The second DISCOVER Conference on Food Animal Agriculture was presented August 29 - September 1, 1999 at Abe Martin Lodge near Nashville, Indiana, titled, "Transition Cows." This conference addressed a topic of immense contemporary importance - management of the transition cow. The unique contribution of this conference was threefold. First, it provided a timely focus on the transition cow with special emphasis on dietary and management issues. Second, it provided a user context and an opportunity for practitioners and researchers to discuss basic needs with key industry counterparts for part of the conference. Third, the venue, program, and arrangments were targeted to provide open critical discussions of current research and management practices that will then lead to the most important and relevant research and application when attendees returned to their laboratories, practices and farms.
With an attendance that exceeded expectations, the program drew 114 researchers, practitioners, private consultants and govermental agents involved with nutritional, metabolic, physiological, health and/or management factors related to transition cows. Registrants were represented as follows:
