23 April 2024
Dr Faffa Malan was one of 1 500 delegates who attended the recent international veterinary congress in Cape Town. And the message he wants to convey to farmers is: “Don’t farm without your veterinarian. Collaborate on plans to prevent and control diseases.”
Veterinarians and other stakeholders in the industry from about 48 countries attended the congress from 16-19 April at Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Doc Faffa, as he’s affectionately known in the agricultural industry, says the South African Veterinary Association, in collaboration with the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa (RuVASA), compiled the programme so that every farmer could learn something from it.
The congress is held annually to provide veterinarians across all disciplines with the opportunity to come together to explore the challenges they face, not only regarding the health and welfare of animals but also the environment.
Prof Shabbir Simjee, chairperson of Elanco Animal Health in Britain and an expert in microbiology and the national antimicrobial programme, said farmers and veterinarians cannot be blamed for antibiotic resistance. Rather, it is due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in the medical professions.
“We discussed the importance of biosecurity and the need for everyone to work together to prevent outbreaks and not to buy suspicious animals,” says Malan.
According to him, veterinarians also engaged in debates at the congress to establish a uniform protocol for tackling trichomoniasis among bulls.
Prof Gareth Bath, chairperson of the coordinating committee for animal welfare, also addressed groups on the impact of internal parasites on crops and emphasised the importance of implementing pasture management practices.
