The Diploma graduates from this program should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of animal health and show ability in the practical application of animal health and disease prevention in the field.
• Provide primary animal health care to emerging livestock farmers, semi-commercial farmers in the rural communities and commercial farmers.
• Perform general epidemiological surveys and minor procedures as prescribed by the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC).
• Continue to learn and equip themselves with new skills in the field of animal health, veterinary science and other related agricultural disciplines.
• Demonstrade knowledge of veterinary public health and show ability to perform primary meat inspection as meat examiners.
• Demonstrate ability to conduct TB and Br examination and testing.
• Demonstrate ability to conduct artificial insemination.
• Demonstrate professional conduct as prescribed by the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) as well as ethics in animal handling, honesty, punctuality and good client relationships.

Entry Requirements

Mode of delivery

The studies will consist of:

1. Lectures – will be given to the entire students. Teaching may be with teaching aids, demonstration animals or specimens. The essential characteristic is that there is active involvement of the students through discussions, group work ,etc. Flipping of the classroom is permitted.
2. Supervised work/ Tutorials – the teaching sessions are directed to a small group of students during which they work on their own, or as a team, or part of the theoretical work done in class, prepared from manuscripts, notes or articles.
3. Practical work- this is the teaching session where students themselves actively perform laboratory experiments, carry out dissection or necropsy, use microscopes for examination of specimens, or handle animals. The practical exposure work is formed by three components which attendance to is compulsory,
   1. Farm skills-conducted early morning or afternoon including weekends and public holidays, where students are grouped into small manageable number and assigned to different components in the farm including veterinary clinic and mobile clinic.
   2. Afternoon session –conducted during the day as per the module requirements. A combination of two or more modules into on practical session is permissible.
   3. Field edutour and outreach session which at least a minimum of two, must be conducted per semester.
4. Para- clinical work or approved Health care procedures – this means hands-on procedures by students on live animals and also procedures on cadavers to practice Para-clinical techniques. Students will not only observe the teacher doing the tasks but must be able to do it themselves and they will be evaluated and assessed on this skill. This may take place during field trips where students will visit various farms, approved veterinary laboratories and animal health clinics in order to participate in some of the activities above.