Faculty engages small-scale farmers as part of its Feedlot Challenge

Abstract

It is well-established that emerging economies can address many challenges, including skewed income distribution and poverty alleviation, by engaging the so-called base of the pyramid and securing their access to the economy. Add to this the challenge of food safety and security for an expanding human population and declining natural resources, and the challenges become poignantly relevant and crucial in importance. Against this background, and fulfilling its objective of being socially responsive and locally relevant, the Department of Production Animal Studies in the Faculty of Veterinary Science invited emerging small-scale feedlot farmers from surrounding communities to participate in the ongoing annual Feedlot Challenge taking place at the faculty among 5th year student groups. The Feedlot Challenge is scheduled to end on 24 May this year. The purpose is to ensure that 5th year veterinary students “pay it forward” by engaging with the community through exposing and training the small-scale feedlot farmers on the operations and dynamics of modern feedlot systems.