2011 Speakers
Mr Lee Leachman is co-founder and chief executive of Leachman Cattle of Colorado, USA. He holds an economics degree from Harvard University. His operation markets over 1,000 bulls including Angus, Red Angus, Stabilizer Composites, Charolais, and Simmental. The Leachman name has been synonymous with quality seedstock for three generations.
Mr Ian Crook is the National General Manager of Pick ‘n Pay Butcheries. Under his leadership Pick ‘n Pay has markedly improved its quality of beef produced in their stores. Pick ‘n Pay sells over 60 000 tons of meat annually.
Prof Frikkie Neser is a full professor at the Department of Animal, Grassland and Wildlife Sciences of the University of the Free State. Prof Neser is the author (co) of over two hundred and thirty scientific and popular publications in national and international journals. He has an active involvement in industry matters.
Dr Andrew Magadlela is the General Manager of the ARC at the Agricultural Research Institute of the Agricultural Research Council. The ARC is Africa’s Premier Research institute. Dr Magadlela holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh in Animal Production.
Martin Seyfferdt is head of the South African Interbreed Judge Committee and a leading cattle judge in Southern Africa. He has been invited to judge internationally on numerous occasions
Mr Thys Meyer is a cattle farmer with a sound knowledge of the practical implication of modern breeding technology in a breeding enterprise. His area of speciality is the composition of selection indexes.
Dr Rick Mapham is the senior partner at Veterinary House cc, in Pietermaritzburg. Dr Mapham has had extensive experience in the livestock industry having managed farms in the Eastern Cape, owned an animal feed manufacturing company and, having a special interest in production animal medicine, currently consults for certain South African Feedlots.
Mr Wolf Edmayr is the CEO of BKB with a broad client base. BKB’s business entails the handling and marketing of a variety of agricultural products.
“BKB the home of Agriculture.”
Dr Roger Hunsley was inducted into the prestigious USA Livestock Breeders Hall of Fame. He has written numerous books on livestock breeding and has judged beef cattle shows throughout USA, Canada, Australia and South America. His book “Livestock Judging, Selection and Evaluation” is used as a set work book in many countries throughout the world. Dr Hunsley is currently involved as a livestock consultant for several large cattle breeders in the USA.
Dr Chris van Dijk is a veterinary specialist in Bovine health with specific interest concerning beef cattle, dairy and feedlot. He is Group Manager: Livestock Veterinary Operations, Marketing and Regulatory affairs at 'Pfizer Animal Health. He is responsible for Herd Health TV programmes on SABC and other television and radio stations.
Dr Vlok Ferreira is National Technical Manager at Molatek Animal Feeds. He has a strong interest in ruminant nutrition and management systems. He has written numerous articles in the agricultural media and has been responsible for product quality and performance.
Prof Kevin Kirkman (Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal) has a special interest in Pasture Science, in particular Veld Management and is co-author of a book on Veld Management. His area of expertise is the practical application of Veld Management systems.
Mr Peter Milton is an animal scientist by training and the owner of a veterinary company that sells dehorning, tattooing and branding products.
Mr Francois de Chalain is with Taltec and will teach farmers on the practicalities regarding the handling of cattle and kraal set-up.
Dr. Morné de la Rey is Director and Veterinarian of the largest embryo centre in Africa, Embryo Plus. He specializes in Embryo Transfers, semen collection and AI in cattle and has been involved with exports of embryos to places around the world like Australia, Canada, USA, South America and the rest of Africa. Embryo Plus achieved a lot of fame in 2003 when they were involved with the cloning of the first calf (Futhi) in Africa.
Mr John Devonport is the Principle of a large auditing and financial firm and is an expert on financial planning. Mr Devonport will teach producers how to set up a simple business plan and examine financial indicators in a beef herd in a language the farmer will understand. Mister Devonport himself is a successful beef producer.
Dr Munro Marx is the C.E.O of Unistel Genetic Laboratories and is an expert on the practical application of DNA in the herd. Unistel is South Africa’s premium provider of DNA percentage and genetic marker services in South Africa.
Me Estelle van Reenen is the C.E.O of SPARTA Beef. SPARTA is a leading supplier of beef products in South Africa. The business comprises a cattle feedlot, farming concern, abattoir and meat processing plant. Estelle will describe beef production from producer to consumer.
Dr Langa Simela is Project Manager: Farmer Support and Youth Development as well as an Executive Director at Nerpo. She represents the emerging livestock farmers in South Africa. She is a scientist by training and is very interested in community development of emerging beef producers to become more commercially orientated.
Mr JP Landman is a self-employed political and trend analyst. His focus areas are trends in politics, economics, social capital and the interplay of demographics and economic growth.
