Old Macdonald had a farm, as the nursery song goes (cue oinking, quacking, mooing, baaaing and the obligatory ee ai ee ai oh). He was also a really bad farmer, since he only ever seemed to have had one cow, or one sheep and, in one or two verses, a single chicken. Clearly, old Macdonald and his solitary duck didn't have a clue what they were doing and could have really benefitted from a course in Animal Husbandry.
We may have cities, air planes, computers and all the wonders of the modern world, but animals still impress and astound many enough to tempt them away from the lives of the modern urban dweller into a career that's much more organically focussed. But what can an animal husbandry course get you and what doors does it open? We list some of the many possibilities that a graduate of Animal Husbandry can progress into.
1) Farmer/Farmhand
when they think of the use of animal husbandry. Sure, it's hard, messy and muddy work sometimes but
farmworkers can take immense pride in seeing their flocks grazing safely in the fields. At least until it's
time to sell some of the herd off for meat.
2) Bee Keeper
decimation of Bee swarms and hives, thanks to over use of dangerous pesticides. Standing in the middle of
a flight of buzzing stingers may not be everyones idea of a great job, but the sweet honey more than makes
up for it!
3) ZooKeeper
bear cub. Many of the principles in good animal care apply for those working in zoos. The animals are still
creatures that have to be managed and cared for for profit, but fortunately, in this case, they're worth much
more alive and pretty than as sausages.
4) Conservationist
development into forests, grasslands and other natural habitats. Conservationists help to address the
balance. The animals in question may not be tame or domestic, but they need the same care and
attention of dedicated trained people if they are to thrive in properly managed reserves and parks.
5) Animal Sanctuary Volunteers
they outlive their usefulness. Fortunately, there are a great many charities working to protect these
vulnerable domestic animals, from famous names such as the RSPCA to smaller local groups. An
understanding of the fundamentals of animal husbandy is key knowledge for any volunteer in these
organizations.
