A recent collaborative effort between the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science and the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) resulted in the successful identifying, aging, and vaccination of 176 cattle.

The farmer’s day that took place on 26 November 2024 in Mathibestad in the Bojanala District in the North West province is part of a programme committed to the upliftment of communal and emerging farmers. RMIS provided assistance at the event with their Mobile Processing Unit (MPU), which was able to support tagging, aging and vaccination. 

The Mobile Processing Unit which has a body crush and neck clamp, tag scanner and electronic scale, among others, represents a breakthrough in livestock management. Designed to provide farmers with essential livestock services on-site, the MPU is a fully equipped mobile facility that supports tagging, branding, dehorning, and vaccinating livestock, all while adhering to the necessary high standards of biosecurity and animal welfare.

The faculty sponsored the vaccines and medication; lumpy skin, supavax and ivermectin medication was administered to each animal. The event’s overall success was demonstrated by the fact that the 176 cattle seen and treated was above the limit of 150 cattle a day.

Dr Andy Hentzen, line manager in the Production Animal Clinic (PAC) of the faculty’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) under which patronage the outreach was conducted commended the collaboration between the two institutions. “It was a pleasure to work with a very efficient and helpful RMIS team”, he said. 

The university team consisted of Dr Aishwyria Nair, Sindisiwe Mashinini (Animal Health Technician), and students Rachelle Warren; Ndumiso Sishakhane; Kreshalia Ephraim; Nikyle Singh; Bokang Kekana; Marli Swart; Hannah Jhavary, and Rachel Welsh. RMIS was represented by Khomotso Mashiolane and Mlungisi Ntombela (both Livestock Technical Advisors) while community leader William Matjebe organised the community herds to reach the target of 150 cattle. His students (agriculture learnerships) were of great help in herding the cattle.

For a video of the farmer’s day please click here https://youtu.be/cHMFywk6zwk

For more photos click here  Photos of FVS and RMIS farmer's day