Our Vet

Dr Francois Marais is a highly respected and successful veterinarian with specific expertise in the field of artificial breeding of sheep. Francois' artificial breeding business in Australia, Ovatec Sheep Artificial Breeding Services, is based in Dubbo NSW. Francois Australian work is however not restricted to the Eastern States, but regularly takes him to Western Australia. Francois, his wife Lynn, who often works beside him as his veterinary assistant, and two young sons moved to Dubbo from South Africa in 2005.

• Francois qualified at the Onderstepoort Veterinary School in Pretoria in 1986 and practiced in veterinary private practice in rural South Africa.
• Commenced his involvement in sheep artificial breeding in 1995 while working with Australian teams in South Africa.
• Also worked with breeding companies in the UK for five years, gaining more international experience.
• Commenced his embryo export centre, Afribreed, in South Africa in 1999, where he still collects approximately 1000 embryos annually from South African breeds for export.

Lynn and Francois have now made Dubbo their home where they are also the owner/operators of the beautiful and multi-award winning Pinecrest Place Bed & Breakfast, located adjacent to the world famous Western Plains Zoo.