Michael Woodrow – CAFRE Alumni

What course did you study at CAFRE and how has it influenced your career? 

I have been working on dairy farms since I was 12 years old and upon completing my A levels, decided to travel to work on a dairy farm in New Zealand, as two of my main interests are dairy cows and rugby. On returning to NI I decided to study BSc honours degree Agricultural Technology with Professional Studies. The first two years of the course were taught at CAFRE, Greenmount Campus and during this time my interest in animal nutrition was nurtured and developed. This was done both in class and on my one-year work placement at Thompson’s, which helped to influence my chosen career path in animal nutrition. 

What is your current job and responsibilities? 

I have been Global Technical Manager for Volac since September 2021 for the feed additives division of Volac International Ltd.  

Do you have a typical working day? 

I don’t have a typical working day because it is a global role covering ruminant, monogastric and even companion animal species it is very dynamic and fast paced often involving early morning and late-night calls to Volac colleagues and customers throughout the world. About 60-70% of my time is spent away from my home office travelling to our Volac sites, R&D facilities, conferences, trade events and distributor / customer meetings throughout the world. 

What is the best thing about your job? 

The best thing about my job firstly, is that I enjoy it! In addition to this, I feel very privileged to have seen and work with such a range of agricultural systems outside of the UK, including dairy and beef systems in South Africa, New Zealand, USA, and Europe. 

What is the greatest challenge of your job? 

Time management is a huge challenge in my role as Global Technical Manager as there are a limited number of hours in the day so remaining focused on the job at hand while being in high demand elsewhere is key. Being flexible and adaptable is also key and I must have knowledge of other aspects and challenges facing the industry. 

What advice would you give a new graduate? 

My advice to new graduates is to travel and look beyond farm roles upon graduating in order to expand your horizons and gain more global industry knowledge.