Globally, livestock systems are the major user of agricultural land, either directly through grazing or pastoral activity or as a major consumer of cereal grains, pulses, oilseeds and their by-products. Such land use activity, while delivering multiple benefits to global society (food, fibre, fuel, nutrient cycling, etc), is associated with various negative externalities including greenhouse gas and transboundary gas emissions, deteriorations in water quality and loss of biodiversity.

Livestock production faces numerous challenges to mitigate these and other negative externalities, while at the same time delivering an increased global demand for food products of animal origin, and concurrently delivering a sustainable livelihood for the hundreds of millions of people involved in livestock production globally.

• Applicants are required to hold an NFQ level 8 Honours degree (minimum 2nd Class Honours Lower) or equivalent in a related science discipline.
• Applicants who do not meet this requirement may be admitted on the basis of considerable relevant experience.
• Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proof of English proficiency as per UCD's minimum English language requirements.
• All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.