By Geitner Simmons
University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty are at the forefront of animal welfare research and will host a June 1-3 international symposium highlighting the latest research and practical applications for beef cattle.
“There is a clear and growing need for collaboration across disciplines and sectors, and this symposium aims to address that need in a very intentional way,” said Ruth Woiwode, who has pioneered the university’s animal welfare studies as an assistant professor of animal science.
Woiwode, who is also an animal behavior and well-being specialist with Nebraska Extension, is co-chairing the symposium along with Brian Vander Ley, a veterinary epidemiologist and extension specialist with the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and director of the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center.
The International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare, founded by a cooperating team of U.S. and Canadian animal scientists and veterinarians, is a biennial event hosted in rotation by partner institutions in both countries. The 2026 symposium, to be held at the Nebraska East Union, will feature the theme “Bridging Research and Practice for the Future of Beef Cattle Welfare” and include talks, roundtables and panels discussing practical tools, research findings and the trajectory of beef cattle welfare management.
Registration is underway, and the full program is online, with presentations scheduled from a range of experts from academia and industry.
Source : unl.edu