Faculty Day of the amalgamated Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria reflects a proud tradition, which had been nurtured by the original Faculties of Veterinary Science of both Medunsa and the University of Pretoria, of advertising the research activities of staff and students on a special, dedicated occassion. Since the inception of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Medunsa in the early 1980s, the staff, and later students, were involved in the activities of the "Academic Day" which aimed at highlighting the research activities of the University as well as exposing young researchers to a conference environment. The Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort followed this trend shortly thereafter and the first "Faculty Day", which focused on the research activities of the faculty, was held on 5 September 1984, sponsored by the then Dean, Prof JMW le Roux. The combined research skills of the two original institutions are today reflected in the proceedings of the Faculty Day held each year in the spring at the Onderstepoort campus.

The Dean of the Faculty, Prof Gerry Swan (left) and Prof N James MacLachlan, Distinguished Professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California during Faculty Day 2012. Prof MacLachlan delivered the Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture entitled "Emerging viral diseases; the example of bluetongue, from Theiler to climate change".