CAFRE student reflects on placement year in Animal Nutrition
Ashley Neill, a BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agriculture student at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), has recently completed her Diploma in Professional Practice placement year with Hutchinsons Feeds and Key Nutrition
Ashley described the year as an invaluable opportunity that enabled her to apply academic knowledge in an industry setting while enhancing her confidence and professional skills
After completing her GCSEs at Portadown College, Ashley enrolled on the Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Agriculture before progressing to the BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agriculture degree programme validated by Ulster University at Greenmount Campus
“Growing up on a dairy and beef farm gave me a strong ambition to pursue a career in agriculture,” said Ashley. “The Level 3 course in Agriculture provided the foundation for my continued studies and allowing me to progress to the honours degree programme.”
This year, Ashley completed her placement at Hutchinsons Feeds with Key Nutrition, based at Druminard Mills, Co Tyrone.
“At Hutchinsons Feeds, dairy feed accounts for over 80% of its annual tonnage,” explained Ashley. “The company also produces a range of beef and sheep feeds and offers bespoke feed services, allowing nutritionists to create feeding plans tailored to individual farm requirements.”
During her placement year, Ashley gained experience of the day-to-day operations involved in feed production and livestock nutrition
“The day typically began with organising feed and raw material samples in the mill.My role involved collecting silage samples from farms, analysing forage and feed samples using NIR technology, adjusting rations and processing them through to production. I also handled calls from farmers, provided nutritional advice.”
Ashley also benefited from a variety of professional development opportunities throughout the year
“I was fortunate to attend farm visits and industry seminars which helped deepen my knowledge of feed products and nutrition. I also had the opportunity to contribute to the company’s promotional activities by taking part in videos, which were shared across social media platforms.”
The experience closely complemented the knowledge she gained during her studies at Greenmount Campus
“My placement has closely reinforced my learnings in animal science and nutrition modules. Skills such as ration formulation, forage analysis, animal nutrition and farm communication have all been strengthened through my responsibilities. I have developed a stronger understanding of how feed formulations can influence animal performance and farm profitability.”
Reflecting on her future career aspirations, Ashley said the placement year has confirmed her passion for the animal nutrition sector
“My placement year has strengthened my CV, whilst giving me valuable industry contacts and experience. Most importantly, it has confirmed that this is an industry I want to work in and continue developing my knowledge.”
Ashley also expressed her gratitude to Hutchinsons Feeds for their encouragement throughout the year
“I would like to thank Hutchinsons Feeds for a rewarding year and the invaluable experience I have gained,” she said. “I am grateful for the support, guidance and opportunities I received throughout my placement.”
If you are considering a future in Agriculture, CAFRE offers courses from Level 2 to BSc (Hons) degree, including Apprenticeship pathways.
Applications for September 2026 are still open, visit the CAFRE website to find out more.
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