Abstract:
Biography of Dieter Osterhoff, animal scientist and geneticist. The biography includes information about his education and career, scientific contributions and writings, homages and distinctions. He established a blood group laboratory at Onderstepoort to study blood groups of cattle, sheep and horses, concentrating initially on cattle and providing a routine paternity determining service to the South African Studbook Association and the National Performance-testing Scheme for registration and performance testing purposes of young stud bulls. In due course this watchdog genetic service was extended to include local AI and embryo-transfer initiatives and given statutory status by its incorporation into the Livestock Improvement Act (Act No 25 of 1977).
