Early Bird Registration is now open!
Register before June 10 and receive a $50 discount on your registration
DSANA, The Dairy Sheep Association of North America, is excited to announce that our next Dairy Sheep Symposium will be held November 7-9, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois (U.S.) This will be our first in-person event since 2019 and offers a terrific opportunity to learn, discuss, and meet new people in our industry!
The DSANA symposium is the major annual event of the dairy sheep industry in North America, providing an educational environment and fostering connections among dairy sheep producers, processors, and researchers. For 25 years, dairy sheep producers from Canada, Mexico, Europe, Central & South America, New Zealand, and the United States have attended. The event is perfect for:
Established sheep dairies
Those considering sheep dairying
Those who milk sheep on homesteads
Cheese makers who work with sheep’s milk
Veterinarians interested in small ruminant dairy animals
Small ruminant nutritionists
Grantmakers in the dairy industry
Businesses that serve the small ruminant dairy industry
Come learn the latest in dairy research, hear from experts in the field, learn from each other, and help guide the dairy sheep industry for years to come.
Join us for…
Opportunities to meet other dairy sheep producers from the U.S. & Canada and around the world!
A visit to Ms. J & Co, a 400 head Assaf milking flock in Monroe, Wisconsin. Tour the farm and participate in hands-on workshops.
Presentations from experts and producer panels on dairy sheep production, economics, reproduction, and nutrition.
Schedule
WATCH THIS PAGE FOR UPDATES ON THE SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM
The DSANA Symposium Committee has developed a tremendous schedule for the 2024 Symposium. Details on topics, speakers, and producer panels will be updated below as they are confirmed.
Presentation topics on November 7 & 8:
Improving Milk Quality in Your Flock - Dr. Andrea Mongini
Using Social Media Influencers to Market Sheep’s Milk Yogurt - Aisling Flanagan
Colostrum Management for Dairy Replacement Lambs - Dr. Andrea Mongini
Supplementing Dairy Ewes on Pasture (and indoors) - Dr. Antonello Cannas
Diversifying Markets by Investing in Brick-and-Mortar
Selecting for Parasite Resistance in the Dairy Flock
Once-a-Day Milking: The Effects on Milk Composition
Tracking Feed Costs (& Other Variable Costs) Against Production
Record-Keeping for the Breeding Program
Managing Fiber and Balancing Rations in the Lactating Dairy Ewe Diet - Dr. Antonello Cannas
Tentative farm-tour workshop topics on November 9:
Mastitis vaccine
Staph. aureus screening
Smart-phone pregnancy testing
On-farm colostrum testing and mastitis vaccine
Between sessions you can talk with presenters, vendors, and the fellow producers you’ve just met during the morning sessions. Half the value of the Symposium is the colleagues you meet, the friends you make, and the information you glean from other dairy sheep producers!
Presentation details
Improving Milk Quality in Your Flock
Dr. Andrea Mongini
Dr. Andrea Mongini, DVM will present on milk quality and somatic cell count management. Part 1: The causes of clinical and subclinical mastitis, how they are transmitted, and how to control the spread. Part 2: Milk tests – how your milk is graded, what the milk test numbers mean, how to troubleshoot the test results; and how to create an on-farm mastitis lab.
Dr. Mongini is a partner in M&M Veterinary Practice, which she operates in California with her husband, Dr. Craig Meadows; she was named 2023 Small Ruminant Practitioner of the Year by the AASRP. Her practice specializes in dairy cattle, dairy goats, and dairy sheep, with an emphasis on herd health, nutrition, and production management. She also owns and operates Ewetopia Dairy, a 300-ewe dairy.
Using Social Media Influencers to Market Sheep’s Milk Yogurt
Aisling Flanagan
We’ve all heard about major consumer-product companies using social media “influencers” to help market their product. Not many of us have heard about a sheep dairy using influencers to help market their sheep milk yogurt! Aisling Flanagan and her husband, Michael, produce sheep's milk yogurt and cheese at their Rockfield Farm sheep dairy and creamery in County Mayo, Ireland. [Incidentally, Rockfield Dairy just won Ireland’s 2024 award for “Best New Irish Farmhouse Cheese”.] Aisling is an experienced sales and marketing consultant and has been a Lecturer in Marketing and Sales for the past 19 years at the University College Dublin's School of Business. She will share her experience promoting her farm’s yogurt and cheese on social media and will give us some insight on using social media platforms and influencers to market sheep dairy products.
Colostrum Management for Dairy Replacement Lambs
Dr. Andrea Mongini
We’re only beginning to understand how important colostrum quality is for our replacement dairy ewe lambs. Dr. Andrea Mongini, DVM will help us with a presentation on colostrum management: what is “quality” colostrum; what is the mechanism of immunoglobulin absorption in the newborn lamb; how does inadequate immunoglobulin absorption impact the replacement female; what is the current understanding of the effect of feeding high SCC colostrum and milk to replacement females; and how can we use colostrum management to reduce mastitis in the ewe flock.
Dr. Mongini is a partner in M&M Veterinary Practice, which she operates in California with her husband, Dr. Craig Meadows; she was named 2023 Small Ruminant Practitioner of the Year by the AASRP. Her practice specializes in dairy cattle, dairy goats, and dairy sheep, with an emphasis on herd health, nutrition, and production management. She also owns and operates Ewetopia Dairy, a 300-ewe dairy.
More Presentations will be announced soon!
