Welcome to the Minor in Poultry Farm Management and Entrepreneurship!

Are you passionate about poultry farming and eager to develop your skills in entrepreneurship and advisory roles? Our minor program offers a comprehensive education in poultry farm entrepreneurship, management and advise, designed for students from external applied universities or Aeres Applied University (excluding students from team DVO) who wish to deepen their knowledge in poultry.

Why Choose This Minor?

In-Depth Knowledge: Gain extensive insights into poultry farming, including nutrition, breeding, and housing.

Advisory and Entrepreneurship Skills: Learn how to become a successful entrepreneur or advisor in the primary sector, specializing in poultry.

Practical Experience: Engage in practical assignments and case studies that prepare you for real-world challenges.

In this 30 ECTS, half-year program, you will attend two modules: International Entrepreneurship and Advisor Poultry Production. Each module comprises 13 ECTS, including a 3 ECTS farm-based assessment to demonstrate your skills. Additionally, you will complete a minor assignment.

Topics in this minor are:

• Financial and Technical Analysis: Analyse financial and technical data from poultry farms and develop a strategic business plan.
• Farm Economics: Understand and analyze financial year reports and advise on strategic farm development using key process indicators (KPIs).
• Strategic Management: Analyse global developments in livestock production and develop sector visions using strategic analysis techniques.
• Marketing and Sales: Write marketing plans and perform effective sales talks.
• EU Agricultural Policy: Apply knowledge of EU agricultural policy in planning mid and long-term farm development.
• Human Resource Management: Plan and manage human resources on animal production farms and develop advisory skills for agricultural entrepreneurs.
• Farm advise: Develop quick-scan and advisory reports and provide written and oral advice on tactical management.
• Poultry Genetics and Breeding: Predict the effects of breeding decisions, explain genomic selection, calculate heritability of traits, and understand inbreeding and crossbreeding.
• Poultry Nutrition: Explain the relationship between feedstuffs and digestibility, evaluate nutritional value, and understand nutrition-related problems.
• Poultry Health: Analyse factors responsible for farm-related diseases, advise on preventive measures, and understand antibiotic resistance.
• Advisory Skills: Provide oral advice to poultry farmers and manage practical skills on a poultry farm.
• Advanced Incubation Practice: Understand factors influencing fertility and hatchability, calculate ventilation needs, and interpret hatching egg break-out results.

Join us in this exciting minor and take the first step towards a rewarding career in the poultry industry.

‘International Entrepreneurship’:

In this module the student performs the role of advisor/entrepreneur/account manager.

The student:

• is able to act as an advisor or entrepreneur in an international environment.
• is able to develop and write a marketing plan and execute a sales talk.
• is able to write a strategic advisory report (business plan) and present this in an advisory meeting to the farmer.

‘Advisor Poultry Production’

After this module the student is able to act as a consultant or adviser. This includes communication with farmers, gathering data, analyzing data and formulation of advice which is consistent with the objectives of the farmer. The student will write an advisory report (tactical management) and present this in an advisory meeting to the farmer.

Minor assignment

The student is able to reflect on the knowledge and skills acquired from the modules 'International Entrepreneurship' and 'Advisor Poultry Production' and apply these to their own practical needs and aspirations, with the aim of improving farm management and advisory services in the poultry sector.

The student is currently studying animal husbandry either within or outside the Netherlands. They grew up on a farm, are working on a farm, or have a strong interest in livestock production.

Students of the Aeres Applied University Dronten following: ‘Dier- en veehouderij’, ‘Agrarisch ondernemerschap Dier- en veehouderij’ or ‘Varkens- en pluimveehouderij’ are not admitted to this minor. External students or other Aeres students are welcome to join!

The student is expected to be available and present at school during the week. The schedule will consist of lessons, guest lectures, training sessions, and assignments in the field.

On Monday and Tuesday in week: 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 2

Assessment is based on exams, reports, and presentations.

More details about the minor can be found in the study guide, which can be requested.

Capacity/Waiting List: This minor will proceed regardless of the number of enrolments. The maximum number of students is 15.