Objectives The modular teaching design of elements of value education in the courses for vocational majors was improved to train new type of vocational talents who can bravely carry out the mission of strengthening and rejuvenating agriculture. Methods Elements of value education were integrated into the teaching of the course "Principles and Techniques of Livestock Breeding" in higher vocational colleges by taking moral education as the foundation, cultivating and practicing core values of socialism as the main line, adopting the finishing point, implicit infiltration, and thematic embedding. Results 16 cases of value education in courses were mined, which were summarized into four modules of value education including the spirit of scientists, the nostalgia for agriculture, rural areas, and farmers in a powerful country, philosophical thinking, and teamwork. The perception, satisfaction, and learning outcomes of course in students from 2019 year was significantly improved compared to that in students from 2018 year. The implementation and effect of teaching was significantly improved compared to that before the design. The professionalism, teamwork, work ethics, and professional skills of graduates in 2019 year were improved compared to those in 2018 year. Conclusions Integrating elements of value education into the course "Principles and Techniques of Livestock Breeding" in higher vocational colleges can improve the work ethics and professional skills of students, and train the nostalgia for agriculture, rural areas, and farmers in a powerful country of students.