Animal nutritionists use their scientific knowledge to advise on the effect of diet on animal health and wellbeing
Your role as an animal nutritionist is to promote a better understanding of the effect of diet on the health, wellbeing and productivity of animals. You'll be most active in the field of agriculture, where you'll provide advice and information on animal nutrition and help to design, monitor and evaluate feeding plans for animals.
You may also be involved in the production of food for zoo and companion animals (pets), advising on issues related to their feeding, nutrition and overall care. Some animal nutritionists choose to specialise in one type of animal, such as livestock, equine or companion animals, depending on their interests and career goals.
Types of animal nutrition work
You could work in a variety of settings, including:
- animal charities and welfare organisations
- agriculture and farming (working directly with livestock producers)
- freelance or consultancy roles (with individuals and commercial businesses)
- government and public health bodies
- research institutions, including laboratories and universities
- the animal feed and pet food industry
- zoos, wildlife parks and conservation organisations
- veterinary practices and related services
- agricultural advisory and consultancy organisations.
What does an animal nutritionist do?
As an animal nutritionist, you'll need to:
- evaluate the chemical and nutritional value of feeds, feed supplements, grass and forage for commercial animals and pets
- formulate diets and rations to maximise growth, reproduction, health and performance
- assess the relative nutritional and economic value of feeding systems
- research the effectiveness of dietary regimes
- conduct laboratory and, where appropriate, animal-based studies in line with ethical standards
- support agricultural consultants in their work
- liaise with producers and clients to understand their targets and objectives, and the specific needs of the market
- monitor feed formulations to meet quality performance and animal health standards
- provide advice on nutrition to farmers, other animal owners, veterinarians and government bodies, this may involve visits to farms and other settings
- improve and optimise animal feed manufacturing techniques
- expand existing ranges of animal food products and develop new ones
- support commercial teams in producing and launching new products
- carry out sales and marketing strategies following the launch of a new product
- balance growing consumer interest in quality with the need to develop competitive agricultural systems
- maintain expertise in nutritional trends, sustainability issues and regulatory requirements
- use specialist software and data analysis tools formulate diets, conduct research and generate reports
- investigate nutritional disorders and the safe storage of feeds, often in conjunction with veterinary surgeons
- consider the environmental impact and sustainability of feed ingredients and feeding strategies.
What salary can I expect as an animal nutritionist?
- Starting salaries in animal nutrition jobs are usually £23,000 to £28,000.
- The range of typical salaries with around three to five years' experience is £32,000 to £39,000. Sales roles and roles requiring a PhD tend to be on the higher end of the scale.
- Senior management/director level salaries range between £35,000 and £50,000+.
Sales and marketing roles are usually better paid than those working directly with animals and often include commission or performance-related bonuses, in addition to a competitive basic salary.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
How many hours does an animal nutritionist work?
You'll typically work around 40 hours per week. Hours may be irregular if visits to farms or clients are required in the evening. Weekend or shift work is uncommon.
Self-employment and freelance or consultancy work may be possible once you've built up a reputation and some substantial experience. It may be possible or necessary to build up a portfolio career, including a combination of employment in commercial research, advising on a freelance or consultancy basis and teaching relevant courses in an agricultural college or university.
How do I become an animal nutritionist?
Employers will usually expect a degree in an animal science, nutrition or a related life science degree, such as:
- animal science/animal nutrition
- agriculture (animal science)
- veterinary science.
Other relevant subjects include:
- animal management, animal studies or animal welfare and behaviour animal/equine or applied animal science
- biochemistry, biosciences or biomedical sciences
- dietetics, physiology or health sciences
- public health nutrition
- zoology.
Professional registration with the Association for Nutrition can help to give you a competitive edge. Associate registration is available for newly qualified nutrition graduates with little or no experience.
Full registration is available for those with a nutrition degree and at least three years' experience, gained within the past five years. You can also apply for full registration without a nutrition degree, but only if you have around 7 to 10 years' professional experience.
Once registered, you'll be on the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN), which shows that you have met certain ethical and quality standards. See the Association for Nutrition website for further details.
Search for postgraduate courses in animal nutrition.
Key skills for an animal nutritionist
You'll need to show:
- a strong understanding of the scientific principles of animal nutrition
- the ability to analyse data and interpret results to inform feeding strategies
- research skills, including the ability to work in a safe, ethical and reliable way
- clear communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information to clients and colleagues
- relationship-building skills for working effectively with farmers, clients and industry stakeholders
- good organisational, numeracy and IT skills for managing data, time and workload.
Where can I get animal nutrition work experience?
Experience is valued by employers and clients, particularly in related areas such as animal feed, livestock production, agricultural business or laboratory-based roles. Practical farm experience can be advantageous but is not essential.
You can approach experienced nutritionists for work shadowing, internships or networking opportunities, or engage with professionals through industry events and online platforms. This will help you choose your specialist area and understand current industry trends.
Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.
Who employs animal nutritionists?
You can work in a range of roles, from advisory positions and product development roles to sales and marketing jobs, as well as roles in research, technical support and consultancy.
Employers include:
- ADAS
- agricultural advisory bodies
- feed companies and agribusinesses
- educational and research institutions
- government departments and agencies
- international development agencies
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)
- universities
- non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and charities involved in animal health, welfare or food security.
It's possible to work as a freelance animal nutritionist once you've gained enough experience, particularly in consultancy or advisory work.
If you're interested in teaching and research, you can look for opportunities in universities and agricultural colleges. Delivering health and science education in schools and colleges is also an option, for which a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) (or equivalent) would be a requirement in the UK.
Look for job vacancies at:
Specialist recruitment agencies handle vacancies, such as:
What does learning and development look like for animal nutritionists?
Training may include in-house and external courses covering areas such as new legislation, emerging technologies and advances in nutritional science.
Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential due to the pace of scientific change, and may involve reading scientific and technical journals and using resources such as the British Society of Animal Sciences (BSAS) and Feedinfo News Service. Attending conferences and events, for example through organisations such as The Nutrition Society, also supports networking and knowledge development.
Professional membership can support progression. For example, if you're an associate member of the Association for Nutrition (AfN), you'll usually be expected to complete CPD and work towards Registered Nutritionist status within three to five years. You'll need to maintain a record of your CPD activities throughout your career.
In the first five to ten years, progression may include moving into roles such as specialist consultant, technical advisor or positions in sales, marketing or product development within the animal feed industry. You may also choose to specialise in a particular species, such as poultry or horses.
Career progression can be influenced by factors such as experience, postgraduate qualifications (e.g. a PhD), level of specialisation and willingness to relocate. Opportunities may include moving to larger or multinational organisations, working internationally, or becoming a freelance consultant once you've built up experience and a client base. Further study may also lead to careers in research, lecturing or product development in commercial or academic settings.