Dr Takalani J. Mpofu is a Senior Lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Department of Animal Sciences as well as the TUT’s Animal Research Ethics Chairperson. Dr Mpofu who holds a PhD in Science (Animal Production) with a specialisation in Animal Health and Genetics from TUT, recently received a Y2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF).
His PhD thesis explored the health status of the indigenous goat populations owned by small-holder farmers against gastro-intestinal parasite infections using the coprological (in medicine and biology, coprology or scatology is the study of faces to determine a wide range of biological information about a creature) and hematological (study of the physiology of the blood) examination, which earned him a 2020 TUT Doctoral Student of the Year Award. During his PhD at TUT, he received an Erasmus+ mobility grant wherein he visited and studied at the Warsaw University of Lifesciences (WULS) in Poland. Dr Mpofu’s work in Animal Sciences earned him a 2021 Young Researcher of the Year Award in the TUT’s Faculty of Science, while he was awarded the NRF-Thuthuka grant under the Post-PhD track in 2023.
In 2017, Dr Mpofu joined TUT as an intern, then a Postgraduate Student Assistant and a part-time Lecturer in 2020. In 2021, he was permanently employed as a Lecturer followed by a promotion to Senior Lecturer in 2022. Prior to joining TUT, he worked as a Natural and Life Sciences Educator at the New Generation Girls Academy and also as a Livestock Manager at Elimark farm.
Dr Mpofu has authored and co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 30 conference proceedings. He currently supervises 13 Masters and PhD students while he teaches Animal Science Research at Postgraduate Diploma level and Small Stock Production to senior Diploma students. Dr Mpofu serves as a Technical Advisor and Peer Review Panel for the NRF and is also a reviewer of several DHET Accredited peer-reviewed journals.
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE
Dr Mpofu’s research interests include all aspects of genetic resistance of farm animals to diseases and parasites, specifically small ruminants (goat and sheep). He has a particular interest in developing a genetic testing kit for the selection of genetic resistant animals. Secondly, he is also involved in research on the sustainable application of livestock water footprints in different production systems and regions of South Africa as well as green agriculture and its impact on skills requirements.
To this end, his research focus strives to achieve several SDGs:
• Goal 2: Zero Hunger, Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing; and
• Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
TUT's Dr Takalani J. Mpofu who recently received a Y2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF).