoring

Program Outcomes

The program is designed to equip dairy cattle practitioners with Level 9 NFQ educational outcomes that are relevant and useful at farm level. Practitioners will be equipped with tools for herd data analysis, practical herd evaluation skills, and an ability to integrate the multiple facets of dairy herd health for the development of holistic herd level solutions.

Benefits

Students of the Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health will learn about the latest scientific research on Dairy Herd Health and will have exposure to the wide range of experience of the UCD Dairy Herd Health Group. Students will also have access to the full electronic database of UCD Library, which contains thousands of relevant scientific and professional journals to assist with independent learning and the development of a solid foundation in lifelong learning in the area of dairy herd health.

Duration and Fees

• Duration: 16 months
• Dates: late August 2024 to December 2025 (excluding March to May 2025)
• Fees: Available upon request

International Applicants

International applicants must demonstrate proof of English proficiency, with an overall score of 6.0 IELTS (90-100 Internet Based) or 550 on the paper-based TOEFL (213 on Computer Based).