Pete Irons
Associate professor, practising specialist in veterinary reproduction,
Taurus Co-operative staff veterinarian
Univ of Pretoria, Dept Production Animal Studies, P Bag X04, Onderstepoort
012 460 3881
086 653 6122
info@vetfert.co.za
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Pete Irons has had an interest animal production since his childhood when he spent many holidays on a mixed farm in the eastern Free State. He matriculated from Springs Boys’ High and obtained his BVSc at Onderstepoort in 1987. He then did an internship in Rural Animal Medicine at the University of Florida, USA; his national service at the University of North West; and spent three years in production animal practice in England, where he obtained the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ Certificate in Cattle Health and Production.
Since 1994 Prof. Irons has been lecturing and working as a reproduction specialist at the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, where he still holds a part-time appointment. He obtained his MMedVet with research in trichomonosis, and his PhD from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands with a thesis entitled ‘The bull as a source of trichomonosis and lumpy skin disease: An African perspective’.
He holds specialist qualifications in veterinary reproduction in both South Africa and the USA, has published research in local and international journals and has given seventeen presentations at international congresses. He owns and runs Veterinary Fertility Services, offering specialist services in the field of reproduction to dog, cat and cattle breeders. Since January 2008 he has added the veterinary responsibilities for the Taurus AI co-operative at Irene to his busy schedule.
He is married with three daughters, is a keen birdwatcher and a registered beagle breeder.