48th Discover Conference

Monday, October 13, 2025

• 3:00–4:00 p.m.     NCCC308, program committee, and moderators meeting (location TBD)
• 4:00–6:00 p.m.     Registration (Red Oak Foyer); dinner on your own

Opening Session. Moderator: Alfredo DiCostanzo, University of Nebraska

• 6:00 p.m.               Welcome and recognitions. Tara Felix, The Pennsylvania State University, and Jerad Jaborek, Michigan State University, DC48 Co-Chairs; and Joanne Knapp, ADSA Discover Conference Director
• 6:10 p.m.               NCCC308 history. Steven C. Loerch, The Pennsylvania State University
• 7:00 p.m.               Conference Keynote: Current and future status of beef on dairy crosses in beef production. Speaker 2 TBA
• 7:40 p.m.               Brief Q&A
• 8:00 p.m.               Welcome reception (Prairie River [lower level])

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

7:00–8:00 a.m.     Continental breakfast (Black Break Area)

Session 1               Genetics and Breeding. Moderator: Todd Callaway, University of Georgia

• 8:00 a.m.                Welcome and announcements
• 8:10 a.m.                Impacts on the dairy cow. Tara Felix, The Pennsylvania State University
• 8:40 a.m.                Genetics. Chad Dechow, The Pennsylvania State University
• 9:10 a.m.                Discussion by all participants
• 10:00 a.m.             Break
• 10:30 a.m.             Genetics of beef × dairy. Chip Kemp, 701x Autonomous Rancher
• 11:00 a.m.             Beef-on-dairy breeding decisions to maximize profitability at the dairy farm. Albert De Vries, University of Florida
• 11:30 a.m.             Discussion by all participants
• 12:30 p.m.             Lunch

Session 2A            Early Nutrition and Management: Preweaning. Moderator: Kendall Swanson, North Dakota State University

• 1:30 p.m.               Extended colostrum/preweaning nutrition management. Pedro Carvalho, University of Guelph
• 2:00 p.m.               Effect of early-stage lung consolidation on the productivity of beef-on-dairy calves. Melissa Cantor, The Pennsylvania State University
• 2:30 p.m.               Discussion by all participants
• 3:00 p.m.               Break
• 3:30 p.m.               More milk. Speaker TBD
• 4:00 p.m.               Muscle biology. Sara Reed, University of Connecticut
• 4:30 p.m.               Discussion by all participants
• 5:15 p.m.               Adjourn

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

7:00–8:00 a.m.     Continental breakfast (Black Break Area)

Session 2B             Early Nutrition and Management: Postweaning Through Feedlot. Moderator: Nico DiLorenzo, University of Florida

• 8:00 a.m.                Starter variation. Gail Carpenter, Iowa State University
• 8:30 a.m.                Protein. Monty Kerley, University of Missouri
• 9:00 a.m.                Discussion by all participants

10:00 a.m.             Break

Session 3               Feedlot Management. Moderator: Jerad Jaborek, Michigan State University

• 10:30 a.m.             Forage and fiber inclusion. Alfredo DiCostanzo, University of Nebraska
• 11:00 a.m.             Feedyard management. Jon Beckett, Beckett Consulting Services
• 11:30 a.m.             Discussion by all participants

12:30 p.m.             Lunch

Session 4               Growth Promotion and Technologies. Moderator: Tara Felix, The Pennsylvania State University

• 1:30 p.m.               Estrogen receptors. Brad Johnson, Texas Tech University
• 2:00 p.m.               Rules and delayed implants. Zach Smith, South Dakota State University
• 2:30 p.m.               Discussion by all participants
• 3:00 p.m.               Break
• 3:30 p.m.               Beta-agonists/Experior. Jess Sperber, University of Nebraska
• 4:00 p.m.               Retail yield. Jerad Jaborek, Michigan State University
• 4:30 p.m.               Discussion by all participants
• 5:15 p.m.               Adjourn

Thursday, October 16, 2025

7:00–8:00 a.m. Continental breakfast – Black Break Area

Session 5               Carcass Outcomes. Moderator: Dale Blasi, Kansas State University

• 8:00 a.m.                Lightning talks with NCCC308 committee members: How liver abscesses can impact feedlot cattle performance.
  • Dressing percentage. Zach Smith, South Dakota State University
  • Carcass weight. Pedro Carvalho, University of Guelph
  • Energetics. Kendall Swanson, North Dakota State University
  • Average daily gain. Jerad Jaborek, Michigan State University
• 8:30 a.m.                Liver abscess incidence. Ty Lawrence, West Texas A&M University
• 9:00 a.m.                Discussion by all participants
• 9:30 a.m.                Break
• 10:00 a.m.             Liver abscesses: Etiology and pathogenesis. TG Nagaraja, Kansas State University
• 10:30 a.m.             Discussion
• 11:15 a.m.             Wrap-up and next steps
• 11:45 a.m.             Adjourn

Register

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 $171.00 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, click here.
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, October 13, 2025
   4. Check out: Thursday, October 16, 2025
   5. Click Book Now
   6. Under Add Code, use the drop down to select Group Attendee, then enter ADSA0504 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, October 13, 2025
Departure Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025

Special conference rate: $171.00 plus tax
Reservation Deadline: Friday, September 12, 2025
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

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, and a complete listing can be seen here.

Ground Transportation: Eaglewood Resort and Spa is 21 minutes west of O'Hare. It’s easily accessible by ride share, and several rental car agencies are located in the airport, along with shuttle and limo services.

Eaglewood Resort & Spa
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/

Are you headed to Discover 48 from outside the US? We recommend applying for travel authorizations, and we can help:

Depending on the purpose of your trip to Illinois, you can obtain a visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

• For a stay of fewer than 90 days, obtaining a visa to travel to Illinois is unnecessary if you are a citizen of 1 of the 38 countries in the US Visa Waiver Program; simply apply for an ESTA travel authorization online.
• African and South American citizens: You cannot travel to the US with an ESTA. Instead, you must apply for a B1 visa. Start your request early! The processing time for a B1 visa can take a few weeks up to a few months.

Need an invitation letter to facilitate your visa application? Contact adsa@adsa.org to request an invitation letter to facilitate your visa application.

Please contact your nearest US embassy or consulate if you have questions or need assistance. 

Once onsite, the city of Chicago is home to more than 80 Consulates/Consuls General offices. Find your closest foreign consulate here for when you’re at the meeting.

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 member registration rate of $195, well below the early registration professional member rate of $375. The graduate student member registration rate is available to the first 10 graduate student member (ADSA)* 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 ten (10) $250 awards for registered graduate student members (ADSA) who attend 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, 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

Your Role as an Invited Speaker
Speaker Materials Upload
Speaker Guidelines and Procedures
Tips for Effective Presentations
Sample Speaker Bio
Sample Interpretive Summary
Expense Reimbursement Policy and Expense Report