Veterinary Liaison Officer
Ms Ilhaam Hendricks coordinates herd health with specialist game veterinarians and supports best practice for disease prevention.
Ilhaam starts every morning by visiting the herds in their various camps, keeping a close eye on any changes in behaviour, gait or condition. She inspects water troughs for cleanliness and works with handlers to check all animals for injury, lameness or parasites. Records are kept up to date in consultation with Neo for breeding stock and Zandile for education farms, so that every animal’s history is clear. Vaccination and parasite control schedules are checked against each herd’s risk profile, with extra attention given to fawns and older animals, especially during seasonal changes or when cold or drought is expected.
Ilhaam works closely with our consulting wildlife vets, arranging routine herd checks, blood draws and disease testing according to the national animal health calendar. When any animal needs specialist care, she is on hand for handling and aftercare, making sure all welfare standards are met. She keeps other deer farmers up to speed on FMD movement controls and health paperwork when they buy or sell stock. During farm visits or education days, Ilhaam is always ready to talk about zoonoses, parasite cycles or the simple things like why quarantine kraals and boot baths matter, making sure visitors and students understand the basics of biosecurity.
Ilhaam insists on quiet working methods in the handling pens, with no yelling or pushing, and stops any process if an animal becomes unduly stressed. Cold chain is non-negotiable for medicine and vaccine storage, so she checks that fridges and coolers are running, even during power outages. She also requires that every camp and handling facility is disinfected after use and that all staff and visitors wash their boots and hands before entering.
