Animal Health Management

AGEC 713 is the study of the tools used in finance. The course discusses the applications of corporate finance to agribusiness. Financial management, long-term investment analysis, and an introduction to the concepts of risk and return are the main focus of this course. It is intended that the course go well beyond the introductory level—to actually being able to use the tools and to understand corporate finance and how it can be used to better manage agricultural firms. The course is designed for students actively working in agribusiness.

This course explores the topic of regulations associated with animal health product development and manufacturing. Topics for discussion will include an overview of the regulatory affairs process in the U.S. and other countries, drug and vaccine classifications and the approval process, GCP/GLP guidelines, drug and vaccine efficacy and safety testing, human and environmental safety issues, and future challenges and current industry needs. Topic discussions are led by experienced professionals in each area from academia, government, and industry.

This course examines market forces, demand, supply, individual consumer and firm behavior, and market structure. Basic market structure models covered include perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly and monopoly. Game theory provides a useful tool to understand both business and personal relationships. Economic tools and models are related to business strategies and real-world decision making throughout the course.

AGEC 780 provides a forum to study the economics and business challenges and opportunities confronting the animal health industry. These conversations are important because of the increasing trade in animal and livestock products and the attendant sanitary and health risks they present, the changing regulator environments as incomes increase around the world and increases in ethical consumer segments in all countries. The course is also important because of increasing concentration of the animal health industry and the need for the industry’s stakeholders to operate in multiple countries under multiple regulator regimes. AGEC 780 explores the different health and related policy issues in the various significant animal sectors with the view to providing the sectors’ practitioners with the tools to develop the appropriate responses to these issues to ensure sustainable superior performance. To accomplish this, we will look at the facts of the issues, understand their implications for the various stakeholders in the sector and formulate appropriate responses based on careful and objective analyses to achieve specified objectives.

This course is designed to introduce the student to the fundamental concepts of organizational behavior. The primary focus is on gaining a better understanding of the behavior of individuals and groups within organizations. A great deal of emphasis is placed on examining how the class concepts relate to the day-to-day operations of a business and to the student’s future or current career. Each student will leave the course better prepared to manage others and their own careers.

This course introduces students to sales and marketing in the complex world of the animal health industry. Emphasis is placed on understanding product life cycles; product development; forecasting; planning; promotion and compliance; positioning and branding; as well as promotion and compliance. Understanding of market research for effective decision making. Markets addressed include business to business food animal markets and companion animal consumer markets. Sales and sales management examine sales processes used and skills required in the animal health industry. Effective go to market strategies are examined. Key account management basics are reviewed. Incorporation and effective interaction between marketing and sales are analyzed.

The overall objective of this course is to build students’ strategic thinking and decision making skills through the application of economics and agribusiness management tools. Upon completing AGEC 890, students should be able to identify and evaluate their strategic environments, analyze their opportunities and challenges, and develop and execute effective strategies that produce sustainable performance. These capabilities should help enhance students’ career opportunities and their self-satisfaction.