The Animal Scientist is a professional with a solid scientific and technological knowledge prepared to: plan and manage different animal production systems, optimizing the use of potentially available resources and socially adaptable technologies; Develop research demanded by the real problems of the field; Be an efficient rural extension agent; Take on a teaching role. The Animal Scientist is dedicated to the nutrition, the improvement and the management of the animals, aiming at increase and improve the production.

The curriculum of the Animal Scientist course of the UFV is composed of nine semesters and the subjects are divided into mandatory (basic and professional) and optional. The basics subjects comprise the first four semester of the course and the professional subjects cover the fifth to eighth semester of the course. What areas are studied?

In the basic subjects of the course, the following topics are addressed:

Biology, Physics, Graphic Expression, Mathematics, Chemistry, Scientific and Technological Methodology, Statistics, Economics and Soil Sciences.

And in the professional subjects, the following subjects are studied:

Bioclimatology, Fertility and Soil Conservation, Entomology, Mechanics and Zootechnical Machines, Reproduction Physiology and Artificial Insemination, Digestion Physiology, General and Specific Animal Nutrition for Ruminants and Non Ruminants, Animal Feed, Forage Farming, Animal Breeding, Forage Production, Social Sciences, Farm management, Sanity and health of the animals, Farm Constructions, Farm Extension, among others.

The course is updated and has been adapted and improved according to the demands arising from social and market changes. The professional graduated in Animal Science at UFV are working in teaching, researching and extending in the country and overseas, and are prepared to plan and manage different livestock systems, optimizing the use of potentially available resources and socially available technologies.

Optional subjects

To workload the required course hours for the optional subjects, the student of the Animal Science course must attend at least 120 hours of subjects in the area of Production of Species of Zootechnical Interest (Group 1) and at least 45 hours in each of subject groups in the areas of Managemente and Entrepeneurship (Group 2) and Environmental Sciencies (Group 3). The zootechnical student can take 120 hours of courses in any UFV Departament, as the prerequisites are met, and use them to make up the workload.

Extension activities

The zootechnical students must fulfill 10% of the total workload of their course in extension activities, and may attend courses that include extension in their Study Plan, courses, events, projects, among other activities. For crediting these activities, the student must enroll in ZOO 120.