Speaker Biographies
Dr A Maiwashe
PhD
(Animal Breeding & Genetics, CSU
General Manager of the ARC
Prof Maiwashe is employed as a General Manager of the ARC Animal Production Campus. He holds a PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics from Colorado State University in the USA. Prof Maiwashe is rated by the NRF as an established researcher. His research focuses on development of selection tools applicable to breeding of efficient and profitable livestock. Most of the selection tools developed from his research have been adopted by the livestock industry and are widely used by farmers in their breeding programmes. Prof Maiwashe is passionate about training of students at post-graduate level. He has produced numerous MSc and PhD students to date. Prof Maiwashe is a member of the following professional entities: South African Society for Animal Science and South African Council for Scientific Professions
Dr S Mbizeni
BVMCh, MSc
Senior Lecturer, Agriculture & Animal health, UNISA
Dr Sikhumbuzo Mbizeni is the Senior lecturer in the University of South Africa (UNISA) in the Department of Agriculture and Animal Health. He holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMCh) from MEDUNSA and MSc in Veterinary Science from the University of Pretoria. His research interest is on the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases. He is currently enrolled for a PhD degree with the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Work experience and affiliations: He worked as the field State Veterinarian for 13 years in KwaZulu-Natal. He then joined the Directorate: Animal Health (DAFF) as the Deputy Director for Disease Control and subsequently worked for ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research as the Senior Research Veterinarian. He is also an executive member of Southern African Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine (SASVEPM).
Dr G Whitelaw
PhD. Archaeology
KwaZulu Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg
Dr Gavin Whitelaw will be presenting on the archaeological evidence on the early farmers of KZN. Gavin Whitelaw was a BSc student at Wits University from 1981, with majors in archaeology and zoology. He postgraduate studies were in archaeology. In 1986 he moved to Natal where he ran the archaeological rescue project during the construction of Inanda Dam, focusing on the settlement remains of African farmers of the first millennium AD. Since then he has been at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg, where he continues his research into African farmers of the past 1800 years. Many of us will remember Gavin as a presenter in the TV documentary: Shoreline
Jackie Tucker
MSc Animal Science (Nutrition)
(Enrolled for MBA) Animal Science Consultant
Through relationships, partnerships, dedication, and passion, I believe we can continue to build a very successful livestock industry in Southern Africa. By making economically driven decisions and focusing on taking care of people, we can optimize performance and therefore ensure sustainable production and contribute to feeding the world’s growing population.
I am passionate about animal science student mentorship and education as well as gender and skills diversity and excellence.
Qualifications:
MSc Animal Science (Nutrition Science), UP
Currently completing MBA, Henley Business School-Africa
Experience:
Ruminant Team Lead, Chemuniqué (Pty) Ltd (2009 – 2021) Product Manager, Virbac RSA (2005-2009)
Industry Involvement:
Chairperson of the AFMA Technical committee
Founding member of LASSA (Ladies in Animal Science South Africa).
Member of SASAS
Dr N Duncan
BVSc. BVSc (Hons) Master of Vet Medicine (Aves)
diplomate American College of Veterinary Pathologist, Registered as double specialist with SAVC in fields of Poultry and Veterinary Pathology.
For the last 35 years I have worked as a consultant to the poultry industry in South Africa, SADC, and even the DRC and Egypt in the fields of broiler breeders, hatcheries and broilers, pullet rearing and commercial layers with emphasis on disease diagnostics, prevention, and control. International Associations I am a member of the American Association of Avian Pathologist
Dr FV Nherera-Chokuda
PhD, cornell
University
Principal Natural scientists Acting CEO NERPO & Director of the Red Meat Industry Transformation & Enterprise Development NPC
Dr FV Nherera-Chokuda is the Acting CEO of National Emergent Redmeat Producers Organization (NERPO) and Director of the Redmeat Industry Transformation & Enterprise Development NPC. Over the past three decades, Dr Florence has been contributing to development of the smallholder livestock sector through partnership with reputable national and research institutions in the SADC region, Africa Union-International Bureau for Animal Genetic Resources and other CGIAR partners eg the Rockefeller Foundation program on African Agriculture Development and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and universities. Her work is interdisciplinary with specific focus on sustainable livestock production and management of the natural resources. She also serves in national and regional capacity building programs (mentorship and training) while addressing issues of gender inequalities in agriculture development. Dr Florence continues to contribute to capacity building through her engagements in postgraduate training She currently oversees implementation of the Land Development Support program on commercialization of livestock production through the “DALRRD STIMULUS program”. She also serves as an expert on regional bodies serving the region and national committees. She is a long serving council member of the grassland society of Southern Africa and civic bodies.
Dr Jean Rust
MSc, University Stellenbosch
PhD, University of the Free State, South Africa
He previously held a senior scientist/ management position at the South African Agricultural Research Council. Dr Rust still practices as an assisted reproduction specialist but his research interest has shifted to developing agriculture with a special focus on the development of alternative livestock production systems for commercial, smallholder and subsistence farmers.
