VN July 2023

Vetnuus | July 2023 28 This well-known veterinarian and academic, made many inputs into the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa (RuVasa), a group that represents registered South African veterinarians and veterinary consultants in the livestock sector. He has also acted as Scientific Chair for the RuVASA Congresses in 2015 and 2016. His main focus has been the effective production, optimized health and welfare of sheep and goats in appropriate farming systems – concentrating on nutrition and parasitism. Gareth Bath qualified in 1970 and went into private practice. After a serious motor accident, he was asked to join the state diagnostic services in Middleburg; and was later put in charge of both Allerton and Vryheid diagnostic laboratories. Between 1974 and 1988, he gave lectures to Agricultural College students at Grootfontein and Cedara. Then, in 1988, the dean of the Onderstepoort Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria offered him the chair of Associate Professor in Small Stock Health and Production. As an academic, Gareth has taught veterinary students to apply preventive health and welfare, together with holistic control of ruminant diseases and parasites. In recognition of his immense contribution to higher learning in the field of Veterinary Science, he was presented with the University of Pretoria Chancellor’s Gold Medal in 2020. Prof Gareth Bath was the inaugural president of the International Sheep Veterinary Association. He has made major contributions globally to livestock health and welfare; and the viability and profitability of livestock-farming. His advice to farmers has been published locally in Veeplaas, Wool Farmer and Red Meat; and he has given interviews for television and radio programs relating to animal health and welfare. Over time he has received many awards for his contribution to veterinary science and the livestock sector; so it is fitting that he should receive the prestigious RuVasa Faffa Malan award in 2023. CHERYL M E MCCRINDLE Prof. Gareth Francis Bath qualified as a veterinarian at the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria in 1970 and began his career as a private practitioner. Following a serious motor accident in 1971, four months after he qualified, he joined the State Agricultural research farm in Middleburg, Cape. While working there, he recovered physically, met his future wife and married. His early research showed that urolithiasis in rams, was caused by excessive dietary phosphates, leading to a radical change in commercial livestock feed formulation. In 1981 he was promoted to head the diagnostic laboratory at Allerton in Pietermaritzburg and in 1987 became Assistant Director, with retention of his laboratory post; but was also put in charge of Vryheid Veterinary Laboratory. This early experience in laboratory diagnostics, contributed to his focus on a holistic approach to livestock health, welfare and production. After his appointment in 1988, as Associate Professor in Small Stock Health and Production, veterinary students were taught that animal welfare was an integral part of animal health, as well as production and profitability. Between 1998 and 2013, he represented Higher Education, South Africa (HESA), as an advisor to the Red Meat Research and Development Trust. In 2019, he became Faculty Representative for the Livestock Welfare Coordinating Committee (LWCC), introducing and codifying approaches to painful on-farm procedures like castration, marking, mulesing and tail docking. In the same year he was promoted to Full Professor and Head of Department/Section Veterinary Production and Ethology. After retirement in 2010, he was retained as an Emeritus Professor. During his academic career, he produced 45 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals or books; and 93 scientific publications in other journals or proceedings. The main focus of his research and publications was effective production, as well as optimized health and welfare of sheep and goats in appropriate farming systems – specifically concentrating on nutrition and parasitism. During his career, Prof Gareth Bathwas involved inmajor international projects involving parasite control and disease management in ruminants, including being Regional Representative for the Commonwealth Veterinary Association. He also obtained funding from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); and the European Union (EU PARASOL project). In 2000, he became an International Coordinator for Dr Faffa Malan’s FAMACHA© system, the Five Point Check, Big Five and WurmFundi, in partnership with the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control. His organizational and management skills, resulted in Gareth Bath’s election to important regional, national and International bodies. In 1971 he became a member of the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) Eastern and Cape Karoo Branch, then was later made Secretary / Treasurer. He was active in the Natal (KZN) Branch between 1981 and 1994, moving up to Vice-Chair, then Chairperson. During the same period, he was elected onto the Federal Council of the SAVA, becoming, in turn, Vice-president (1990-93) and then President (1993-1996). Between 1983 and 1993, he also served as a Trustee, Vice-chair, and then Chairperson of the South African Veterinary Foundation. Gareth was also an advisor for the South African Wool Board and National Woolgrowers’ Association, who presented him with a Merit Award in 2001. Over the years, he was presented with numerous local and international awards for his work, including the 2020 Global Animal Welfare Award by the World Veterinary Association (WVA). In 2021, he was also presented with the Agricultural Writers’ Gauteng Award, as well as the National Agriculturist of the Year Award. v Professor Gareth Bath nominated for the RuVasa Faffa Malan Award in 2023 Awards