What can you expect?

Our Industry Placement runs for 52 weeks starting from July 2025.

• An opportunity to join ABN, where you will experience all aspects of commercial monogastric feed production and gain insight into how we interface with large Pig and Poultry farmers 
• A very hands-on approach to learning about the day-to-day operations involved in running both pig and poultry farms
• Gain commercial insight and valuable exposure into the pig and poultry industry 
• Assigned objectives to help build your key business competencies.
• Plenty of support including a line manager in the commercial team and a graduate mentor.

Up to three months with Sullivan Poultry Group and other UK poultry businesses.

Sister company to ABN, Sullivan manages a chicken supply chain from farm through to processor

• Exposure to all aspects of the business:
  • Farms
  • Planning
  • Logistics
  • Commercial
• Time spent on a variety of farms to give you experience and insight into egg, broiler and broiler breeder production systems

Three months on-farm experience...

• Covering all aspects of practical pig keeping, including working on sow breeding units
• Working with technology to improve production and animal welfare, decrease emissions and help reduce manual tasks so that stockmanship can be prioritised:
  • Electronic sow feeding systems
  • Novel loose housing systems
  • New acidified slurry flushing systems
  • Continuous trials programmes
• Privy to advice and insight, working with a diverse customer base including major retailers, local supply chains and where possible the farm shop
• Industry accredited qualifications can be taken during the period

Who are we looking for...

A background in agriculture is not necessary, however the right candidate will show passion for a career in the pig or poultry industry. We are looking for a candidate who has:

• A strong interest in monogastric nutrition
• Creative thinking and problem solving skills
• Some understanding of the challenges faced in the pig and poultry livestock industries and the wider agricultural industry
• An openness to opportunities and willingness to move around the UK to make the most of all aspects of the placement – full clean driving license required
• Good attention to detail and ability to multitask 
• A team player attitude with excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently
• Excellent organisation and time management

Meet Dearbhla, a former placement student, now an ABN Pig Account Manager...

“Gaining a pig industry scholarship was a fantastic opportunity to get involved in a  progressive and highly integrated sector. I chose the ABN placement as it complemented several aspects of my Agriculture and Farm Business Management degree. I was able to develop my understanding of on-farm practices as well as the ancillary side to the livestock industry.

“Having previously worked with pigs, I enjoyed working on customer farms, developing my stockmanship skills with plenty of on-the-job training. Working with the commercial and customer support teams and liaising with both customers and colleagues benefitted my communication skills along with improving my ability to strategize under pressure. During my placement, I researched farm feeding techniques to support the launch of a new sow range. I also used data collected by our technical team in my dissertation which focussed on the economics of using in-feed organic acids in the context of changing zinc oxide legislation and antibiotic reduction.

Since graduating, I have returned to ABN as an account manager. One year in, I have taken on a range of responsibilities and accounts, from dealing with independent creep feed customers to one of our largest national accounts. I love the variety in my role and spend my time working from home as well as visiting customers on farm and going to our mill and office sites nationwide.”

Meet George, a former placement student, now an ABN Poultry Account Manager...

“Placement is a time to develop yourself and your career, which is exactly what the ABN placement offers. Not coming from a poultry background, a placement year is a brilliant opportunity to experience a new sector and everything it has to offer. It gave me a real insight into the poultry industry, from working in chicken sheds to learning more about the technical and commercial side of the industry. . 

“Since graduating, I now work as an account manager in the commercial layer team at ABN. I have found all the teams within ABN  incredibly welcoming, taking the time to show me how everything works in detail, advancing my overall knowledge and understanding of the industry.”