"Online registration is now open for the sixth annual International Symposium on Animal Mortality Management set for June 3-7 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in downtown Amarillo. The symposium will explore challenges, solutions and insights on animal mortality management from around the globe with an international panel, keynote speaker and presenters. Registration is available at animalmortmgmt.org.
Hosts for the event include West Texas A&M University, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension and USDA Agricultural Research Service—Bushland and produced in collaboration with worldwide academia, industry and government partners.
Catastrophic losses of poultry and livestock caused by disease, fire or weather-related stresses, and routine losses associated with large-scale production operations have become significant environmental, bio-security and waste management concerns around the globe. The June symposium will highlight new research, current and emerging disposal methodologies and critical assessments of public policy with the intent to capture and disseminate new information on these topics and stimulate development of additional research, policy development and educational programs.
Active learning will be achieved through an Emergency Exercise, “Operation Goliath,” which will focus on a “Severe Weather Occurrence” and its impact on livestock. This exercise will include breakout sessions and active participation in facilitated scenario discussions on the capabilities of public and private sector participants to prepare for, respond to and recover from a major incident involving livestock mortality and business continuity and economic effects from a local, regional and international perspective.
Participants also will have a chance to tour a variety of farms and businesses involved in Texas’s beef, dairy and swine industries. Tour topics may include biosecurity and animal movement protocols, various disposal methods, decontamination, depopulation and the progressive agriculture and processing of West Texas. All tours will leave from the hotel and will end at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the second largest canyon in the country and located in the Texas Panhandle. Attendees will enjoy Texas barbeque while having the opportunity to network and review your experiences from each of the tours.
Symposium attendees will be exposed to numerous exhibits and demonstrations focusing on aspects of animal disease mortality management. Highlights include above ground burial, traditional deep pit burial, static and aerated pile composting, drone compost pile monitoring, foam euthanasia, alkaline hydrolysis along with other “static” displays. The demonstration site also will feature an “Ask the Experts Tent,” where participants will have a chance to interact with eight industry experts specializing in all aspects of mortality management.
The Symposium is an excellent opportunity for veterinarians, environmental professionals, academic researchers, extension educators, students, food and agriculture emergency managers, public health managers, food animal processors, composters and renderers to lean about the latest research, educational programs and technologies.
Online registration is open at animalmortmgmt.org. For more information, contact Dr. Robert DeOtte, West Texas A&M University, at rdeotte@wtamu.edu or 806-651-8780."
-West Texas A&M University
