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Animal feed nutritionist

Also called feed nutritionist, animal feed expert, animal nutrition expert

Animal feed nutritionists analyse the nutritional value of animal feeds in order to provide dietary advice to agricultural, manufacturing, zoological and public sector staff. They undertake research on nutritionally balanced food stuffs and maintain awareness of technical and scientific developments on the subject.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects40 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Science and engineering professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Science and engineering professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Science and engineering professionalsWill AI change it?ModeratelyLevel 4 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals · ILO

What you'd do

Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals · ILO
  • Undertaking research in laboratories and in the field to increase scientific knowledge of living organisms; to discover new information; to test hypotheses; to solve problems in areas such as the environment, agriculture and health; and to develop new products, processes and techniques for pharmaceutical, agricultural and environmental use
  • Designing and conducting experiments and tests
  • Gathering human, animal, insect and plant specimens and data, and studying their origin, development, chemical and physical form, structure, composition, and life and reproductive processes
  • Examining living organisms using a variety of specialised equipment, instruments, technologies and techniques such as electron microscopes, telemetry, global positioning systems, biotechnology, satellite imaging, genetic engineering, digital imaging analysis, polymerase chain reaction and computer modelling
  • Identifying, classifying, recording and monitoring living organisms and maintaining databases
  • Writing scientific papers and reports detailing research and any new findings which are then made available to the scientific community in scientific journals or at conferences for scrutiny and further debate
  • Designing and carrying out environmental impact assessments to identify changes caused by natural or human factors
  • Providing advice to governments, organizations and businesses in areas such as conservation, management of natural resources, the effects of climate change and pollution
Communicate technicalities with clientsCustomize diets to animalsDevelop animal feedsEnsure no harmful effects on feed additivesEvaluate nutritional value of feeds+ 8 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the similar US job "Dietitians and Nutritionists"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as science and engineering professionals in the EU
5.82m7.82m9.03m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
948,000 new jobs 2,300,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Science and engineering professionals40
All jobs29
Right now
3 of 27 countries report a shortage of biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals, 6 a surplus.
Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in crop and livestock production is the usual route.

Highest qualification of science and engineering professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 90%Vocational 6%General secondary 3%Basic schooling 1%
Vocational route, EU
6 in 10 trainees in this field
Agriculture graduates in a matching job
73% in the EU

330 institutions in the EU offer agriculture bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Moderately

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.40 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Writing scientific papers and reports detailing research and any new findings which are then made available to the scientific community in scientific journals or at conferences for scrutiny and further debate0.52
Providing advice to governments, organizations and businesses in areas such as conservation, management of natural resources, the effects of climate change and pollution0.50
Designing and conducting experiments and tests0.47
Designing and carrying out environmental impact assessments to identify changes caused by natural or human factors0.47
Examining living organisms using a variety of specialised equipment, instruments, technologies and techniques such as electron microscopes, telemetry, global positioning systems, biotechnology, satellite imaging, genetic engineering, digital imaging analysis, polymerase chain reaction and computer modelling0.35
Undertaking research in laboratories and in the field to increase scientific knowledge of living organisms; to discover new information; to test hypotheses; to solve problems in areas such as the environment, agriculture and health; and to develop new products, processes and techniques for pharmaceutical, agricultural and environmental use0.34
Identifying, classifying, recording and monitoring living organisms and maintaining databases0.31
Gathering human, animal, insect and plant specimens and data, and studying their origin, development, chemical and physical form, structure, composition, and life and reproductive processes0.23

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).