The year under review yielded a sustained, but smaller than expected, output of research products following the amalgamation of the Faculty of Veterinary Science of MEDUNSA and that of the University of Pretoria. The Faculty intends to improve - in the immediate future - the output and relevance of its research programmes. To this end a strategic plan was developed, which was approved by the Faculty Council towards the end of 2001. The plan outlines administrative arrangements that will be put in place to facilitate research within the Faculty, while it also defines focal areas that will serve to direct the research efforts and research programmes. These focal areas were chosen to establish, achieve and project an African uniqueness, and to allow networking with external expertise and technology, both nationally and internationally. Projects within the focus areas will receive priority when the allocation of resources is considered. The areas include the following fields of activity:

· Wildlife health and production
· Veterinary problems of developing communities
· Economically important conditions/ diseases of livestock in the sub-Saharan region
· Veterinary public health and environmental safety
· Important conditions of companion animals in the sub-Saharan region
· Interaction of nutrition and diseases under African conditions

The strategic plan and focal areas will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.