The 2016 International Livestock Congress - USA will bring together an elite group of international livestock and meat industry leaders to discuss a variety of proactive strategies that address the ever-changing beef industry.

The ILC-USA will be held March 3-4, 2016, at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Houston, Texas.

The International Livestock Congress is a unique global event hosted each year by the International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation to discuss issues of international importance affecting the future of animal agriculture. This year’s program will feature make-or-break issues regarding “Beef’s Role in Feeding the World.”

“The ILC is unique in that it provides an environment where critical issues facing the beef industry are openly discussed among the global beef community. The future of the global beef industry is dependent on producers and industry leaders coming together and finding that common ground which is so important in moving our industry forward,” said James ‘Bo’ Reagan, Ph.D., chairman of the International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation.

The first day of the ILC will feature a presentation by Gerda Verburg, Director General of World Organisation for Animal Health. Following Verburg, Temple Grandin, Colorado State University, will moderate a panel discussion on animal welfare and sustainability. Panel participants will include: Monique Eloit, OIE; Justin Ransom, McDonald’s; and Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.

New this year will be a student panel, moderated by Leann Saunders of Where Food Comes From, Inc. The panel will feature five of the student scholarship winners from around the world and will address animal welfare, sustainability and other current issues.

Frank Mitloehner, Professor, University of California-Davis, will open the discussion on day two with a discussion on beef sustainability. Shalene McNeill, NCBA, will moderate the morning panel discussion on the role of beef in the diet. Panel participants will include Maureen Strong, AHDB Nutrition Marketing, and Stuart Phillips, McMaster University.

The afternoon panel will be moderated by Shirley Tarawali, International Livestock Research Institute, and will focus on the emerging middleclass and the world market for beef. Panel members include Erin Borror, USMEF; Jason Strong, Australian Agricultural Company; and Bruno Cunha, Brazil Betha Consult. Gary Smith, Texas A&M University will provide an overview and wrap up the conference.

Individuals involved in all segments of the beef industry, both domestic and international, should plan on attending. The ILC in Houston will offer tremendous opportunity to interface with industry and government leaders worldwide, said Russell Cross, Ph.D, ISEF board member.

Cost to attend is $150. Student registration is $50, media $75, and Extension personnel $100. Register online at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ILC. The first 200 people to register for ILC will each receive one ticket to the sold-out Jason Aldean performance and rodeo held on Thursday, March 3, 2016.

A complete schedule of events can be found online at http://www.theisef.com.

Source: Texas A&M University