UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science

UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science Welcome to the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science - Destination of first choice for Agricult

One of the best features of any of the summer schools or any event we host is always welcoming back recent graduates and...
03/06/2026

One of the best features of any of the summer schools or any event we host is always welcoming back recent graduates and talking to current students who are the ones that can give the best insights to what it’s like studying Ag& Food Science in UCD.

A huge thanks today to:
Susanna Kelly - Food and agribusiness management class of 2026
Rachel Maguire - Animal Science class of 2026
Eoin Hassett – Agri-Environmental Sciences graduate now completing a masters in multispecies swardsat Lyons.
William Kenny - horticulture graduate now completing a PhD in crop sciences at Lyons Farm.

It was a fantastic Day 1 of Summer Schools 2026. The sun was shining (for most of the time!!) at Lyons and the students ...
03/06/2026

It was a fantastic Day 1 of Summer Schools 2026.
The sun was shining (for most of the time!!) at Lyons and the students got to see the farm in all its glory.

Following registration and breakfast, the students were welcomed to Lyons by Professor Karina Pierce then brought out into the fields to get an insight into crop sciences and smart technology with Professor Kevin McDonnell and Dr. Gary Gillespie.

Following that, the students visited the new, impressive calf shed where Karina and PhD student (Animal and Crop production graduate) Ciaran McGee led them through the Dairy Calf Education and Research Facility.

In the equine yard, Dr. Alan Fahey discussed the animal science and equine science programmes and the incredible opportunities that can come with these courses in Ireland and abroad.
After lunch, Dr. Aoife Byrne showed the students just how diverse the agriculture programmes can be as the Food and Agribusiness Management course can offer anything from accountancy, marketing, consultancy to economics, logistics, sustainability, food processing, supply chain management, and financial services.

02/06/2026

Yesterday was World Milk Day 2026 🥛
At our dairy unit is home to almost 200 strong, spring-calving herd that has been supplying high-quality milk to the Irish market for over 100 years.

Spanning 54 hectares, our dedicated grazing area includes 41 fenced paddocks with an extensive roadway infrastructure, complete with two underpasses to facilitate seamless cow flow. The grazing platform has a sophisticated water management system that monitors water usage and allows for precision dosing of supplements independently of water consumption. This system is remotely monitored and controlled via an app for maximum convenience and efficiency.

Cows are milked twice daily in our state-of-the-art Dairymaster 40-unit rotary milking parlour, which features a cluster cleanse system to help control somatic cell count (SCC) and promote udder health. The parlour is equipped with four individual feed lines that enable precision feeding of different pellet feed types, stored in four monitored silos with real-time data on feed level, temperature, and humidity. A fully automated identification system using RFID tags integrates with the feeding and milking systems, allowing for automatic recording of milk yield at each milking session and the option for milk sampling for detailed analysis.

To streamline animal handling, our dairy unit is outfitted with comprehensive facilities that include automatic drafting to various holding pens and crushes designed for efficient and safe animal flow. Rubber matting in high-traffic areas supports good locomotion health and reduces stress on the animals.

The brand new exciting UCD Lyons Dairy Research and Education Facility will support the development of dairy products and services and provide a showcase for the very best of Irish dairy technology.

Industry stakeholders connected with this significant project include: , Nutrition, .insurance , , Irish Holstein Friesian Association, Munster Cattle Breeding Group and Genetics.

We are back across the water, this time to the beautiful Bluegrass state of Kentucky. Famous for bourbon, natural wonder...
29/05/2026

We are back across the water, this time to the beautiful Bluegrass state of Kentucky. Famous for bourbon, natural wonders, musical roots, rich cultural heritage and of course the Kentucky Derby, being on PWE here for our equestrian science students is a dream come true.
We chat to who tells us all about her incredible experience in Coolmore over the last few months. 🐎

“My name is Katelyn Johnston and I am a 3rd year Equine Science Student. I am currently doing my professional work experience in Coolmore America located in Kentucky, USA.

Since starting placement at the end of March my knowledge about the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry has grown significantly. Working in an environment which such determination to strive for the best results really motivates me to keep working to achieve high standards.
I carry out general yard duties mucking out, turnout, giving meds, bringing mares to coverings and many other things!

Being apart of Coolmore America has allowed me to see first-hand methods that help develop my handling skills of mares, foals, veterinary care, foaling prep and post foaling practices.
Some of the highlights of my time here would be being on-call and assisting in the foalings which is a great experience.
Also visiting different studs, Keeneland Racecourse and the Kentucky 5* three day event which were very enjoyable to see such top class performances.

