46TH DISCOVER CONFERENCE®

Milking the Data: Value-Driven Dairy Farming

ARPAS will allow up to 18 Continuing Education Units based on contact hours and content for ARPAS members participating in this Discover Conference. Participating ARPAS members may obtain credit for their participation by using the ARPAS website.

Conference Objective

Precision dairy farming (PDF) is a collection of cutting technologies designed for the automatic, real-time monitoring of cow welfare, health, environmental impact, and production. It is recognized as a high priority for achieving policy goals in many countries worldwide, as it enables the transition towards more resilient and sustainable dairy farming practices. In 2016, the Discover Conference on Big Data Dairy Management discussed the potential of big data analyses and technology in the dairy industry. Since 2016, enormous progress has been made in the field of artificial intelligence, sensing technology and data analyses in all domains. While such progress brings excitement to advance the dairy industry toward sustainable systems, it is crucial to address the current challenges facing data-driven dairy, including data privacy concerns, data standardization, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between animal science, engineering, and computer science.

This conference is an opportunity to bring together various stakeholders to establish a shared understanding of the current state of precision dairy farming technologies and data governance and identify obstacles to successful implementation. Insights gained from this conference can help inform and influence policy decisions, ensuring that the regulatory environment supports the growth and sustainability of the dairy industry.

Who Should Attend?

This program will address issues important to university, government, and industry researchers; university extension specialists; software developers, precision dairy technology manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, genetics providers, consultants, nutritionists, producers, and veterinarians. Graduate Students and early career professionals are especially encouraged to attend.

Registration

Registration postmarked by Monday, April 8, 2024 is $375.00 for ADSA-ARPAS members and $475.00 for non-members, which includes sessions and most meals. After April 8, the registration fee will be $475.00 member/$575.00 non-member and will be accepted on an availability basis.

ADSA Discover Conferences also offers discounted registration to Post-Doc Members and Graduate Student Members for each conference. The Post Doc Member rate is $225 by April 8, 2024 and $325 after April 8. Graduate Student Member rate is $195 and is available to 10 students on a first come, first served basis. To register, click the Online Registration link.

Your registration includes 90 days free access to the Searchable Proceedings of Animal Conferences (S-PAC).

Online Registration
Join ADSA

Accommodations

CONFERENCE ACCOMMODATIONS INFORMATION

All participants are responsible for making their own housing reservations. The Conference will be held at Eaglewood Resort and Spa in Itasca, Illinois.

To make a reservation at Eaglewood Resort and Spa:

  1. By Phone: Call 877-285-6150 or 630-773-1400
    When making your reservation, refer to the "ADSA DISCOVER Conference".
    This will bring up our block of rooms with our special rate of $163.00 plus tax per night. Reservations cancelled within 48 hours of arrival will be charged the first night’s room and tax.
  2. Online: To book a room online, use the following link:
    ADSA Discover Conference
  3. Using the Website: Follow these steps to book from the Eaglewood web site:
    1. Go to www.eaglewoodresort.com
    2. At the top of the page click Book Now.
    3. Check in: Monday, May 6, 2024
    4. Check out: Thursday, May 9, 2024
    5. Click Book Now
    6. Under Add Code, use the drop down to select Group Attendee, then enter 0506ADSA in the box below.
    7. Select your Room Preference
    8. Click Add Room & Checkout.
    9. Enter Guest Information and Payment Method to complete the reservation.

Arrival Date: Monday, May 6, 2024
Departure Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Special conference rate: $163.00 plus tax
Reservation Deadline: Saturday, April 6, 2024

After this date, reservations will be accepted on a rate and availability basis only.

Eaglewood Resort and Spa
Resort Main Tel: 630-773-1400 | reservations@eaglewoodresorts.com | http://www.eaglewoodresort.com/
1401 Nordic Road, Itasca, IL. 60143

Travel

The 106-acre Eaglewood Resort & Spa is strategically located in northwest Chicagoland, just a 35-minute drive from downtown Chicago, and 21 minutes west of O’Hare International Airport. The resort is easily accessible via major airports and roadways, and within reach of the area’s spectacular attractions.

Flight options: We suggest you fly into O'Hare International Airport (ORD).  The airport is serviced by nearly every major airline. For a complete listing, go to http://www.flychicago.com/ohare/myflight/airlines/pages/default.aspx

Ground Transportation: Eaglewood Resort and Spa is 21 minutes west of O'Hare. Several rental car agencies are located in the airport. In addition, there are a number of shuttle and limo services for hire at the airport including A1 Limousine at http://www.a1limousine.com/. Additional options are available at http://www.flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/pages/default.aspx

Eaglewood Resort & Spa, Chicago
1401 Nordic Road
Itasca, IL 60143

Hotel Phone: 630-773-1400
Reservations: Toll-free 877-285-6150
Hotel Fax: 630-773-1709
https://www.eaglewoodresort.com/

Attention Graduate Students

Reduced Registration Rates and Scholarship Travel Awards available for ADSA Discover Conferences
In 2009, the ADSA Foundation Board of Trustees approved a special ADSA Discover Conference graduate student registration rate of $195, well below the early registration professional member rate of $375. The graduate student registration rate is available to the first 10 graduate student member (ADSA-ARPAS)* registrants.

In that same year, the Foundation approved travel awards to graduate students. The Discover Conferences Scholarship Travel Award fund makes travel to Discover Conferences for graduate students more affordable by providing up to $250 per registered graduate student member (ADSA-ARPAS) who attends a Discover Conference. Ten travel awards are offered at each conference. Following the conference and within 30 days of the conference, students should complete an ADSA expense report (posted on the ADSA Web site at  https://www.adsa.org/About-ADSA/Corporate-Documents   Attach receipts at least equal to the expense claimed, and send to ADSA Headquarters, 1800 South Oak Street, Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820 Attn: Morgan Montgomery. Eligible expenses include travel, lodging, ground transportation and incidentals, in compliance with the ADSA Expense Reimbursement Policy, which includes receipt requirements. Registration fees are not reimbursable.

*If you are not currently a member of ADSA or ARPAS, graduate students can join for just $10. Click here for membership details and to join: https://www.adsa.org/Membership/Graduate-Student-Division/GSD-Membership

Conference details

May 6–9, 2024
Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, IL
Hosted by the American Dairy Science Association

Program Committee

  • Miel Hostens, Cornell University, Co-Chair
  • Joao Dorea, University of Wisconsin, Co-Chair
  • Christine Baes, University of Guelph
  • Jeffrey Bewley, Holstein Association USA
  • Victor Cabrera, University of Wisconsin
  • Joao Durr, Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding
  • Michael Iwersen, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna
  • Hélène Soyeurt, University of Liege
  • Rene Van der Linde, ICAR, Netherlands

Sponsors