Food and Agriculture
Career as Dairy Technologist – Role, Education, Jobs, and Salaries
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Introduction
Dairy Technology is a branch of science and engineering that studies the processing of milk and its byproducts. Dairy technology is a field that employs “technology” to make dairy products both hi-tech and beneficial. Dairy Technology is concerned with all aspects of milk handling and management, from production to processing to consumption. Aside from that, engineering, physics, chemistry, and economics concepts are applied in the field of dairy technology to produce the most appropriate milk use and products.
Candidates can enroll in a variety of dairy technology courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Candidates can pursue a dairy technology degree or a diploma program. BTech, BSc, MTech, and MSc are some of the most popular dairy technology courses. These courses are offered by a vast number of government and private institutions.
Dairy Technology graduates will be able to work in a variety of jobs in both governmental and private companies. Dairy Technology is a profitable sector of employment with a lot of room for growth for both the industry and the individuals who work in it.
Requirements
1. Educational Requirements
A few basic requirements must be met by anyone interested in working in this field. You must meet these requirements to pursue a career in this sector; otherwise, you will be unable to do so. Some of the requirements must be satisfied, including the following:
- A minimum of 50-60% in class 12 from a recognized board is required. In class 12, they should learn about PCB.
- They must now pass an entrance exam and apply for a bachelor's degree program (B.Sc., B.Tech). The following article includes a list of entrance examinations.
- It is now up to the students to decide whether or not they wish to work after graduation or continue their education.
- Students can pursue a master's degree in higher education (M.Sc, M.Tech). They may also be interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree.
2. Soft Skills
The dairy technology field is dynamic and revolving. One needs to keep themselves up to date with all new technologies. That’s why they should possess some skills that will assist them in their career. The following is the list of skills for dairy technology students
Communication Skills
A job in dairy technology requires you to work and engage with a variety of individuals with whom you must be able to effectively communicate. Dairy Technology goods are perishable in their raw state, therefore all choices, activities, and operations must be completed rapidly. One can overcome the communication gap with strong communication skills, which might otherwise significantly slow down work.
Logical Thinking
Dairy Technology is a discipline in which everything is done systematically and methodically. Decisions made in the heat of a moment might have severe consequences for the goods. As a result, these experts must be capable of rationally analyzing circumstances as well as carefully tracking and assessing job progress.
Attention to Detail
This is a job where even the least flaws can cause major issues. When even the smallest mistake happens, massive amounts of milk are risked. In this line of business, if you don't pay attention to detail, you'll make a lot of mistakes.
Intrinsic motivation
Dairy technology is not for people who can only work when they have been pushed around. Several tasks need solo effort, with no collaborators or supervisors to assure consistent progress and results. As a result, experts in this sector must be intrinsically driven and courageous in the face of failures.
Interpersonal skills
Dairy producers may need to manage laborers and other personnel, as well as collaborate with veterinarians and nutritionists to organize others.
Flexibility
Flexibility is a crucial soft skill since it demonstrates to employers that you will be able to keep moving forward. A willingness to learn new abilities is also part of adaptability.
Time Management
The ability to manage a vast number of tasks effectively at the same time. Also refers to your ability to manage your time effectively so that you can complete tasks on time. Good time management may also indicate that you are well-organized, which is a skill that employers value.
Technical Skills
The following are some technical skills that dairy technology students should possess
MS Office
It is necessary to know about Software systems, as well as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This will make it easier for them to stay on top and handle their daily activities.
Expertise in Technology
It should go without saying that the future technologist will require a thorough understanding of technology as well as all of the many commodities available. Future suggestions will include a large portion of what technology to use, as well as when and how to use it.
Eligibility
| Stream | Graduation | Post-graduation | P.hD. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any educational board's 10+2 exam must be passed by the candidate. | To pursue a career in this profession, the individual must have a bachelor's degree. | Candidates can also pursue a master's degree if they so want. This option does not have to be pursued necessarily. | The applicants can also pursue a Ph.D. if they so choose. It is, however, not required to do so. |
| Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) should be included as core courses. | They can earn a bachelor's degree in Dairy Technology. To get into a post-graduate program, try to maintain a 50-60% average. | They can pursue a master’s degree in Dairy Technology. | They can pursue P.hD. in Dairy Technology. |
| On the test, the candidate should strive for a minimum score of 50-60%. They will only be eligible for a bachelor's degree after that. | The candidate must pass the entrance examinations to enroll in a bachelor's degree program. | To enroll in a master's degree program, the candidate must pass the admissions tests. | -- |
Courses
| Undergraduate course | Postgraduate course | Ph.D. |
|---|---|---|
| B.Tech. in Dairy Technology | M.Tech. in Dairy Technology | Ph.D. in Dairy Technology |
| B.Sc. in Dairy Technology | M.Sc. in Dairy Technology | -- |
Entrance Exam
The following is the list of entrance exams for students to take admission in dairy Technology courses
1. National level exams
| Exam Name | Conducting Body | Duration | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Mains - Joint Entrance Exam Mains | National testing agency (NTA) | 3 hours | Twice a year |
| JEE Advanced- Joint Entrance Exam Advanced | Indian Institue of Technology (IITs) | 3 hours | Once a year |