Overall, this placement has helped me to experience and develop a range of skills that I will benefit my future career progression. I look forward to the next couple of months and the return to final year, where I will take over as Auditor of the Agricultural Society.“

What is the best thing to do on a beautiful sunny day in ?Today we came together for some “healthy competition” showing...
28/05/2026

What is the best thing to do on a beautiful sunny day in ?
Today we came together for some “healthy competition” showing off our talents outside the classroom!
Kicking off at Rosemount, Stafford was the gold medal speedster in the 5km. 🥇

The tractor race was a huge success as we had no injuries this year and we are well prepped for AgWeek!
Watch Out!!!!! 🚜🚜🚜

“In April I was lucky to get the opportunity to spend 5 weeks in Brazil as part of my Professional Work Experience. I ha...
25/05/2026

“In April I was lucky to get the opportunity to spend 5 weeks in Brazil as part of my Professional Work Experience. I have a really keen interest in bovine reproduction so when the chance arose to travel to Goiania, Brazil to complete an internship at the Federal University of Goias under Prof. Jose Spricigo I accepted straight away.

Brazil is currently a shining light in the world of bovine reproductive work, despite the fertility challenges they face associated with the Bos indicus cattle they work with, for the most part Nellore cattle are farmed in Brazil, an extremely robust & heat tolerant breed of beef cattle. IVF, FTAI protocols & advanced reproductive technologies are being widely used across Brazil to hurdle fertility issues & this is the area in which I wanted to gain experience in.

During my time in South America I travelled thousands of kilometres across 4 different states providing me with a nuanced view of Brazilian agriculture which is so hotly debated in today’s media. I got the chance to spend time on 5 different farms, 2 of which were research driven facilities & the other 3 being commercial farms. 1 of these commercial farms is Nova Piritininga in the very northern point of the state of Goias. This individual farm covers roughly 600,000 acres of land, carrying 120,000 head of cattle while calving 54,000 cows a year. This herd was incomprehensively large to me and it was incredible to get stuck in with their 30 person strong repro team where it wasn’t uncommon to complete 1000 fix timed AIs in 1 day.

I gained invaluable experience in ultrasonography, OPU, IVF, oocyte/embryo grading, AI and synchronisation protocols. It was truly an amazing experience where I got to build on my previous reproductive skills. It was a huge culture shock at the beginning & the Portuguese language barrier was challenging at times but the Brazilian people are absolutely amazing & welcoming to no end. I made friends for life by the end of my 5 weeks in Brazil & plan to return at the first chance that I get. I cannot thank Prof. Spricigo enough for facilitating my time there, along with the numerous others who all help make it an unforgettable experience for me.”

☀️ UCD SUMMER SCHOOL 2026 - Just One Week to Go!!!Are you interested in studying Agriculture, Food Science or Human Nutr...
25/05/2026

☀️ UCD SUMMER SCHOOL 2026 - Just One Week to Go!!!

Are you interested in studying Agriculture, Food Science or Human Nutrition in UCD?

UCD Summer Schools 2026 are just 2 weeks away!
1. On the 3rd of June find out about all of our Agricultural Programmes including a visit to our fantastic Lyons Farm. 🐄
2. On the 4th of June, visit our Food Science and Human Nutrition labs, see our sensory science and get involved in activities while learning all about studying these fantastic courses in UCD. 🍏

We have two really exciting interactive day planned so make sure to register now at: http://ucdsummerschool.ie
Last few places remaining!!

Beyond proud of this amazing group and everyone who played such an important part in this year. Today the committee pre...
22/05/2026

Beyond proud of this amazing group and everyone who played such an important part in this year.
Today the committee presented an AMAZING €75,000 to three incredible charities.
and the were this years chosen charities and money was also raised for centre during a series of events in March marking International Women’s Day.

AgSoc welcomed the charities on campus today, proudly presenting them with the cheques.

22/05/2026

***Deadline Extended***
Applications for the 2026/2027 Coillte Scholarship are now open until 6th July 2026 and the award will be made in Autumn 2026. 🌲

Are you concerned about climate change, the environment, sustainability and the future of our planet? Would you enjoy working in nature with some office activity too? Would you like your future career to combine these things? Forestry could be for you!

The Coillte Forestry Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity and will award two students attending either University College Dublin or South East Technological University (SETU) up to €20,000 for the duration of their degree programme (€5,000 per year) to support with fees and living expenses.
The Scholarship is open to Leaving Certificate students and mature students who are planning to attend one of the eligible forestry undergraduate courses at UCD or SETU. Applications are now open until 6th July 2026 and the award will be made in Autumn 2026.

Each scholarship recipient will also be offered the opportunity of paid summer employment in Coillte from first year onwards, as well as an option to join Coillte once third level education is successfully completed.

Visit https://lnkd.in/gYf86tqK to apply for the scholarship and to find out about Forestry in the UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science visit: https://shorturl.at/vp6OI
Agricultural Science BAgrSc (Hons) (NFQ Level 8) in UCD

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Dublin

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Monday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm

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0035317167194

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