All course lectures, materials, and check-in meetings with your instructor will be done through your profile here on soyexcellence.org in your module, Dairy Course.

Instructor Bio

MR. JOHN BONNIER
Dairy Development Consultant

Mr. John Bonnier has more than 40 years of international work experience in dairy production, advisory services, and value chain development in countries with developing dairy sectors. After studying Tropical Agriculture at the National Agricultural College in Deventer, the Netherlands, Mr. Bonnier further specialized in animal production at the same college. Workshops, presentations, and close working relationships with leading companies in the field of animal production further provided him with deep insights into all aspects of animal husbandry and farm development. Mr. Bonnier began his career in Nigeria, working as an (assistant) manager on various dairy farms. He subsequently worked for five years in Egypt, where he developed a comprehensive smallholder dairy program and advised on farm management for the project's large-scale dairy farm. His long-term assignments also included Yemen and Indonesia, where he worked in a sheep research program and was involved in a cattle distribution program for smallholders in Sumatra.

Since 1988, Mr. Bonnier has worked as a short-term specialist in a wide range of projects. For more than seven years, he served as a livestock specialist and team leader for a large EU dairy development project in China. During the same period, he was also involved in various dairy projects in Eastern Europe (e.g., Hungary, Russia, Poland, Slovakia), Suriname, and Tanzania. Several projects were related to EU accession; in Poland, his work focused on strengthening breeding organizations, while in Croatia and Macedonia, he provided intensive guidance in transforming extension services toward a more client-oriented approach.

Training and extension have been integral parts of most of the consultancy work undertaken by Mr. Bonnier. His work in Afghanistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Kenya, Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco encompassed all aspects of advisory services, always considering both the commercial and practical implications of his advice. He also developed training manuals covering all aspects of modern dairy farming. Since production levels varied across countries, the information farmers needed was tailored accordingly.

DR. JOOST SNOEP
Veterinarian and Dairy Management Advisor

Dr. Joost Snoep, graduated as Veterinarian (DVM) in 1972 at the Veterinary Faculty University Utrecht, The Netherlands. After his study he started in 1972 a private Veterinary Practice (farm animals) in a rural area of the Netherlands. He continued this veterinary practice for 12 years. In 1984 he was invited to join the Royal Animal Health Service as a senior veterinary cattle specialist. In 2002 he became an official Bovine Health Specialist of the Royal Dutch Veterinary Association and his academic career was completed in 2007 by becoming a Diplomat of the European College of Bovine Health Management (ECBHM).

Between 1984 and 2010 he worked as a senior veterinary cow specialist at the Royal Animal Health Service In Deventer. His work mainly consisted of being called in by farm animal veterinarians for consultation (farm visits) for complex veterinary problems on cattle farms and providing assistance in the diagnosis of unknown health conditions. The working area covered the whole of the Netherlands. He has also given many post academic training courses for veterinarians and people working in livestock farming.

After retiring from the Royal Animal Health Service (2010) he started his own "Dairy Cattle Consultancy Joost Snoep" and concentrated his veterinary activities on dairy farms abroad. He visited many countries on different continents to give tailor-made broad advices to improve herd health and production management in order to lower the production costs of milk in dairy farms.

MR. SIEGER (GEORGE) SIDERIUS
Reproduction and AI specialist

As a farmer's son in the Netherlands, Mr Siderius was born literally under the same roof as his father's cows and grew up with them and learned to treat them as family pets. Loving cows from the beginning, he therefore gained many years of experience in dairy farming and later his specific expertise became Artificial Insemination (AI) and Fertility of livestock. After finishing his studies on farm and livestock management at the Agricultural College in Leeuwarden, he went to Zambia for almost three years as adviser in an Agriculture Cooperative project. His assignment included small-scale farming and stimulating members of cooperatives to set up cash crop projects such as maize and peanuts. In addition to advisory services, the support included loans, fertilizers, tractor ploughing and sowing. After his return to the Netherlands, he joined a local cattle improvement organisation in Flevoland. Doing herd book administration, milk recording control, AI tech and advising farmers. These local organisations of cattle improvement became later, one large cooperation of cattle improvement: CRV international.

