- Assess the role of disease in milk quality including the microbiology and pathophysiology of mastitis, the interaction with milking machine function / technique and mastitis control principles
- Compare and contrast the principal factors contributing to dairy cow lameness
- Conduct and critically evaluate a dairy herd health investigation or monitoring exercise in any relevant area
- Critically discuss and debate the principles involved in preventing enteric and respiratory diseases of calves
- Critically discuss and debate the role played by herd health and production management in sustainable, profitable dairy farming systems that produce high quality safe food in a manner consistent with good dairy cow welfare
- Design and evaluate costings of a herd health problem
- Discuss and assess the role played by dairy cow nutrition in disease prevention and producer profitability
- Discuss relevant infectious diseases and compare and contrast their control strategies in dairy cattle
- Discuss the multifactorial nature of periparturient disease and infertility
This course is available through the following application route(s)
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. It is expected that students will attend a number of face to face teaching days in Lyons research farm.
- 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.
- Applicants must demonstrate a significant interest in dairy cattle practice.
Grad Cert Dairy Herd Health consists 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
- distance programme that is delivered on-line through the use of problem-based learning with current herd problems providing the necessary material.
- innovative online-learning activities coupled with hands on teaching of herd based clinical skills at the UCD Lyons Farm or the UCD Veterinary Hospital.
- practical sessions 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.
About This Course
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
| Trimester | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: Select all 4 Core Modules from Year 1 |
VET40170 | Nutrition&Production Diseases | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: Select all 4 Core Modules from Year 1 |
VET40180 | Herd Health Investig Skills | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: Select all 4 Core Modules from Year 1 |
VET40140 | Calf Health & Heifer Rearing | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: Select all 4 Core Modules from Year 1 |
VET40150 | Milk Quality & Mastitis | Summer | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of: Select both Core modules from Year 2 |
VET40130 | Dairy Herd Fertility | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of: Select both Core modules from Year 2 |
VET40160 | Infectious diseases, biosecurity and parasite control | Autumn | 5 |
GradCert Dairy Herd Health (X389) Part Time
EU Year 1 - € 4030
nonEU Year 1 - € 4030
EU Year 2 - € 1330 aa
nonEU Year 2 - € 1330 aa
aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2025 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2024/25
***Fees are subject to change
EU Year 1 - € 4030
nonEU Year 1 - € 4030
EU Year 2 - € 1330 aa
nonEU Year 2 - € 1330 aa
aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2025 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2024/25
***Fees are subject to change
Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.
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.
Applicants must demonstrate a significant interest in dairy cattle practice.
Non-UCD Graduates must provide transcripts of 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)
An extensive induction to learning online will be provided, however applicants will also require:
1. Broadband Access
2. Access to a computer
3. Basic IT skills (e.g. the ability to browse the internet, use email and word processing applications etc.)
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No
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.
How to Apply
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Dairy Herd Health:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to |
|---|---|
Currently, there are no forthcoming intakes for this course that are open for application |
|
* you can change options at the top of the page