PHILOSOPHY
Postgraduate training programs in animal science are designed to produce leaders in Academia, government, and the commercial industries that are affiliated with the field of animal science. Candidates will be equipped with a sound theoretical and applied knowledge in animal production biotechnology, breeding, nutrition, growth and development in order to improve the various roles of animals for mankind.

Objectives
At the end of the programme, the students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of the different aspects to animal production and husbandry geared towards sustainable agriculture and food sufficiency.

2.     Develop disease and pest management strategies for livestock.
3.     Identify useful genes from new or unique sources to improve animal’s nutritional quality, disease resistance, stress tolerance, conversion rates and commercial potential.
4.     Formulate and evaluate appropriate policies to enhance animal production, protection and utilization.
5.     Assume leadership role in academic, research, field and laboratory settings.
6.     Demonstrate ability to design and report a laboratory or field based research project and supply the relevant research skills while working within minimal supervision.
7.     Show competence in communicating scientific findings.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT
(a)        Introduction:
The programme is intended for candidate wishing to do post-graduate research in the areas of animal nutrition (non ruminant and ruminant), environmental physiology, genomics and genetics, meat science, growth and development and animal management.  The duration of the programme is a minimum of 6 semesters and a maximum of 8 semesters for full time student, minimum of 8 semesters and maximum of semesters 10 semesters for students in the elongated semester module.

The Ph. D programme is open only to candidates having M.Sc in Animal Science or equivalent with a weighted average grade of 60%. The catchment areas for candidates include all the states of the federation of Nigeria and other countries world-wide.
(b)     Requirements for Graduation:
The doctoral degree requires a minimum work load of 63 credit units distributed as follows.
Course                                                 Units
GEDS                                                      8
Seminar                                                12
Core Courses                                        12
Elective Courses                                       8
Thesis                                                   16
Total                                                    56
Each student will be assigned a major adviser/supervisor in accordance with the nature of the student’s thesis research interest and time availability of the post graduate facility. A supervisory committee shall consist of 3 supervisors for each student, one of which shall be designated the main supervisor.

COURSE CONTENT FOR PhD Animal Science

Each student is to take two (2) elective courses in the first and second semesters, in consultation with the HOD and Departmental PG Coordinator.