Dr Mark Chimes is a qualified South African veterinarian (Onderstepoort, Univ of Pretoria, 1986) with over 40 years of experience specialising in dairy herd health, welfare and biosecurity. As manager of Milk SA’s Animal Health & Welfare programme and a Dairy Standard Agency dairy parlour auditor, he focuses on disease control, milk quality and hygiene, good agricultural practices and animal welfare.
Key Areas of Expertise and Activity:
- Milk SA Animal Health and Welfare Programme manager:
Appointed in 2022 to lead programs focusing on dairy cattle health and welfare.
- Dairy Standards Agency of SA (DSA), auditor and veterinary advisor:
Appointed in 2016. Audits dairy parlour on behalf of the DSA for issues related to dairy quality, health, and hygiene. Assist the DSA with inputs on any legislation that impacts the dairy industry.
- Foot and Mouth Disease:
Appointed to the Ministerial Task Team on Controlled Diseases. Actively advises on FMD protocols, biosecurity and the impact of restrictions on dairy farming.
- Dairy Cattle Health Advisor:
Special interests in managing brucellosis, udder health, somatic cell counts and responsible antibiotic use. Chairman of the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Steering Committee.
- Industry speaker and author:
Writes articles for the popular press and speaks at farmer days and conferences on dairy health and welfare. Editor of the Veterinary Ruminant Health and Production Review magazine.
- Represents the dairy industry:
Serves on several committees representing the interests of the dairy industry, including the Livestock Welfare Coordinating Committee, SAVA, RUVASA, SABS Working Group on SANS regulations, Antimicrobial Alliance, China Export Task Team, etc.
- The International Dairy Federation:
Represents South Africa on the Animal Health and Welfare Standing Committee and Farmers’ Roundtable of the IDF