WATCH THIS PAGE FOR UPDATES ON SYMPOSIUM Speakers & Topics
“I found excuses not to attend the symposium for years. I was too busy, it was too hard to leave the farm, it’s too expensive. When we finally did attend in 2017, I quickly learned the error of my ways. The information we took home from that symposium and the ones that followed have had a measurable effect on how our farm operates and our bottom line. The best part of the symposium is the networking. Meeting people who have lived through the same problems and challenges you face day to day is incredibly helpful and comforting. I always leave the symposium feeling reenergized about my farm.”
- Kyle White, Milkhouse Farm + Dairy, Ontario, Canada
Registration
Early Bird Registration is Now Open!
Early Bird Pricing is available until June 10, 2024.
Register today and don’t miss out!
There are several registration options for this year’s Symposium (for both U.S. and Canadian DSANA members and non-members). Please read the options below and scroll down to the registration form. DSANA members receive a discounted package price until June 10 - this is available to new members as well, so why not join DSANA today?
1. FULL CONFERENCE PACKAGE FOR DSANA US MEMBERS: EARLY BIRD $325 USD
Early Bird Pricing available until June 10 - Don’t wait!
Presentations (Thursday and Friday)
Breakfast and Lunch (Thursday & Friday)
Wine & Cheese reception (Thursday Evening)
Friday Evening Dinner Social
Farm visit with bus transport and lunch (Saturday)
Digital version of Proceedings
*This package is also available to all DSANA members living outside of the US and Canada
2. FULL CONFERENCE PACKAGE FOR DSANA Canadian MEMBERS Early Bird: $350 CAD
With consideration for the exchange rate of the Canadian Dollar, DSANA is offering Canadian Members an admission fee in Canadian dollars. (Please note that the fee on the registration form is shown in USD equivalent to $350 CAD)
Early Bird Pricing available until June 10 - Don’t wait!
Presentations (Thursday and Friday)
Breakfast and Lunch (Thursday & Friday)
Wine & Cheese reception (Thursday Evening)
Friday Evening Dinner Social
Farm visit with bus transportation and lunch (Saturday)
Digital version of Proceedings
3. FULL CONFERENCE PACKAGE FOR NON-MEMBERS: $450 USD
Presentations (Thursday and Friday)
Breakfast and Lunch (Thursday & Friday)
Wine & Cheese reception (Thursday Evening)
Friday Evening Dinner Social
Farm visit with bus transportation and lunch (Saturday)
Digital version of Proceedings
*This package is available to anyone wanting to attend the symposium, living inside or outside the US
4. Daily Rates $150 USD
For US and Canadian members and non-members wanting to attend single days of the symposium:
For Presentations on Thursday, Nov. 8 (includes breakfast, lunch & cheese reception)
For Presentations on Friday, Nov. 9 (includes breakfast, lunch & dinner social)
For Farm Tour on Saturday, Nov. 10 (includes transportation and lunch)
Please note that this year’s Proceedings will be available in a digital format by default. A printed version of the Proceedings can be added to your registration at a cost of $25 USD, and will be given to you at the Symposium.
Registration Form
To register for this year’s Symposium, simply choose the tickets you would like to purchase and fill out the form that appears below. DSANA members need to click “sign in” and enter their email address and password. For questions, or if you need assistance, please email hello@dsana.org. We would love to help! (Want to pay the reduced member price? Join DSANA today!)
“We've been attending the Symposium for over 20 years. The information we've gathered has been critical to the success of our dairy and cheese-making business. It's been invaluable to build relationships with the network of experts and colleagues we've learned from at the Symposium and the ability to troubleshoot with them later when we've encountered challenges. Another great thing about the Symposium has been the marketing knowledge and feedback we've gained from presenting our cheese to experts and peers at the Symposium's cheese reception”
- Sarah Hoffmann, Green Dirt Farm, Missouri, USA
Location and Venue
The Hyatt Regency O’Hare is located within 10 minutes of the Chicago O’Hare international airport and is connected to the airport by a free shuttle for the convenience of our attendees.
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Chicago
9300 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Rosemont, IL 60018, United States
Hotel Phone - 1-847-696-1234
Rooms are available to symposium attendees at a rate of $179/night plus taxes and includes a free airport shuttle and wifi. If you book by October 16, this DSANA group rate is good for any night from Wednesday, Nov. 6 through Saturday night, Nov. 9.
Click here to book your hotel room
Symposium attendees using this link will need to change their arrival dates and departure dates based on their plans within the blocked dates. You can also book by phone, 1-847-696-1234. Make sure to mention that you are attending the Dairy Sheep Association Symposium and our group code “G-DSAN” to get our preferred rate.
You must book your hotel room by October 16 to get the DSANA group rate!
Getting Here
Traveling to Chicago
This year’s DSANA Dairy Sheep Symposium is being held near the Chicago International Airport. Chicago O’Hare is a major international airport with direct flights to over 200 locations.
Hotel Shuttle
There is a complimentary shuttle that runs between the airport and our hotel. The hotel shuttle runs every 15 minutes between 4 am and midnight, and every 30 minutes after midnight. Domestic travelers (Terminals 1 - 3) should head to the Arrivals level of Terminal 2 and exit via door 2A. Cross to the middle lane to catch the Hyatt shuttle. International travelers (Terminal 5) use exit door 5E. Cross over the first lane of traffic and proceed to the Hyatt shuttle pickup area under the awning. Click Here for a PDF of the hotel shuttle details.
Carpooling
A number of Dairy Sheep Symposium attendees will be traveling to the symposium by car. Please email us at hello@dsana.org if you are interested in carpooling and we will connect you with others.
