AABP Annual Conference will Evolve Expectations of Cattle Veterinarian Attendees

The 56th American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) Annual Conference will be held Sept. 21-23, 2023, in Milwaukee, Wis. with the theme of “Evolving Expectations”. Registration is open at http://aabp.org/meeting/register2023.asp.  Preregistration ends August 10. 

“The theme of the conference this year reflects AABP’s mission to provide continuing education to cattle veterinarians and advance their practices,” says AABP Executive Director Dr. K. Fred Gingrich, II. “Our annual conference is the biggest event we plan for all year and I am always excited to welcome our members to the conference every September.”

AABP President-Elect and 2023 Program Chair Dr. Michael Capel notes that the program committee chose "Evolving Expectations" as this year's theme, with the feeling that it encapsulates many of the challenges bovine veterinarians deal with every day. “Nothing stays the same in our business, and we are constantly faced with opportunities to provide new services, challenges with staffing and recruitment, and juggling professional and personal life balance,” he says. "’Evolving Expectations’ helps change our mindset to finding solutions instead of putting up barriers to success.” 

Keynote speaker Sara Frasca, an expert on innovation and the power of human creativity, is known for her high energy, dynamic and engaging presentations, and will present “The Journey of Innovation”. Scientific sessions at the conference will include cutting-edge information on beef and dairy bovine medicine and health, practice management, clinical skills, preconference seminars, clinical forums, research summaries, practice tips, student sessions and more (see the schedule at http://aabp.org/meeting/conference.asp). The American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners will meet jointly with AABP. The conference will be submitted for RACE-approved continuing education. “The scientific sessions are designed to provide our membership with big-picture topics to stimulate conversation as well as very focused content that practitioners can take home and use immediately,” Capel adds.
   
The conference’s preconference seminar schedule offer something for everyone. “Bovine practitioners who have experienced AABP preconference seminars are often repeat participants in future preconference seminars, because they see the value in learning from some of the best and most innovative in the field,” says AABP Vice President and Preconference Seminar Chair Dr. Dave Sjeklocha.

“It is truly a unique opportunity to spend anywhere from a half day up to three days focused on a specific topic with excellent instructors and like-minded classmates. This year, we will have 12 preconference seminars from which to choose,” Sjeklocha adds.

Seminars include several tried-and-true standards, such as milk quality, replacement dairy heifers and beef heifer development. Newer seminars include beef cow-calf nutrition, field anesthesia and pain management, using on-farm data for problem solving, Kansas State antibiotic stewardship certification, and calf care and quality assurance instructor training. See preconference seminar information at http://aabp.org/meeting/preconference.asp.

Other events include the student Quiz Bowl, student case presentations, research summaries, awards and scholarships, a Job Fair, the Amstutz live and silent scholarship auctions and more. Members and affiliated partners can donate and/or browse auction items at https://aabp.org/auction/. 

This will be the 11th year for the 5K Stampede Fun Run sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, with proceeds benefitting the Amstutz Scholarship Fund. Conference attendees can sign up for the 5K when they register for the conference. Fun fact: the first 5K Stampede was held at the 2013 Annual Conference – also in Milwaukee!

“Our host city, Milwaukee, has a great deal to offer including its well-known breweries, baseball, food, parks on the shores of Lake Michigan and rich historical and cultural attractions,” Capel says. “We look forward to welcoming you to the 2023 conference!”

Family-friendly, the conference also offers a mother’s room and complimentary registration for childcare givers. 

Find all conference information at https://aabp.org under the Conference tab.