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Greetings fellow conference attendees!
We are pleased to announce the 3rd International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare to be held at the Delta Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on June 5-7, 2012. Patterned after the two previous symposiums, the 2012 Organizing Committee has put together a dynamic group of speakers and a program that we believe will offer producers, processors, retailers, government officials, NGOs, animal scientists, veterinarians and students the opportunity to discuss, debate and learn about the current and emerging welfare issues that face the beef cattle industry. Renowned beef cattle experts, bovine practitioners, philosophers and animal scientists will offer their insight and perspective and discuss the latest research findings during the invited presentations and poster session. In light of the ever-changing production practices, brought about in response to animal welfare concerns in the livestock and poultry industries, this Symposium will focus specifically on welfare issues that are certain to impact and change the beef cattle industry. Plan to attend to learn the changes that our expert speakers foresee in the future.
Brief History of the Symposium:
In 2008, Dr. Dan Thomson, Director of the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University, organized and hosted the 1st International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare in Manhattan, KS. Dr. Thomson recognized that animal welfare issues are not restricted to a specific country and in North America the beef supply is traded live and on the rail between Canada, the United States and Mexico making beef cattle welfare a common concern among the trading partners. A similar situation unfolds in Europe and other parts of the world where cattle are sold and transported across borders. This commonality spurred Dr. Thomson to bring beef cattle experts together to present their findings, discuss their results and prepare for the future. In 2010, at the 2nd International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare, a more formal plan was launched when Dr. Thomson helped create the North American Food Animal Wellbeing Commission on Beef and assembled an expert panel of animal scientists, veterinarians and beef cattle professionals to create a scientific perspective to address animal welfare concerns. The NAFAWC on Beef is committed to bringing science and solutions to animal welfare issues through research, education and dialogue. The 3rd International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare helps serve to fulfill this mandate.
The 2012 3rd International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare will be looking at critical issues from all angles of the beef supply chain including: social concerns, production, environment, transportation, processing, marketing, trade regulations and legislation. The depth, knowledge and experience of the experts participating in this Symposium will provide all attendees with the opportunity to learn about the newest findings, network with industry leaders and fellow attendees, and engage in constructive dialogue on the current and emerging beef cattle welfare issues.
On behalf of the Organizing Committee we welcome you to this website and hope you plan to register and join us in Saskatoon for this important event or join us liveon the net through our webcast.
For verification of continuing education (CE), Certificates of Attendance will be issued upon request. This Symposium offers 10 hours of CE.
Dr. Joseph M. Stookey
Symposium Chair
Organizing Committee:
Dr. Joe Stookey, Organizing Chair, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Dr. Dan Thomson, Beef Cattle Institute, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Dr. John Campbell, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Dr. Ron Gill, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX
Dr. Murray Jelinski, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Dr. John McKinnon, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Dr. Greg Penner, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Dr. Jeffery Rushen, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz, BC
Dr. Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB
Dr. Mike Siemens, Cargill Animal Protein, Wichita, KS
Conference Coordinator:
Phyllis Mierau, Mierau Management Services
