St Louis, Missouri was the site of the 44th Annual Conference of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. Dr. Christian Steenholdt was recognized for his participation in the Dairy Quality Center's Verified Premium Plus Program during Merial's Dessert Reception. Keith R. Carlson, Executive Director of the Dairy Quality Center is pleased to announce Dr. Christian Steenholdt as the Quality Veterinarian of the Year. "Dr. Steenholdt's dedication and loyalty to his dairy clients includes the verification process to review various activities on the dairies," states Carlson. "Premiums are offered from a local packing plant for cows qualifying when they participate in the VPP Program." Merial, a world-leading animal health company, Duluth, GA, and the Dairy Quality Center (DQC), Stratford, IA, co-sponsor this annual award, designed to recognize veterinarians who help dairy producers implement quality management practices within their operation. "We are proud to support this award as part of our continued commitment to supporting the veterinarians who have a positive impact on the dairy industry," said Tom Van Dyke, DVM, Merial's Manager of Veterinary Services. "We applaud Dr. Steenholdt's dedication to strength- ening production practices in an effort to produce the highest quality milk possible." Dr. Steenholdt joins a long line of distinguished bovine practitioners to receive the Quality Veterinarian of the Year award. Fellow colleagues receiving Merial's Veterinarian of the Year award over the last thirteen years includes: Dr. Jeff Dietrich, Dr. James Warling, Dr. Robert Schell, Dr. Brian Mitchell, Dr. Andy Johnson, Dr. Jim Reynolds, Dr. James Jarrett, Dr. DonGardner, Dr. Jill Hollingsworth, Dr. Craig Schank, Dr. Larry Taylor, and Dr. Joe Gillespie. Congratulations to you Dr. Christian Steenholdt for your commitment to your dairy clients and to the dairy industry! Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,600 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2010 sales were more than $2.6 billion. Merial is a Sanofi company. For more information, please visit www.merial.com . 9.22.2011