But if you can't make the trip, there's another choice for people around the world: organizers anticipate that another 500-plus people will register for the symposium's webcasts and watch the presentations online in their offices, local community centres or even their own homes.
"Organizers of our last symposium in 2010 estimated that more than 500 people watched the presentations online, so it's an option that allows us to reach a larger number of people and makes this event truly international," says Dr. Joe Stookey, professor of animal behaviour in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and chair of the 2012 symposium.
Since the first International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare was held in 2008 at Kansas State University, the event's popularity has continued to grow worldwide — namely because every country is facing similar issues in animal welfare.
"That was what sparked the development of these symposiums in the first place: since animal welfare issues cross borders and have an impact on everyone involved in the beef cattle industry, we decided that we may as well address these issues as a collectible group," explains Stookey.
"Ultimately, the goal is not to change for the sake of change, but to make changes in the industry that are based on scientific evidence and in the best interest of the animals."
After the second symposium was held in 2010, its organizers formed the North American Food Animal Well-Being Commission for Beef (NAFAWC-Beef). The independent advisory group's mandate is to write academic articles, to encourage discussion and to develop programs that all focus on beef cattle welfare.
As one of the group's co-chairs, Stookey lobbied to have the third international symposium in Canada because a number of experts in beef cattle health and animal welfare already live and work in this country.
"We're leaders in this area," says Stookey, who is part of a scientists' committee organized by the National Farm Animal Council that is developing a new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle. Another NAFC committee member is WCVM professor Dr. John Campbell who will talk about investigating nutritional welfare problems in beef cattle at the 2012 symposium.
Besides Campbell, the lineup of Canadian-based experts features animal welfare specialist Dr. David Fraser of the University of British Columbia, the WCVM's Dr. Chris Clark, Dr. Derek Haley of the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College and Dr. Greg Penner of the University of Saskatchewan's College of Agriculture and Resources.
Industry-related speakers include Dr. Reynold Bergen of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association and Dr. Kee Jim of Feedlot Health Management Services in Okotoks, Alta. Federal and provincial government agencies will be represented by Drs. Jeffrey Rushen and Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Dr. Terry Whiting of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives.
International speakers include experts in disciplines such as pain management, animal behaviour, bovine practice and internal medicine. One consistently popular speaker is Dr. Temple Grandin, a professor at Colorado State University who is internationally recognized for her work on the design of animal handling facilities. Grandin will talk about the past and future of cattle handling, transport and slaughter during the symposium.
For bovine practitioners, Stookey says the symposium's program will bring them up to date on the latest scientific discussions and where the beef cattle industry is heading. He adds that the symposium's organizers have been careful to design a program that includes applied knowledge for veterinarians and cattle producers as well as presentations that address some of the contentious, "hot button" issues generating a lot of public interest around the world.
"I think cattle producers will pick up a lot of practical information that they can take home with them. Plus I think they'll gain a greater understanding of animal welfare issues so they're more aware of how they can make individual changes on their farms and how their industry can address these challenges for the benefit of all animals."
As for Stookey, he can't wait to be part of the symposium and immerse himself in the formal presentations as well as the informal discussions that will take place during the event's three days.
"I'm involved in this conference because I'm an animal behaviourist, and since much of our work focuses on animal welfare-related topics, we've taken on the role of answering animal welfare questions and searching for the best methods of animal care in different industries," explains Stookey.
"Symposiums like this one are very critical to our work since they really do help to shape the future of animal welfare. By the end of the symposium, I think we'll all have a pretty good idea of where we're going for the next few years."
For more information about the Third International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare, please visit the symposium's web site.
"Organizers of our last symposium in 2010 estimated that more than 500 people watched the presentations online, so it's an option that allows us to reach a larger number of people and makes this event truly international," says Dr. Joe Stookey, professor of animal behaviour in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and chair of the 2012 symposium.
Since the first International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare was held in 2008 at Kansas State University, the event's popularity has continued to grow worldwide — namely because every country is facing similar issues in animal welfare.
"That was what sparked the development of these symposiums in the first place: since animal welfare issues cross borders and have an impact on everyone involved in the beef cattle industry, we decided that we may as well address these issues as a collectible group," explains Stookey.
"Ultimately, the goal is not to change for the sake of change, but to make changes in the industry that are based on scientific evidence and in the best interest of the animals."
After the second symposium was held in 2010, its organizers formed the North American Food Animal Well-Being Commission for Beef (NAFAWC-Beef). The independent advisory group's mandate is to write academic articles, to encourage discussion and to develop programs that all focus on beef cattle welfare.
As one of the group's co-chairs, Stookey lobbied to have the third international symposium in Canada because a number of experts in beef cattle health and animal welfare already live and work in this country.
"We're leaders in this area," says Stookey, who is part of a scientists' committee organized by the National Farm Animal Council that is developing a new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle. Another NAFC committee member is WCVM professor Dr. John Campbell who will talk about investigating nutritional welfare problems in beef cattle at the 2012 symposium.
Besides Campbell, the lineup of Canadian-based experts features animal welfare specialist Dr. David Fraser of the University of British Columbia, the WCVM's Dr. Chris Clark, Dr. Derek Haley of the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College and Dr. Greg Penner of the University of Saskatchewan's College of Agriculture and Resources.
Industry-related speakers include Dr. Reynold Bergen of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association and Dr. Kee Jim of Feedlot Health Management Services in Okotoks, Alta. Federal and provincial government agencies will be represented by Drs. Jeffrey Rushen and Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Dr. Terry Whiting of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives.
International speakers include experts in disciplines such as pain management, animal behaviour, bovine practice and internal medicine. One consistently popular speaker is Dr. Temple Grandin, a professor at Colorado State University who is internationally recognized for her work on the design of animal handling facilities. Grandin will talk about the past and future of cattle handling, transport and slaughter during the symposium.
For bovine practitioners, Stookey says the symposium's program will bring them up to date on the latest scientific discussions and where the beef cattle industry is heading. He adds that the symposium's organizers have been careful to design a program that includes applied knowledge for veterinarians and cattle producers as well as presentations that address some of the contentious, "hot button" issues generating a lot of public interest around the world.
"I think cattle producers will pick up a lot of practical information that they can take home with them. Plus I think they'll gain a greater understanding of animal welfare issues so they're more aware of how they can make individual changes on their farms and how their industry can address these challenges for the benefit of all animals."
As for Stookey, he can't wait to be part of the symposium and immerse himself in the formal presentations as well as the informal discussions that will take place during the event's three days.
"I'm involved in this conference because I'm an animal behaviourist, and since much of our work focuses on animal welfare-related topics, we've taken on the role of answering animal welfare questions and searching for the best methods of animal care in different industries," explains Stookey.
"Symposiums like this one are very critical to our work since they really do help to shape the future of animal welfare. By the end of the symposium, I think we'll all have a pretty good idea of where we're going for the next few years."
For more information about the Third International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare, please visit the symposium's web site.
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