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Grad Cert in Dairy Herd Health

Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health

Applications for the 2024-25 intake are closed. Teaching for the next cycle of the Grad Cert will start late August 2026 and applications will open online in January 2026.

This course draws on the experience gained by the UCD Dairy Herd Health Group in investigating many herd problems throughout Ireland. The programme will consist of modules in herd health skills, dairy herd fertility, nutrition and production disease, milk quality and mastitis, calf health and heifer rearing, and bio-secure/infectious diseases. The programme is designed for Irish conditions and production systems, and how Irish veterinarians deal with issues.

Find out more about the Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health from our Alumni:

Please note the entry requirements:

  • Applicants must possess a degree in Veterinary medicine that is registerable with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (www.vci.ie).
  • Applicants must have access to dairy farms and dairy farm data to complete relevant coursework such as farm reports.
  • Applicants should have at least three years of relevant veterinary practice experience.
  • It is expected that applicants can demonstrate a significant interest in dairy cattle practice. 

The Vision and Values Statement, the Programme Outcomes and detailed information on modules are available HERE.

This is a distance programme that is delivered on-line through the use of problem-based learning with current herd problems providing the necessary material. It is expected that students will attend four to five face-to-face teaching days at Lyons research farm.

Next Cycle: The next cycle of the Grad. Cert. in Dairy Herd Health will begin in August 2024. For more information and to apply, please see the UCD Graduate Admissions website.

What will I learn from the UCD Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health programme?
The UCD Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health will draw on the experience gained by the UCD Dairy Herd Health Group in investigating many herd problems throughout Ireland.  The programme will consist of modules in herd health skills, dairy herd fertility, nutrition and production disease, milk quality and mastitis, calf health and heifer rearing, and bio-secure/infectious diseases.

Where can I go after the UCD Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health programme?
The programme is designed to equip dairy cattle practitioners with Level 9 (opens in a new window)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 that are set in context with regard to herd profitability and animal health and welfare.

How will I benefit from the UCD Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health programme?
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.

How will the programme be delivered:
The programme is designed to offer busy veterinarians the opportunity to participate in part-time education and enjoy the benefit of:

• Studying online at a time and place that suits your needs
• Joining an online community to exchange knowledge and ideas
• Working in groups online to solve a range of current herd problems
• Applying new learning experiences to professional practice

The UCD Graduate Certificate in Dairy Herd Health programme will be delivered using innovative online-learning activities coupled with hands on teaching of herd based clinical skills at the UCD Lyons Farm or the UCD Veterinary Hospital. There is no teaching between March and May.

Several practical sessions are envisaged that will teach students a range of skills invaluable to cattle practitioners, for example body condition scoring, locomotion scoring, teat scoring, recent developments in reproductive ultrasonography for cattle. Participants are expected to attend these practical sessions.

Each week students will be expected to contribute to a range of online-learning activities; this will require approximately 10-12 hours of work per week.

The learning activities will involve contributing to an online community to discuss relevant topics in the area of Dairy Herd Health e.g. providing examples of farm data, summaries of herd problems, accounts of successful or unsuccessful husbandry protocols (or other relevant information). The use of an online community discussion forum that will have a predetermined tutor input will assist in creating a truly innovative educational experience for participants. The use of problem based learning will ensure that participants are exposed to relevant case study material in an environment where their peer’s views and their own can be discussed to the benefit of all.

Finally, it is envisaged that some material will be taught by e-lectures, these will contain a synopsis of recent information of tried and tested protocols for herd investigations in all key areas that are used routinely by the UCD Dairy Herd Health Group. 

Admissions

  • Applicants must possess a degree in Veterinary medicine that is registerable with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (www.vci.ie).
  • Applicants must have access to dairy farms and dairy farm data to complete relevant coursework such as farm reports.
  • Applicants should have at least three years of relevant veterinary practice experience.
  • It is expected that applicants can demonstrate a significant interest in dairy cattle practice. 

Applicants also need the following: 1) Access to a computer, 2) Broadband access and 3) Basic IT skills (e.g. the ability to browse the internet, use email and word processing, spreadsheet applications etc.)

Applicants will have to pay a non-refundable application fee, provide an up-to-date CV, proof of registration with the VCI and transcripts of their academic degree(s).

International applicants must demonstrate proof of English proficiency.
If English is not your native language and unless you have completed your primary degree through English, an English language qualification is required (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL).
IELTS – an overall score of 6.0 IELTS (90-100 Internet Based)
TOEFL – 550 on the paper-based test TOEFL (213 on Computer Based)

Contact  

Please contact (opens in a new window)dairy.cert@ucd.ie for more information, expressions of interest and general enquiries.

Contact the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine

UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 6100 | Location Map(opens in a new window)