Dr Hinner Köster
was born on the 17th of April 1965 and raised on a large cattle ranch in Vryburg in the North Western Province. He studied at the University of Pretoria where he received his B. Sc. Agric. in 1986, his B. Sc. Agric. (Hons.) in 1987 and his M. Sc. Agric. (Animal Nutrition) in 1990.In 1995 he completed his Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition at Kansas State University, USA. His groundbreaking research in the area of protein supplementation on poor quality roughages has also revolutionized the lick supplement market in South Africa and other parts of the world and has lead to significant improvements in production and fertility rates of pasture based beef cattle where his principles have been applied and commercially implemented. He has 40 international and national scientific papers and abstracts and has published more than 200 popular scientific papers.
He remains actively involved in numerous industry scientific research projects in South Africa, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, USA, Canada and Australia and has presented 16 papers at international conferences and symposia. He also recently has been appointed as an adjunct faculty member at Kansas State University (KSU), USA where he serves on post graduate research committees and where he assists in commercializing selected KSU developed IP. He still contributes to academic education of SA Animal Scientists by acting as co-supervisor for various M.Sc. and Ph.D. students at most of the major Animal Science faculties as well as the Veterinary faculty at Onderstepoort and has further acted as external examiner for pre- and post graduate students at the Universities of Pretoria, Free State and Stellenbosch. Dr Köster further is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, South African Society of Animal Science (serves on Council) and South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions.
Dr Hinner Köster has further made note worthy contributions to the animal feeds industry and to the animal science profession. He played a major role at the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association (AFMA) and acted in various capacities on the Board of Directors, Technical and Liaison Committee and Congress and Editorial Committees. In 2005, he was elected chairman of the AFMA board of directors, a position he held until 2007, and also served as chairman on all the different AFMA committees since 2000. During his term at AFMA he was instrumental in initiating and contributing to the drafting of various Codes of Practice and a Code of Conduct for the Animal Feed industry.
Currently he serves on the South African Society of Animal Science Council and was Vice President of the Witwatersrand Agricultural Society. Since 1996 he also serves as director of the SA Hereford Breeders’ Society where he acts as chairman of the World Hereford Conference Committee. He also is a senior judge of various cattle breeds and represented South Africa in Argentina (2000), Australia (2004) and Denmark (2008) at World Hereford Conferences. He also co-owns a large egg production and pig operation as well as a herd of Dorper sheep and an internationally known Hereford stud, Vicedale Herefords.
During 1999, Dr Köster was awarded the OTK Ltd. (now Afgri) Technical person of the year award and received the prestigious Barney van Niekerk/AFMA Technical Person of the Year award in 2001 for his numerous contributions in the field of Animal Nutrition in South Africa. In July 2007 he was further honoured with the Silver Medal by the South African Society of Animal Science in acknowledgement of his exceptional contributions and involvement that significantly influenced and directed the development and improvement of production in the livestock industry. More recently (September 2008), he was named Agriculturist of the Year for the Gauteng region.
Until recently, Dr Köster was the Managing Director of Scinetic, the Centre for Excellence within Afgri Operations (Pty) Ltd. where he was responsible for R&D activities and a number of innovation and international business development programs within the company. In January 2009, he decided to exit the corporate environment to focus more independently on adding value to the South African as well as global animal feed and production chain. He joined Animate Animal Health (Pty) Limited as a partner and Director responsible for all Technical matters, a company that already focuses on value added animal health and nutritional products and strategies for all species.
Latest Blogs (1-10 of 22)
Biofuels in South Africa – where do we stand
While many developing nations are looking at biofuel projects mainly as an alternative source of energy, South Africa in particular, also sees biofuel as a way to alleviate poverty and support socio-economic development.
Feed industry challenges in sub-Saharan Africa
Feed industry role players from developed nations are often surprised to discover the relatively complex, very dynamic, and continuous growing feed industry in a so-called developing country such as South Africa, and the large role it plays within that agricultural industry.
Generic vs non-generic micro feed additives
A while ago I discussed the approach companies often take by promoting their micro feed additives based on whether they are classified as “non-generic” compared to “generic” products. I would like to elaborate a little more on this as my increased involvement in this industry surprised me about the general lack of knowledge that exists when it comes to evaluating the purchasing of the right product.
Responsible use of blood meal widens
The world-wide consumption of animal protein continues to grow, which demands more feed and, in particular, cost effective ingredients that are high in protein and energy.
Food safety measurements for developing nations
Meeting the rigorous demands of the modern consumer while still managing a profitable food value chain, is not as simple as it seems. Food safety has become increasingly important over the years to ensure continuous trust in and profitability of the food value chain.
Diatoms in animal feeds
With the global tendency to promote “green” products and ban antibiotics as well as other non-friendly chemical substances, the world is continuously looking at organic alternatives that may be equally effective to prevent increased costs and maintain similar livestock production.
South Africa's BSE-free rating steps still not implemented
Sad to say that more than 7 years after the first constructive debates took place to implement firm steps to have South Africa rated a BSE-free country, industry partners of the Livestock and Animal Feed Industry Forum (LAFIF) under the auspices of the SA Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association (AFMA) once again had to get together at a recent BSE workshop to debate the exact same issues as in 2003.
Cartagena Protocol - effect on trade and maize price
There are diverging views among people, industries and Governments of the actual or potential risks and benefits that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products thereof can bring about.
Food prices versus global biotech policies
Recently, the issue on global biotechnology policies, in particular the EU policy of zero tolerance for non-registered genetically modified organisms (GMO’s), was raised again when US exports of soya beans and other animal feed ingredients to the EU contained traces of maize GMO’s that have not yet been authorised in the EU.
Safe and effective use of AGPs
Responsible use of antimicrobial growth promoters can still help to advance public health, food safety, animal health and welfare. The question however remains to what extent the use of antimicrobials in food producing animals may result in antimicrobial resistance.