Most of his career Mr Siderius worked for the CRV Holding as AI technician and then became head of AI and trainer, specialised in AI technology and fertility. Training included AI technicians and new employees, plus giving AI courses for D.I.Y. farmers. In addition, he worked abroad as trainer (both by conducting practical courses and giving presentations). This took him to many countries around the world, including Azerbaijan, several African countries, Bangladesh, and Ukraine. Especially in Azerbaijan he did a great deal of training and development of the national AI field services, with funding of the FAO. In all his assignments Mr Siderius tried to create awareness for animal welfare and stimulated his trainees to treat cows and all farm animals with the respect they deserve.

DR. CHANNEGOWDA H.K
Veterinarian and Animal Nutritionist

Dr. Channegowda H. K. embarked on his professional journey in 1992 as a field veterinarian, and over the years, his dedication to advancing animal health and performance led him to specialize in animal nutrition, feeding, and management. With a wealth of experience in animal health, veterinary clinics, and animal feed/feed additives, Dr. Gowda began supporting the dairy and poultry industry across India. His expertise extends to assisting animal feed manufacturers in selecting and ensuring the quality of feed ingredients, offering formulation inputs, and providing comprehensive technical support to animal feed businesses. Dr. Gowda has travelled extensively across India, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa, spanning more than 10 countries. Presently, he serves as a consultant to cattle feed manufacturers, dairy enterprises, and poultry farming/feed companies. Notable companies he works with include CPF India Pvt Ltd, Supreme Feeds Pvt Ltd (Udupi), Sakthe Feeds (Tamil Nadu), Narayn Udyog (Raipur), SMM Poultry (Mysore), and Zeus Biotech Pvt Ltd (Mysore). His role involves overseeing feeding and management of dairy cows and poultry, providing insights into nutrition, quality control, feed formulation, and offering ongoing technical support to both animal feed marketing and animal health sectors.

A significant portion of his career has focused on mycotoxins and feed enzymes as a Research Associate at Alltech’s Bioscience Centre in Kentucky, USA. He has also been an instrumental resource person for the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services in Karnataka, where he contributed to the implementation of various state-level programs. Notably, he was involved in INAPH (Information Network for Animal Production and Health), a program led by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Additionally, Dr. Gowda’s professional engagements include overseeing the registration, quality control, and licensing of animal feed manufacturers in Karnataka, as well as participating in the control and containment of avian influenza in collaboration with FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) in India.

As an expert in the field, Dr. Gowda is a sought-after speaker and has been invited to deliver talks on dairy and poultry production, nutrition, feeding, and animal health on All India Radio, Mysore.

Dr. Gowda is also highly skilled in training and capacity-building initiatives for animal feed marketing teams. This includes field veterinarians, para-veterinarians, and technicians involved in artificial insemination within the dairy industry. He has conducted over 1,000 training programs for both government and private sectors, including numerous workshops with NGOs. Notably, he has organized over 100 animal health and infertility camps in key dairy production regions.

Dr. Gowda holds a Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc) and a Master’s in Poultry Nutrition (M.V.Sc) from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. He was a recipient of the prestigious ICAR Junior Research Fellowship, winning three gold medals, including the Padmashree B.V. Rao Gold Medal for highest academic merit. In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Gowda has authored a few research articles, short communications, and popular articles.

Currently serving as the Joint Secretary of the Institute of Veterinarians in Poultry Industry (IVPI), Bangalore, Dr. Gowda was previously the General Secretary of the Karnataka Veterinary Association (KVA), Mandya Branch. He is also a Life Member of the Indian Veterinary Council and a registered veterinarian in Karnataka.