Mark your calendar for the National Mastitis Council (NMC) 57th Annual Meeting in Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2018, at the Hilton El Conquistador. Please note that this year’s meeting runs Wednesday through Friday, rather than the previous schedule of Sunday through Tuesday. The program will feature “Mastitis and Milk Quality – the Five Point Plan Revisited.”
Prior to the NMC annual meeting, the group will offer a dairy farm tour, which includes visits to T and K Dairy, Shamrock Farms Dairy and Zinke Dairy. New this year is the “Udderly Ridiculous 5K Fun Run/Walk.” Proceeds from this event support the NMC Scholars Program and Professional Development Fund.
“This year’s NMC Annual Meeting features the organization’s core principles of mastitis control and quality milk production,” said David Kelton, NMC first vice president and annual meeting program chair, and University of Guelph professor of epidemiology and dairy health, Guelph, Ont., Canada. “Speakers from around the world will address mastitis control – past, present and future, quality milk production tenets, producing quality milk in a changing world, and blanket dry cow therapy vs. selective dry cow therapy.”
Jason Lombard, NMC second vice president and National Animal Health Monitoring System dairy specialist/veterinary epidemiologist, Fort Collins, Colo., said, “The upcoming annual meeting will also include a full offering of short courses, including repeats of some of the most popular courses from recent years, as well as several new ones.” Confirmed short courses include: Behold the Powers of Observation: Expanding Your Milk Quality Toolbox with “Boots on the Ground” Observational Skills; Milk Bugs Like it Raw: Milk Bacteriology for Professionals; Managing Large Dairy Herds: The Consultant’s Role; and Food Armor: Judicious Antibiotic Use, it’s Easier than You Think.
To enhance NMC professional development opportunities, NMC is repeating the silent auction. This fund-raising event coincides with an informal meet and greet session the evening of Feb. 1. “We hope this silent auction gives our members a chance to make new acquaintances, renew old ones and raise a little cash for NMC professional development,” said Mario Lopez, NMC president and DeLaval technology manager milk quality animal health. Contact the NMC office at (952) 758-2146 if you would like to donate an item.
Watch the NMC website – www.nmconline.org – for program updates and registration information. For more information about the Hilton El Conquistador, visit www.hiltonelconquistador.com.
NMC is a professional organization devoted to reducing mastitis and enhancing milk quality. NMC promotes research and provides information to the dairy industry on udder health, milking management, milk quality and milk safety. Founded in 1961, NMC has about 1,000 members in more than 40 countries throughout the world.
