The 6th International Symposium on Animal Mortality Management was held in Amarillo, Texas from June 3 – 7, 2018. This triennial symposium was established in 2005 as an opportunity for researchers and policy makers to learn about the latest research, educational programs, and technologies available for animal mortality management. This, like previous symposia, was an ambitious undertaking. It included oral presentations, poster sessions, exhibits, tours of Texas’ huge animal industry, practical demonstrations, an emergency exercise, and an international panel. Several regular participants mentioned that this event had been the best symposium yet.
Visiting a Texas Beef Packing Plant
Many thanks to my co-chair, Mark King, and the other great Steering Committee members who made this and previous events possible: Bob DeOtte, Mark Hutchinson, Mike Mayes, Dale Rozeboom, Megghan Honke, Jean Bonhotal, Josh Payne, Lori Miller, and Edward Malek. Special thanks to Bob DeOtte, our local Steering Committee member, who was involved in nearly every aspect of the Symposium and is responsible, to a great extent, for its success. I am also grateful to West Texas A&M University and the efforts of their incredible faculty and staff.
Dr. Bob DeOtte receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award
During the Symposium I had the opportunity to deliver 3 presentations: In-House Composting Field Exercises for Broiler Breeders; Adapting U.S. Composting Protocols for Use Internationally; and Recent Demonstration Projects and the Field Application of Above Ground Burial for Carcass Disposal and host the International Panel: Global Issues in Animal Mortality Management.
Above Ground Burial Demo Site with 3D Model Designed by Ava Grace Flory
White papers and slides from these and other presentations will be available shortly at: http://animalmortmgmt.org/
Even as we complete wrap up activities for the 6th, planning for the 7th International Symposium on Animal Mortality Management are beginning. I hope to see you there!