Johan Zietsman
BSc Agric Animal Sciences
Johann Zietsman studied at the University of Pretoria under Professor Jan Bonsma, and graduated with a BSc Agric in Animal Science in the early 1970s. He then he started farming in Zimbabwe. His knowledge combines almost 30 years of extensive research and personal experience as a hands-on cattleman. He is currently based in Chinhoyi in Zimbabwe where he runs his consultancy. He regularly travels to South Africa, other parts of Africa and the world to help cattle farmers – or “ranchers” – achieve optimal veld management and cattle production and achieve maximum, sustainable profit per hectare. Johann now farms in Zambia and for thelast 10 years have been spent consulting in the USA and Latin America (mainly Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador).
Johann recently published his book ‘Man, Cattle and Veld’. It’s a practical and possibly controversial narrative that inspires cattle farmers to critically access conventional practices, be innovative and increase production by 50%. He believes that institutions and research centres need to be transformed into innovative, model ranches for 21st century, that focus on developing and testing sustainable methods of cattle production and veld restoration.
Johann has the highest regard for deep-thinking, innovative cattle and veld pioneers across a range of approaches, such as Bonsma, the United States’ Beefmaster pioneer, Tom Lasater, South Africa’s father of veld, John Acocks, and holistic management practitioners Stan Parsons and Alan Savory. Johann was greatly influence by Bonsma’s thinking – and considers him and Lasater to be “the greatest cattlemen of our time”.
In Johann’s view, successful cattle farming is all about keeping your eyes open, being observant of your own cattle, your own veld and your own wallet to see what works for you. There are so many perceptions dressed up as facts that mislead farmers and block common sense from prevailing. The problem with common sense is that it is not so common.
Dr J Roche
PhD Animal
Nutrition
Masters (Farm Systems and Pasture Management) PhD Animal Nutrition | Chief Science Adviser to New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industrie,
John was appointed Chief Science Adviser to New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries in June 2018 to provide independent and strategic science advice to the Director-General and to provide leadership in the wider ministry science areas. He leads the organisation’s Science Forum, which works to promote MPI’s scientific expertise. John also Chairs the independent Mycoplasma bovis Strategic Science Advisory Group, set up to help accelerate eradication, and the Kauri Dieback Strategic Science Advisory Group, which focuses on the science needed to protect New Zealand’s iconic Kauri tree. He is also an Adjunct Professor in University of Auckland’s, School of Biological Sciences.
John has an Honours degree in Agricultural Science, a Masters in Farm Systems and Pasture Management, and a PhD in Animal Nutrition. He was previously DairyNZ’s Principal Scientist for Animal Science. He’s also held science appointments with the National Centre for Dairy Production Research in Ireland, the Department of Primary Industries in Australia, and the University of Tasmania. He is also Managing Director of Down to Earth Advice Ltd.
His research specialties include the role of nutrition in health, reproduction, and production, and he has led programmes in genotype x environment interactions, mineral nutrition, intake regulation, and body condition score. He has published more than 160 peer-reviewed science journal articles and book chapters and is a regular contributor at both science and farming conferences across the world.
Dr M MacNiel
PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics
BS in agriculture, Cornell University MS in animal science, Montana State University PhD in animal breeding and genetics
Dr. Michael MacNeil received his BS in agriculture from Cornell University in 1974, MS in animal science from Montana State University in 1978, and PhD in animal breeding and genetics from South Dakota State University in 1982. From 1980 until 1988, he worked at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center at Clay Center, NE as statistician and research animal scientist in the production systems unit. Dr. MacNeil then transferred to Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory at Miles City, MT where he served as research geneticist and led the Line 1 Hereford breeding program. After retiring from USDA Agricultural Research Service in December 2011, he founded Delta G to continue working in quantitative genetics, statistics, and systems analysis with breed associations, private industry and government research organizations, both domestically and internationally. He is author or coauthor of more than 180 articles appearing in the refereed scientific literature and this work has been cited more than 4200 times. Dr. MacNeil has been awarded the Continuing Service and Pioneer Awards by the Beef Improvement Federation and the Rockefeller-Prentice Animal Breeding Award by the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS). He was named a Distinguished Alumnus of South Dakota State University for his outstanding professional achievements in 2010 and an honorary member of the South African Society for Animal Science in 2012. In 2017, he was named a Research Fellow of the ASAS
Dewald Olivier
(LLB) (MBA) (M.Inst. D)
Executive Officer of the SAFA
Dr. Dewald Olivier (LLB)(MBA)(M.Inst.D) currently the Executive Officer of the South African Feedlot Association (SAFA) His motto in life is that everything stands on relationships. Whether you are in agriculture, construction, finance, retail or sport or whatever industry. Relationships are the building blocks of success and success is harnessing your relationships to create mutual value.