| ICAR AIEEA (Indian Council of Agricultural Research All India Entrance Examination for Admission) | National testing agency (NTA) | 2 hours 30 minutes | Once a year |
| GATE- Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering | Indian Institue of Technology (IITs) | 3 hours | Once a year |
2. State-level exams
| Exam Name | Conducting Body | Duration | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBJEE (West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination) | West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board | 2 hours | Once a year |
| UPCET (Uttar Pradesh Combined Entrance Test) | National Testing Agency (NTA) | 3 hours | Once a year |
| KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test) | Karnataka Examinations Authority | 1 hour 30 minutes | Once a year |
| AUCET (Andhra University Common Entrance Test ) | Directorate of Admission Andhra University | 1 hour 30 minutes | Once a year |
| AP EMCAET (Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test) | JNTUK Kakinada | 3 hours | Once a year |
3. University-level exam
| Exam Name | Conducting Body | Duration | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| BITSAT (Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission) | BITS Pilani | 3 Hours | Once a year |
| VITEEE (Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Examination) | VIT University, Vellore | 1 hour 30 minutes | Once a year |
| SRMJEEE (SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Exam) | SRM Institute of Science and Technology | 2 hour 30 minutes | Once a year |
Top Colleges
| College name | Location |
|---|---|
| Indian Institue of Technology (IITs) | Different Locations in India |
| Anna University | Chennai |
| Vellore Institute of Technology | Vellore |
| Apex University | Jaipur |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology | Chennai |
| SHUATS | Allahabad |
| Birla Institute of Technology and Science | Pilani |
| Parul University | Vadodra |
| Delhi Technological University (DUT) | Delhi |
Internships
Internships are a wonderful method for anyone who want to work as dairy technologists to get their foot through the door. It offers the worker the necessary exposure to the industry and work environment. Internships assist in preparing them in some manner for the pressures that come with the job. Effective communication skills are required of dairy technologists.
Students benefit from internships in a variety of ways. The following are some of the benefits of internships:
- Internships are an excellent method to get practical experience.
- It also allows students to use their academic skills, knowledge, and theoretical knowledge.
- An internship is a great way to demonstrate your abilities, passion, and value to a future employer.
- Employees form close relationships as a result of internships. You'll have more opportunities to network with professionals in the field as an intern. It'll help you grow in your career.
Work Description
A person studying dairy technology needs to work with dairy products. They should analyze all the technology and methods to enhance dairy production. The following are some day to day work descriptions of dairy technology graduates
- They research the features and chemical composition of dairy products such as milk, cheese, and ice cream.
- Experiments should be conducted to prevent microbial development in milk by proper handling and processing, as well as improved pasteurization procedures.
- They must perform experiments to enhance dairy product output.
- They should specialize in goods or functional activities such as storage issues or dairy product hygiene studies.
- Agriculture and food scientists must be collaborated with and worked with.
- They use concepts from many areas of science, engineering, and economics to produce unique and improved ways for dairy product manufacture, preservation, and consumption.
- They must also design equipment to provide optimum efficiency in the production of dairy products.
Job Prospects
| Job name | Job description |
|---|---|
| Dairy Technologist | A dairy technologist is in charge of coming up with innovative and more efficient ways to produce, preserve, and use dairy products. They employ physics, chemistry, economics, engineering, and bacteriology concepts. |
| Farm Manager | A farm manager is in charge of overseeing and organizing labor tasks such as irrigation, harvesting, grading, payroll, and recordkeeping. A farm manager may also enter into agreements with farmers to raise crops or manage agricultural output. |
| Microbiologist | A microbiologist utilizes a range of analytical and scientific techniques to monitor and study microorganisms such as bacteria, fungus, and viruses. A microbiologist is a scientist who investigates organisms that cause illness, damage to the environment, or are useful in agriculture. |
| Logistics and Distribution manager | A logistics and distribution manager is in charge of organizing the storage and delivery of products. A logistic guarantees that the correct items arrive at the right time to the right destination. |
| Dairy Scientist | Using their scientific and technical knowledge and abilities to guarantee that dairy products are produced and processed safely and efficiently. |
| Dairy Production manager | They are in charge of assisting the management with the farm's financial and physical performance. The manager oversees the implementation of short and long-term business strategies as well as the farm's overall performance. |
| Dairy Nutritionist | The diet management of dairy cattle herds is the responsibility of a dairy nutritionist. A dairy nutritionist's primary goal is to maximize output while ensuring herd health. |
| Dairy manager | They keep an eye on employees in all parts of dairy production, including feed preparation, milking equipment maintenance, herd management, and so on. |
| Quality Control Officer | It is the job of a quality control officer to guarantee that dairy products satisfy the appropriate quality and efficiency requirements. |
Top Recruiters
The following are the top recruiters of dairy technology graduates-
- Amul
- Nestle
- Vasundhara Dairy
- Britannia Industries
- Mother Dairy
- Reliance
- Metro Dairy Limited
- Heinz
- ITC (Food Division)
- Vadilal
- COMPFED (Sudha)
- Hatsun Agro Product Limited
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Dairy Technology is a high-demand area with quick job openings for qualified graduates. Any student who is dedicated to succeeding in their area will be successful in no time.
- Holders of a Dairy Technology degree might pursue a wide range of job options. There is no limit to the number of instructional programs available.
- A profession in dairy technology might offer up a world of possibilities for individuals who want to travel and live well not just in India but also overseas.
