Agriculture is evolving rapidly, with sustainability, livestock genetics, animal nutrition and supply chain efficiency becoming increasingly important to the future of food production. A new generation of agriculture graduates is preparing to address these challenges through practical experience, industry placements and research, with students at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) developing skills that could contribute to the wider dairy and livestock sectors.
Among them is Matthew Arbuckle from Kells, near Ballymena, who hopes to continue the pedigree cattle breeding work established by his late father while improving the sustainability and profitability of the family farm.
Developing skills for the future of livestock production
Matthew is entering the final year of his BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agriculture degree at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus. Raised on a beef and sheep farm, he developed an early interest in livestock breeding and hopes to build on his family’s work with pedigree Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle.
His decision to pursue agricultural studies followed a gap year after completing his A-levels. The time helped him identify his long-term ambitions and strengthen his commitment to farming.
He believes the course provides relevant knowledge about current agricultural challenges, helping students understand how practical farm management, production efficiency and sustainability can work together.
These areas are also important to the dairy industry, where farmers increasingly need to balance milk production, animal welfare, feed efficiency and environmental performance. Knowledge of breeding, nutrition and farm management can support improvements in herd productivity and long-term farm profitability.
Industry placements connect classroom learning with farm operations
Professional placements have played an important role in preparing CAFRE students for agricultural careers.
Matthew completed a placement at Mason’s Animal Feeds, gaining experience in feed manufacturing, milling equipment and production monitoring. The experience provided insight into the feed supply chain and the importance of consistent manufacturing processes.
Feed quality and manufacturing efficiency are particularly relevant to dairy farming, where balanced nutrition directly influences milk production, animal health and reproductive performance.
Other students have explored specialised areas of agriculture through industry partnerships.
Anna Short from Magherafelt discovered an interest in poultry production through her studies. A scholarship and placement with Pilgrim’s Europe enabled her to work across hatcheries, breeder operations and broiler production. Her experience as a Farm Compliance Manager in County Antrim also strengthened her interest in working directly with producers and maintaining operational standards.
Brendan Gilchrist from Downpatrick is pursuing a career in animal genetics. His placement with AI Services introduced him to semen handling, insemination services and liquid nitrogen management. These skills are relevant to livestock breeding programmes, including dairy cattle genetic improvement, where artificial insemination and selective breeding contribute to better herd characteristics.
Animal nutrition, feed safety and sustainable supply chains
Jenna Belshaw from Newtownhamilton is interested in quality assurance and animal nutrition following her placement at Fane Valley Feeds in Omagh.
As a Quality Assurance Technician, she gained experience testing raw materials and finished feeds, alongside working with traceability systems, feed safety and quality management.
Such expertise is essential across dairy supply chains. Consistent feed quality helps farmers maintain nutritional standards, while robust quality assurance systems support animal health, farm productivity and food safety.
Julie-Anne King from Armagh has taken a different educational route, progressing from CAFRE’s Level 3 Agriculture programme to the BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agriculture degree.
Her placement with ABP Food Group involved supplier visits, sustainability projects and product assessments, including Wagyu beef marbling analysis. Her experience highlighted the importance of sustainability and product quality throughout the agricultural supply chain.
Preparing the next generation of agricultural professionals
The experiences of these students demonstrate how agricultural education is expanding beyond traditional farm management to include genetics, nutrition, compliance, manufacturing and sustainability.
For the dairy industry, developing professionals with expertise across these areas will be increasingly important as producers respond to changing market expectations, environmental requirements and the need for efficient milk production.
CAFRE is currently accepting applications through UCAS for its Ulster University-validated FdSc in Agriculture and Technology and BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agriculture programmes at Greenmount Campus.
For Matthew, however, the immediate ambition remains closely connected to his family farm: applying his education to improve agricultural performance while continuing the cattle breeding legacy established by his father.
