Introduction to AI and PD Combined Course
2026-07-27 - 2026-07-31, 2026-08-17 - 2026-08-21, 2026-09-07 - 2026-09-11, 2026-10-05 - 2026-10-09
The Artificial Insemination Course and Pregnancy Diagnosis (PD) Course, as well as an additional day of shadowing on a working dairy and visiting an abattoir to learn about the full life cycle of cattle within commercial farms.
Course Length: 5 days
Student Maximum: 8 per course (including those booked in the 2-day courses on the same dates)
Dustcoats and gumboots will be provided for all students to use for the duration of the course.

Introduction to Pregnancy Diagnosis
2026-07-30 - 2026-07-31, 2026-08-20 - 2026-08-21, 2026-09-10 - 2026-09-11, 2026-10-08 - 2026-10-09
Run by an AI and Reproduction Specialist and certified inseminator, students will learn the theory and practical aspects of both manual and ultrasound pregnancy testing of cattle.
Course Length: 2 days
Student Maximum: 8 per course
Unit includes:
Theory – reproduction

Determining pregnancy in cattle
Importance of inter-calf period
Dry- & fresh cow management

Hormones involved in getting & keeping a cow pregnant
Practical

Palpating reproductive organs
Detection of early pregnancy
Ultrasound scanning for the foetus between 60 and 80 days
Feeling for late pregnancy to determine dry off

Animal Husbandry (specific to breeding health)

Dairy Classification and Body Condition Scores (PennState BCS module)
Calf Management
Genetic Classifications, including farm application
Phenotype traits and application for breeding and showing
Farm visits – differences in facilities and calf rearing management

The completion of this course requires the passing of a written exam.
Dustcoats and gumboots will be provided for all students to use for the duration of the course.

Introduction to Animal Husbandry
2026-07-31 - 2026-08-07, 2026-08-21 - 2026-08-28, 2026-09-11 - 2026-09-18, 2026-10-09 - 2026-10-16
Run by both a Reproduction Specialist and a local cattle farmer, this is a practical course to aims to give students hands-on experience with cattle on a working dairy farm. As calves are one of the major reasons for large vet call-outs, this course focuses on cows and calves and maintaining their overall health through all stages of life in both dairy and cattle farming. Many of these practices can also be applied to other species as well.
It includes units in calf wellness and rearing, dairy judging, nutrition, and practical activities with animals each day.
Course Length: 6 days (Friday + Monday – Friday the following week)
Student Maximum: 10 students
Unit includes:
Calf wellness and rearing

Calf rearing and health practices
Farm visits (viewing different calf housing and systems)
Common illnesses and treatments
Biosecurity

Introduction to Dairy Judging and Phenotype Selection

Dairy trait selection
Practical – physical judging exam on cows and heifers
Body Condition Scores

Nutrition

Hosted by a nutrition specialist
Cattle nutrition requirements
Feed mixing

The completion of this course requires the passing of a written exam.
Dustcoats and gumboots will be provided for all students to use for the duration of the course.
The Animal Husbandry Course requires an additional day; to make things easier, we’ve adjusted the pricing so that the cost for this day is simply moved from a PreVet day to the Animal Husbandry Course. This means they will not be charged twice. Due to the required starting day being a Friday, students must arrive for their PreVet week on the Monday before their Animal Husbandry course. Additional weeks can be either before or after these dates. The last day of Introduction to Pregnancy Diagnosis is combined with the Animal Husbandry Course, so if a student wishes to book both courses, they are still able to do so.

PreVet Programme
2026-08-03 - 2026-08-09, 2026-08-10 - 2026-08-16, 2026-08-17 - 2026-08-23, 2026-08-24 - 2026-08-30, 2026-08-31 - 2026-09-06, 2026-09-07 - 2026-09-13, 2026-09-14 - 2026-09-20, 2026-09-21 - 2026-09-27 and 6 more dates
This programme provides students with a comprehensive African veterinary experience that builds both practical knowledge and a standout resume. The program is structured around three key areas: Small Animal Practice, Large Animal Practice, and Wildlife and Game Capture.
Small Animal Practice is divided into two components: Clinic and Community Outreach.

Community Outreach
Conducted in rural areas, this aspect is one of the most important, as South Africa has a large split in terms of socio economics, and as such, many people cannot afford to help their animals when it comes to their health. Safari4u visits townships regularly to assist in anti-parasite treatment (dipping and dosing), wound care, community education on handling and treatment of pets and animals, and follow-up treatments as needed.
Clinic Work
Done on a case-by-case basis and may involve observing a vet in the treatment of an animal under the care of our charity, East Coast Animal Care, or laboratory work, such as learning about microscope work through faecal floats, stains, etc. Lectures relevant to clinical work may also be hosted for topics such as Southern African diseases, suturing, CPR, and more.

Large Animal Practice involves the livestock and large animal aspect of veterinary work with animals. It includes working on commercial farms and in rural outreach areas. Animals such as cattle (beef and dairy), goats, sheep, pigs and horses are covered, and activities include dosing for endo- and ecto-parasites, artificial insemination, and pregnancy testing. Most of the work is done under the supervision of the farmer and our qualified staff, but if veterinarians are needed, they are either the farmer’s personal veterinarian or provided by the programme.
Wildlife and Game Capture consists of opportunities such as game captures, use of dart guns, darting with anti-parasitic drugs, wildlife identification, wildlife treatment, game counts, and captive animal care, including visits to captive facilities where students are given further lessons on handling (if appropriate), rescue and rehabilitation, husbandry, and common health issues of exotic animals and pets. During game captures immobilisation, sedation, and transport of African Wildlife is covered and controlled by a veterinarian. This component also brings forth issues such as conservation, captive animals, hunting, and the Five Freedoms.
Our programme has weekends free to explore the local area. All of our staff have travelled around the area, so if there is a particular activity you’re interested in, chat to us and we can recommend more. If you are continuing your travels, we can also recommend things further afield.

Artificial Insemination Course
2026-08-17 - 2026-08-18, 2026-09-07 - 2026-09-08, 2026-10-05 - 2026-10-06, 2026-11-02 - 2026-11-03
Run by an AI and Reproduction Specialist and certified inseminator, students will be guided through the process of artificial insemination (AI) with both theory and practical experience.
Course Length: 2 days
Student Maximum: 8 per course
Unit includes:
Theory on reproduction:

Management – advanced insemination
Heat detection
Heat cycle & hormones
Semen quality, storing, and handling

Palpation & examination of reproductive organs:

Palpating ovaries
Organ Dissections
Inseminating the organs

Practical:

Semen handling
Working with cows for AI
Locating and manipulating the cervix inside the cow
Learning how to put the pistolette through the cervix

The completion of this course requires the passing of a practical exam.
Dustcoats and gumboots will be provided for all students to use for the duration of the course.
