North-West University’s Dale Bieghle Animal Health Centre is improving access to animal healthcare for local communities while giving students the practical experience they need to serve South Africa’s agricultural sector.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor of African Farming
The Dale Bieghle Animal Health Centre on the Mahikeng Campus of North-West University has become an important link between academic training and community service.
The centre is a practical training facility where animal health students gain hands-on experience before entering the workplace. At the same time, it offers vaccinations, surgery, diagnostic services, disease prevention programmes and animal health outreach to farmers and surrounding communities where access to veterinary support is limited.
Prof. Simon Letsoalo, director of the School of Agricultural Sciences, says these services have made the centre a strategic community resource. “It strengthens livestock productivity, improves companion animal welfare, enhances public health and supports sustainable agricultural development across North West province.”
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Supporting farmers and training future professionals
Beyond treating livestock and pets, the centre’s work includes disease surveillance, vaccination campaigns, parasite control, reproductive support, nutritional guidance and biosecurity advice for farmers. These services help reduce disease outbreaks while supporting livestock production and rural livelihoods.
The centre also contributes to public health by monitoring diseases that can spread between animals and people, such as rabies and ringworm. Prof. Letsoalo says this supports the One Health* approach, which recognises the connection between animal, human and environmental health.
“Healthy livestock translate directly into improved household income, food security and rural livelihoods, making the centre an important contributor to agricultural development in the province.”
The centre also plays a leading role in training animal health technicians. Students gain practical experience in clinical diagnosis, surgery, laboratory diagnostics, farm consultations, disease investigations and community outreach.
This prepares graduates for careers in government veterinary services, research institutions, the livestock industry and private practice.
Prof. Letsoalo says this practical training responds to South Africa’s need for skilled animal health professionals, particularly in rural and agricultural communities. “Students graduate work-ready because they have already gained practical experience in diagnosing diseases, handling animals, conducting farm visits and working directly with livestock owners. This strengthens veterinary capacity while improving the services available to communities.”
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Expanding services and building for the future
The university’s long-term vision is to establish a fully accredited school of veterinary sciences that will contribute to South Africa’s animal health, food security and One Health priorities.
“Our vision is to establish Africa’s leading centre of excellence in animal health sciences through innovative education, research, advanced clinical services and community engagement, while working towards the establishment of a school of veterinary sciences,” Prof. Letsoalo says.
* One Health is a global approach that is coordinated jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
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