42nd Discover Conference®

MANAGING GENETIC DIVERSITY FOR FUTURE DAIRY AND LIVESTOCK BREEDING

This Discover Conference will be offered as a hybrid program with both in-person and virtual participation options. Select "Online Registration" below for complete details. To join the conference virtually, consult the "Virtual meeting information for the ADSA Discover Conference" email sent to all registered attendees on April 13 and again on April 19. There you will find the link to join the conference. Contact Tammy Plank 217-356-3182 ext.120 if you need help.

42nd ADSA Discover Conference®

ARPAS will allow up to 16 Continuing Education Units based on contact hours and content for ARPAS members participating in this Discover Conference. Participating ARPAS members may obtain credit for their participation by using the ARPAS website.

Conference objective

Genetic diversity drives our ability to increase profitability through selection, shift selection objectives to meet new market demands, and adapt to new environments. For the past 50 years combined breeding entities  have successfully made U.S. genetics globally preeminent -- increasing food security and providing marketing opportunities for U.S. breeders.  With a range of new selection tools and methods to employ this is an opportune time to pause, reflect and plan how genetic diversity and inbreeding might be managed in such a way that further advances U.S. genetics for the greater good. Led by the USDA National Animal Germplasm Program, this Discover Conference is one part of a comprehensive approach to address the issue of genetic diversity. The goal of these activities is to create a shift in how breeding, genetic improvement and genetic diversity are viewed and used in an intensive agricultural sector found in countries like the United States.

Who Should Attend?

Various stakeholders in the breeding industry including breed associations, dairy and livestock farmers, companies selling dairy and livestock genetics, companies developing and selling genomic technology, university scientists, and government agencies are encouraged to participate. Graduate students and early career professionals are especially encouraged to attend.

Registration

In Person registration postmarked by Friday, March 18, 2022, is $375.00 for ADSA-ARPAS members and $475.00 for non-members, which includes sessions and most meals. After March 18, the registration fee will be $475.00 member/$575.00 non-member and will be accepted on an availability basis. Virtual registration postmarked by Friday, March 18, 2022, is $275.00 for ADSA-ARPAS members and $375.00 for non-members. After March 18, the registration fee will be $375.00 member/$475.00 non-member and will be accepted on an availability basis.

ADSA Discover Conferences offers discounted Post Doc Member and Graduate Student Member Registrations for each conference. The Post Doc Member rate is $225 by March 18, $325 after March 18. Graduate Student Member rate is $195. These discounted offers are available to 10 members each on a first come, first served basis. To register, click the Online Registration link.

Your registration includes 90 days free access to the Searchable Proceedings of Animal Conferences (S-PAC).

Online Registration
Join ADSA

Accommodations

All participants are responsible for making their own housing reservations. The Conference will be held at the NIU Naperville Conference Center. A block of rooms has been reserved at the nearby Hampton Inn Chicago/Naperville in Naperville, Illinois.

To make a reservation at Hampton Inn Chicago/Naperville:

  • By Phone: Call +1 630-505-1400
    When making your reservation, refer to the "ADSA DISCOVER Conference.”
    This will bring up our block of rooms with our special rate of $89.00 plus tax per night.
    Reservations cancelled within 48 hours of arrival will be charged the first night’s room and tax. No shows are subject to the fee of one night’s lodging plus applicable taxes.
  • Online:  To book a room online, use the following link: ADSA Discover Conference

Arrival Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Departure Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022
Special conference rate: $89.00 plus tax
Reservation Deadline: Tuesday, March 22, 2022
After this date, reservations will be accepted on a rate and availability basis only.

Hampton Inn Chicago/Naperville
Hotel Phone: +1 630-505-1400
1087 East Diehl Rd Naperville, Illinois 60563, USA
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/chinvhx-hampton-chicago-naperville/

Travel

Conveniently located in the western suburbs of Chicago, NIU Naperville Conference Center and nearby Hampton Inn Naperville are easily accessible from Interstates 88 and 355. Naperville is 26 miles from Chicago O’Hare International Airport and 31 miles from Chicago Midway Airport, 4 miles from the Metra train station, 30 miles west of the city, and within reach of the area’s attractions.

Flight options: We suggest you fly into O'Hare International Airport (ORD). The airport is serviced by nearly every major airline. For a complete listing, go to http://www.flychicago.com/ohare/myflight/airlines/pages/default.aspx

Ground Transportation: NIU Naperville Conference Center and nearby Hampton Inn are 35 minutes southwest of O’Hare. Several rental car agencies are located in the airport. In addition, there are a number of shuttle and limo services for hire at the airport including A1 Limousine at http://www.a1limousine.com/. Additional options are available at http://www.flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/pages/default.aspx

Driving Directions: Complete driving directions to Hampton Inn can be found at https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/chinvhx-hampton-chicago-naperville/hotel-location/

Hampton Inn Chicago/Naperville
1087 East Diehl Rd.
Naperville, Illinois 60563, USA
Hotel Phone: +1 630-505-1400
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/chinvhx-hampton-chicago-naperville/

NIU Naperville Conference Center
1120 East Diehl Rd
Naperville, IL 60563, USA
Phone: +1 815-753-8975 or +1 630-413-0044
niunaperville@niu.edu

Attention Graduate Students

Reduced Registration Rates and Scholarship Travel Awards available for ADSA Discover Conferences®

In 2009, the ADSA Foundation Board of Trustees approved a special ADSA Discover Conference® graduate student member registration rate of $195, well below the early registration professional member rate of $375. The graduate student member registration rate is available to the first 10 graduate student member (ADSA-ARPAS)* registrants.

In that same year, the Foundation approved travel awards to graduate students. The Discover Conferences® Scholarship Travel Award fund makes travel to Discover Conferences® for graduate students more affordable by providing up to $250 per registered graduate student member (ADSA-ARPAS) who attends a Discover Conference®. Ten travel awards are offered each conference. Following the conference and within 30 days of the conference, students should complete an ADSA expense report, attach receipts at least equal to the expense claimed, and send to ADSA Headquarters, 1800 South Oak Street, Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820 Attn: Morgan Montgomery. Eligible expenses include travel, lodging, ground transportation and incidentals, in compliance with the ADSA Expense Reimbursement Policy, which includes receipt requirements. Registration fees are not reimbursable.

*If you are not currently a member of ADSA or ARPAS, graduate students can join for just $10. Click here for membership details and to join.

Conference Speaker Information
Poster Abstracts

Deadline to submit a title and brief abstract: 11:59 PM CDT on March 1, 2022.

To submit your abstract, please fill the “Abstract Template” below and submit it via the online submission portal. All submissions must be received using the online portal by 11:59 PM CDT March 1, 2022, to be considered. Authors will be notified by email no later than March 15, 2022, indicating the outcome of the review and selection process.

CONFERENCE DETAILS

April 19-21, 2022
Northern Illinois University Naperville Conference Center in Naperville, IL
Hosted by the American Dairy Science Association

Conference Documents

Program Committee

  • Harvey Blackburn, Coordinator, USDA/ARS National Animal Germplasm Program (co-chair)
  • Chad Dechow, Associate Professor, Animal & Dairy Science Pennsylvania State University (co-chair)
  • Rebecca Cockrum, Associate Professor, Animal and Dairy Science Virginia Tech University
  • Sophie Eaglen, National Association of Animal Breeders
  • Milt Thomas, Professor, Animal Science, Colorado State University
  • Curt Van Tassell, Geneticist, USDA/ARS
  • Cari Wolfe, Director of Research and Genetic Development, American Jersey Association

Conference Sponsors