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AFMA announces Kovsie as most outstanding student in Animal Nutrition

05 November 2021 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

Andries van der Merwe was presented the Koos van der Merwe AFMA Student of the Year Award as the most outstanding final-year student in Animal Nutrition in 2021/2022.

Since childhood, a love of animals, nature, and agriculture has been instilled in Andries van der Merwe. He used to accompany his father, the local veterinarian in Postmasburg, helping where he could. “I can still vividly remember the first C-section I helped him with when I was about 12,” he says.

A few years later, Andries decided to enrol for his studies at the University of the Free State (UFS) in order to get his grades up to study veterinary medicine one day. “But when I reached my third year and started with the subject Animal Nutrition, I saw that I could make a bigger difference and contribution to the agricultural sector through nutrition. The moment I realised this, my mind was made up to study towards becoming an animal nutritionist,” he says.

Viable alternative to the excessive use of antibiotics

His master’s thesis on the use of tannins as a feed additive to increase the production efficiency of ruminants (sheep, cattle, and goats) is also looking for a viable alternative to the excessive use of antibiotics to treat certain non-specific ailments such as diarrhoea and skin diseases.

With his work having the potential to one day make a difference in the agricultural sector, as well as some encouragement from his supervisor, Dr Ockert Einkamerer, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, Andries entered and won AFMA’s Student of the Year competition.

During a virtual symposium on 18 October 2021, the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association (AFMA) presented Andries with the Koos van der Merwe AFMA Student of the Year Award as the most outstanding final-year student in Animal Nutrition in 2021/2022.

“I have no idea what could have impressed the judges”, says Andries, who competed with students from universities across South Africa.

Making a contribution to animal feeding in South Africa

“I am the second student from the UFS to win this award. Gert Daniel Jacobus Scholtz received the award in 1998 – my birth year,” says Andries.

“It is an enormous honour for me to receive this highly prestigious award. I believe that the exposure I receive due to this reward will help me to secure a position where I can make a valuable contribution to the industry much quicker,” he adds.

De Wet Boshoff, Executive Director of AFMA, commended Andries: “I wish to congratulate you on behalf of the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association (AFMA) on winning the award. I believe it will encourage you to – through further studies and your career in the future – make a contribution to animal feeding in the Republic of South Africa.”

The award consists of a certificate and a cash amount of R20 000 sponsored by AFMA.

Andries is planning on completing his master’s degree. “I am considering a PhD and a Master’s of Business Administration. The latter is to ensure that I will be a vital part of any company in the industry,” he says.

“What is meant to happen will happen … you just need to have faith,” he believes.

News Archive

Many changes for Shimlas, says new captain

2016-01-25

Description: 2016 Shimla Neil Claassen Tags: 2016 Shimla Neil Claassen
The versatile forward, Neil Claassen, will lead the Shimlas onto the field in the 2016 Varsity Cup. Photo: Johan Roux.

The University of the Free State (UFS) has a new group of rugby players, a new head coach, and a new captain.

This is how the Shimla skipper, Neil Claassen, summed up his team's approach to the 2016 Varsity Cup.

Although the UFS will start the tournament as defending champions, the 23-year-old Claassen believes that much has changed since 2015.

One of which is his appointment. The flanker, who can play lock as well, was recently appointed as Varsity Cup captain in his third series.

The former Springbok flanker, Hendro Scholtz, took over as head coach from Franco Smith, who is now the Cheetahs trainer. Mac Masina, former centre for the Lions, is a new assistant coach.

New year with more pressure

Because of all the changes, Claassen feels that the Shimlas will need a different approach to the 2016 tournament.

“There will definitely be more attention on us (as champions). However, the guys in the camp see it as a new year,” he said.

“There is pressure, but we don't focus on that too much.”

Previous leaders set example

According to Claassen, he has never before led a team for which he played.

“I didn't expect to be captain,” the former pupil of Paarl Gymnasium said.

“This is something new. I have played with good leaders like AJ (Coertzen) and Oupa (Mohoje) before, and will take forward what I have learned from them.”

He also believes that there are several senior players, such as the vice-captain, Pieter-Steyn de Wet, who will assist him in his leadership role.

Back from injury

Claassen has played Currie Cup, Vodacom Cup, U21 and U19 rugby for the Free State.

However, a knee injury kept him out of action for nine months and he missed the last three Varsity Cup matches of 2015.

He returned for a training match against the University of Johannesburg in Kroonstad on 23 January 2016. The Shimlas also played a warm-up match against the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Bethlehem on 16 January 2016.

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