Over 130 positions filled in animal health, feed and genetics

There were 132 positions and five seasonal roles filled in 2015 across 24 companies that supplied us with information which are working in the area of animal health and nutrition, genetics, animal feed as well as grain merchants and fertiliser companies.

OCAE Consultants Ltd operates in the provision of agricultural and environmental consultancy (including agri-schemes and nitrate records, etc), and in the area of agronomy and bloodstock management, among other activities. The company is based in Co Meath and took on 15 people in 2015, including a senior agricultural adviser advising the agri and bloodstock sectors and 13 ag science graduates.

Three of them had degrees in animal science, two had degrees in food and agri-business, two had degrees in animal and crop production and six had degrees in the area of environmental science. Many of these positions were related to the TELLUS project.

The TELLUS Geochemical Survey of Ireland is being conducted by the Geological Survey of Ireland and is a combined airborne geophysical survey and geochemical sampling project that will result in GIS data maps detailing the geoscientific information gathered for all of the island of Ireland. OCAE have been commissioned to conduct the soil, stream and sediment sampling portion of the project.

In relation to 2016, OCAE will see the requirement for the sampling projects they currently have on the go and for future projects that may arise. This will require employing a group of over 10 graduates. The company also says that because it is involved in many different sectors, from consultation with large food processors to research trials, additional projects may also necessitate additional employees with education specialising in various disciplines.

Quinns of Baltinglass, which employs 140 people, took on six people this year – three of these positions were newly created and comprised of an agri sales rep, an assistant manager and a nutrition specialist. Next year, Quinns expect to create five new rep jobs.

Boortmalt, which has an office in Athy in Co Kidare and which is the fifth-largest producer of malt globally, has a staff of 50. Four new positions were created there this year – for three graduates who were placed in agronomist roles and one in the craft side of the business. Next year, if the business performs well, Boortmalt will take on one or two people. It’s expected these positions will be in the craft side of the business.

Eurogene, an AI company based in Cahir, Co Tippearary took on four employees in 2015. All of these positions were in the area of sales/cash consulting and three were newly created. The company expects to take on one new person in 2016 in the area of sales/cash consulting. The company employs 15 people altogether.

Southern Milling, which employs 50 people altogether, replaced three to four general operatives this year and expects to do the same next year.

Farmco Agritrading took on two new employees this year – an agronomist and an accountant. The company expects to hire three new agronomists next year. This is significant expansion given the company has just 13 staff altogether.

Animal feed supplier Brett Brothers in Callan, Co Kilkenny, took on one new rep this year. The company employs 30 people altogether.

Drummonds, which is a feeds, seeds and grains merchant, took on one ag grad this year and plans on doing the same in 2016.

Interchem took on an intensive livestock technical sales manager in a newly created position this year. The company expects it will take on one person in 2016 in a newly created position within the dairy sector.

LIC Ireland took on one new breeding adviser this year.

New positions

Another company operating within this sector took on 19 new people in 2015. Sixteen of these positions were newly created in the areas of operatives, marketing and for graduates. Three more positions were replaced, in the same areas.

Another company filled two, newly-created roles this year – one in each of sales and administration, and also took on five seasonal staff. The company doesn’t have plans to take on more full-time staff next year but will take on five seasonal staff again.