The University of Pretoria’s (UP) Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences is on course to roll out the first-of-its-kind feed mill project in Africa, which is endorsed by the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association of South Africa (AFMA).

The AFMA feed mill research and training facility project is supported by the animal feeds industries. It will provide UP with a state-of-the-art feed mill facility to prepare research rations/diets for Animal and Wildlife Sciences projects, as well as provide training for feed millers.

According to Professor Esté van Marle-Köster, Head of the Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, the primary focus of the feed mill project is to enhance the current curriculum with undergraduate exposure in related animal nutrition modules, as well as add a postgraduate qualification at MSc level in feed milling at UP. An online feed mill and animal nutrition curriculum is also part of the objectives of the facility. 

“The facility will support current animal feed-related research and open up opportunities for collaboration with [local] industry and beyond our borders. The facility is planned for UP’s Miertjie Le Roux research farm. It will also encourage interdisciplinary research, for example with Engineering and Plant and Soil Sciences,” she said.

Commenting on livestock genomics – as far as DNA is concerned in the agricultural sector – Prof Van Markle-Koster says in Western countries genomic information is widely used in livestock genomic selection. In South Africa they are still establishing training populations with sufficient genotypic and phenotypic information for beef and dairy breeds. To date, only two South African beef breeds use genomic information in selection programmes. There are other benefits such as genomic-based parentage, inbreeding control and diagnostic tests using genomic info, but genomic (DNA) testing remains relatively expensive for South African beef and dairy farmers. It is important to perform research on South African breeds for customised and more cost-efficient DNA arrays that can be used for genomic selection, parentage and traceability.    

Prof Van Marle-Köster further pointed out that the current state of the agricultural sector and food security in South Africa has been tough over the past few years for all sectors – including livestock producers – with drought in many regions of the country. The agricultural sector faces numerous challenges for growth and recovery that influences food security, especially in rural communities.

Prof Van Marle-Köster was recently bestowed the title of Gauteng Agriculturist of the Year. She received the prestigious award from The Agricultural Writers South Africa at their recent awards evening.

“Receiving an award from the agricultural industry is highly appreciated and I hope that this is a sign that as an animal scientist I am doing something worthwhile for livestock production and breeding,” she said when asked about the significance of this award.

She has been involved in teaching and research for the past 24 years and has established the focus area for genomic research in and application to farm animals at the Department. She is a pioneer in the field and was not only the first ever female president of the South African Society for Animal Science, but also the first female to serve on the Society's council (from 1999 to 2000).