Congress agenda — Draft
Draft scientific programme for the 1st African Buiatrics Congress, 24–27 November 2027, Windhoek. Pre-conference workshops and the Veterinary Association of Namibia annual meeting take place on Day 0 (24 November); the main scientific programme runs 25–27 November. The congress covers the health, welfare and production of cattle, sheep, goats and camelids, together with their interactions with wild ruminants and shared environments.
Day 0
Wednesday, 24 November 2027| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| All day | Pre-conference workshops Workshops Hands-on and classroom workshops offered ahead of the main congress programme. See the full list of proposed workshops for topics, capacity and format. View proposed pre-conference workshops → |
| All day | Annual meeting of the Veterinary Association of Namibia (VAN) The annual meeting of the Veterinary Association of Namibia takes place on this day, with a focus on small animals and horses. |
Day 0 is the pre-congress day. Workshops and the VAN annual meeting run in parallel; registration for workshops is separate from the main congress registration where required.
Day 1
Thursday, 25 November 2027| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 07:00 | Delegate registration Registration |
| 08:30 | Welcome messages |
| 09:00 | First plenary lecture Plenary The Future of Ruminant and Camelid Production in Africa: Food Security, Livelihoods and Sustainability AU-IBAR |
| 09:45 |
Parallel short communications
Parallel
Track A — Focus on ruminant production
Track B — Focus on animal welfare and international legislation
|
| 11:00 | Coffee break, poster session & industry exhibition Break Poster |
| 11:30 |
Parallel short communications
Parallel
Track A — Wild ruminants and domestic livestock in shared landscapes
Track B — Smallholder, pastoral, agropastoral and commercial production systems; women and young people in livestock development
|
| 13:00 | Lunch with exhibition Break |
| 14:00 |
Parallel sessions
Lecture
Parallel
Track A — Lecture: Paratuberculosis
Track B — Short communications
|
| 14:30 | Lecture: Enzootic bovine leukosis Lecture |
| 15:00 | Symposium proposed by industry Symposium |
| 16:00 | Afternoon tea Break |
| 17:00 |
Parallel lectures
Lecture
Track A — Camel diseases
Track B — Virus diseases
|
| 17:30 |
Parallel short communications
Parallel
Track A — Focus on camelid health and production
Track B — Focus on virus diseases
|
| 19:00 | End of Day 1 |
| 20:00 | Welcome reception |
Day 2
Friday, 26 November 2027| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:30 | Plenary lecture Plenary Transboundary Ruminant Diseases in Africa: From Regional Challenges to Coordinated Control (FMD, PPR, CBPP, Sheep and goat pox). The role of the wild animal. |
| 09:15 |
Parallel short communications
Parallel
Track A — Focus on trypanosomiasis
Track B — Focus on brucellosis and tuberculosis
|
| 10:45 | Coffee break & poster session Break Poster |
| 11:30 | Plenary lecture Plenary Integrated Herd and Flock Health, Reproduction and Youngstock Survival |
| 12:00 | Symposium proposed by industry Symposium |
| 13:00 | Lunch and exhibition Break |
| 14:00 |
Parallel lectures
Lecture
Track A — One Health in Practice: Zoonoses, Food Safety and Responsible Antimicrobial Use
Track B — Endemic Diseases and Productivity Losses: Tackling Parasites and Vector-Borne Infections. The role of the wildlife interface
|
| 14:30 |
Parallel short communications
Parallel
Track A — Focus on One Health
Track B — Focus on parasitology
|
| 16:30 | Afternoon tea, poster session & exhibition Break Poster |
| 17:15 |
Parallel short communications
Parallel
Track A — Focus on internal medicine
Track B — Focus on surgery and obstetrics
|
| 19:00 | End of Day 2 |
| 20:00 | Traditional Namibian Braai evening |
Day 3
Saturday, 27 November 2027| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:30 | Plenary lecture Plenary Feeding Ruminants in a Changing Climate: Feed Security, Water and Resilient Production Systems |
| 09:00 |
Parallel short communications
Parallel
Track A — Short communications
Track B — Short communications
|
| 10:00 | Coffee break Break |
| 10:45 |
Parallel short communications
Parallel
Track A — Short communications
Track B — Short communications
|
| 11:45 | Symposium proposed by industry Symposium |
| 12:45 | Lunch and exhibition Break |
| 14:00 | Plenary session Plenary Breeding for African Conditions: Productivity, Adaptation and Indigenous Genetic Resources |
| 14:45 |
Parallel short communications
Parallel
Track A — Short communications
Track B — Short communications
|
| 16:00 | Afternoon tea Break |
| 16:30 | Last plenary session Plenary Reaching Every Herd: Veterinary Services, Vaccine Access and Practical Innovation |
| 17:15 | Closing ceremony |
| 19:30 | Farewell party |
This is a draft framework and may change. Detailed session titles, speakers and room assignments will be added after peer review of abstracts (notification by 30 September 2027). Short communications are organised under eight thematic tracks aligned with the plenary topics (production & sustainability; transboundary diseases; herd/flock health; One Health; endemic parasites & vectors; feeding & climate; breeding & genetics; veterinary services & innovation).
