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Led
by Senior Manager Research, Dr Misheck Mulumba and a management team of
highly qualified research managers, the Animal Health and Protection Division of the ARC has a
long tradition of veterinary research since its founding in 1908 by
Sir Arnold Theiler. It is nationally and internationally recognized as a veterinary centre of excellence.
The ARC-OVR plays an important role in
maintaining the health of our national herd and wildlife. The Institute
focuses on executing veterinary research to improve existing vaccines,
diagnostic products and to develop new ones; diagnostic services for enhanced
disease prevention, control and surveillance (which plays a significant role in
maintaining the required animal health status and trade in animals and animal
products in South Africa and the region) and producing foot and mouth disease
and blood vaccines. The campus provides scientific support for Veterinary
Services in effective risk management for quality of life for all in South
Africa. It strives to be a world-class veterinary research institute in
providing scientific support. Research activities focus on the development and
improvement of vaccines and diagnostic tests, applying the latest molecular
biological techniques. The Institute promotes animal health and welfare by
providing an effective and efficient diagnostic service and producing vaccines
against Foot and mouth and tick-borne diseases. The ARC-OVR is a collaborating
centre for both the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) surveillance and
control of animal diseases in Africa and the Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO) of the United Nations for the emergency preparedness for transboundary
animal diseases for Africa. It also hosts seven OIE reference laboratories
for economically important viral diseases namely: African horse sickness,
bluetongue, Foot and mouth disease, lumpy skin disease, Rift valley fever,
rabies and African swine fever. We provide a wide range of applied research and
consultancy, diagnosis and surveillance on livestock diseases to the National
and Provincial Government and commercial customers.
This campus maintains a high standard of quality in
all aspects of our operations and we continuous aim to satisfy our customers in
all services we deliver. Our staff performs laboratory procedures in accordance
with the best scientific principles. We are committed to implement the most
appropriate international standards in all areas of our work. Research
Programmes at the ARC-OVR include Epidemiology Vectors and Parasites, Vaccines
and Diagnostics Development, Public Health and Zoonoses, Vaccine Production and
Diagnostics Services. Services provided by the Institute include Diagnostic Services; Training and
Supply Shop and Special Services.
For more information about the ARC-OVR contact the Campus's Public Relations Office on +27 12 529 9446, alternatively email
NtshaubaM@arc.agric.za or call switchboard on +27 12 529 9111 or email
info-ovi@arc.agric.za.
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Led by General Manager, Professor Norman Maiwashe and a management team of vastly qualified and well-known research managers in the livestock industry, the Animal Production Campus based in Irene, with several satellite stations strategically positioned throughout the country, conducts primary and secondary research, development and technology transfer. The Campus' strategic focus is guided by the strategic goals of the Agricultural Research Council and national priorities (e.g. National Development Plan, The National Livestock Strategy, The Land and Agriculture Reform Programme, The National Research and Development Strategy).
The research and development activities are coordinated through the following disciplines: Animal Breeding and Genetics, Germplasm Conservation and Reproductive Biotechnology, Nutrition, Rangeland Science and Forage Ecology, Dairy and Meat Science. To be effective, the research and development initiatives are increasing adopting multi-disciplinary approaches e.g. climate change research. While the research primarily focused on livestock, new industries such as aquaculture and wildlife are receiving attention.
In addition, the Campus serves as the custodian of national assets such as the conservation of animal, forage and bacterial culture collection genetic resources, including databases and DNA banks associated with them. The Campus focuses on developing technologies to improve the quality of animals and developing genetic and physiological methods to identify and study superior livestock breeding material in order to improve the efficiency and production of the national herd; promoting animal production through improved nutrition, holistic and integrated land-use strategies, and sustainable livestock and rangeland management systems. The following analytical services are available to clients from both private and public sector: food and feed composition analysis, microbiological analysis, shelf life studies, sensory evaluation, national genetic evaluation, parentage verification, DNA forensics and semen evaluation.
The Animal Production campus has an established network for
information dissemination through its Animal Recording and Improvement Schemes
and associated database (e.g. Integrated Registration and Genetic Information System - INTERGIS)
managed by the Campus on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries. In response to the urgent need for improved access to agricultural
technology and expertise by smallholder farmers, the Campus has implemented a
special-purpose vehicle called Kaonafatso Ya Dikgomo to fast-tract meaningful
participation of this category of farmers in the mainstream economy.
For more information about the Animal Production
Campus contact the division's Public Relations Office on +27 12 672
9391 alternatively email ULecuona@arc.agric.za
or call switchboard on +27 12 672 9111.
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