Bullseye March 2015

WestGen Days 2015

 As a member owned and directed organization, our Annual General Meeting is an important event on our calendar. With members spread across a vast geography, we recognize that attending the meeting isn’t convenient for many. For that reason, over the last decade we’ve worked to enhance the AGM by adding seminars and social functions to make it into an event, now named WestGen Days; and we provide members from outside of the BC lower mainland with financial assistance to offset their travel expenses.Carnival

WestGen Days 2015 will be held from March 23-25 in Chilliwack, BC, and guests are encouraged to consider staying for the Westcoast Classic Sale on Wednesday evening and the BC Holstein Spring Show on Thursday. Monday evening will kick off the event with a wine and cheese welcome reception. The annual meeting takes place Tuesday morning and will be followed by the unveiling of the plans for the new WestGen headquarters. After lunch, guests will learn about a study local veterinarian Marty Darrow did on the practical application of genomics, and about the new dairy selection indexes Canada is implementing from Semex VP of Genetics, Pierre Laliberte. That evening will feature a dinner with the WestGen board and special guests and some good old fashioned carnival style entertainment.

On Wednesday we’re excited to host Jack Rodenburg of Dairy Logix to present a half day Cow Signals workshop, showing the basics of the Cow Signals training program in the classroom and practically with a hands-on session at the UBC Dairy Education & Research Center. This will be followed by Dr. Nina Von Keyserlingk presenting on the science behind the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle and then hosting a discussion on how to successfully implement the code’s recommendations in your operation. Rounding out the day will be a presentation by Dr. Lisa McCrea on the use of the Aqua Cow Rise System for down cow therapy. As the ProAction Animal Care program is rolled out, we want to do our part to help producers make sure their farm meets the standards and they’re maximizing the productivity of their genetic investment by ensuring cow comfort is a priority.

 

If you’d like to attend, please contact your Genetic Advisor or Product Support Specialist Kristin Dahl to reserve your spot. Hotel rooms will be held at the Best Western Rainbow Country Inn until March 8th.