Dr Linde du Toit, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Pretoria, was recently awarded a bronze medal for his PhD thesis at the 51st South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) Congress. Dr Josef van Wyngaard, an alumnus of the Department, also received the 2018 bronze medal for his thesis at the same event.

Because this year’s event was a combined congress for 2018 and 2019, the presentation of the 2018 and 2017 bronze medals took place this year.

Dr Du Toit’s thesis was titled "Mitigation of enteric methane emissions from ruminants in sub-tropical production systems" and focused on aspects of animal nutrition and pasture science, with the emphasis on the environmental impact of ruminant production systems.

"I really appreciate the award and it is an honour that my research is recognised by my peers in academia and industry," he said.

Dr Du Toit is actively involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in animal production, management and nutrition. His research focuses on the environmental impact of livestock production systems and the sustainable intensification of such systems to improve food security in the sub-Saharan region of Africa.

He is a member of the South African Society for Animal Science, the South African Association of Professional Animal Scientists and the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, as well as a board member of the northern branch of the South African Society for Animal Sciences.

Dr Du Toit is an associate editor for the African Journal of Range and Forage Science since 2018 and was the editor of the AFMA Matrix from 2016 to 2018. He also won the David Uys Trophy for the best publication in the South African Journal for Animal Science by a SASAS member during 2013. He has published 11 articles in peer-reviewed journals, contributed three book chapters and made nine conference contributions.