Early Bird Registration is now open!
Register before June 1st, 2024 and receive a $50 discount on your registration!
DSANA, The Dairy Sheep Association of North America is excited to announce that our next Symposium will be held on November 7th and 9th in Chicago, Illinois. This will be our first in person event since 2019 and we need you there to make it a success!
The DSANA Dairy Sheep 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 all over Canada, Mexico, Europe, Central & South America, New Zealand, and the United States have attended. Our symposium brings together people from across the sheep dairying industry. Established dairies and those only considering sheep dairying will all find value at our event.
As a small but growing industry, the symposium provides a critical time for producers to meet, gain exposure to the latest in dairy research, learn from experts in the field and one another, and help guide the dairy sheep industry for the years to come.
Join us For…
Opportunities to meet other dairy sheep producers from the US & 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
PLEASE WATCH THIS PAGE FOR UPDATES ON THE SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM
We are developing a tremendous schedule for the 2024 Dairy Sheep Symposium. Details on topics, speakers and producer panels will be updated below as they are confirmed.
Tentative Presentations Topics on November 7th & 8th
Economics of feeding high and low producing dairy ewes
Supplementing dairy ewes on pasture
Record-keeping for the breeding program
Bottled milk for retail and wholesale
How sheep milk differs from other milks in human nutrition
Diversifying your sales through direct-to-consumer channels
Grant writing
Diversifying our food systems
The effect of high-SCC colostrum on replacement ewe lambs
Improving milk quality in your flock
Effective social media marketing
Tentative farm-tour workshop topics on November 9th:
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 soulmates you meet, the friends you make, and the information you glean from other dairy sheep producers!
“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 1st, 2024.
Register today and don’t miss out!
There are several registration options for this year’s Symposium (for US and Canadian members and non members). Please read the options below and scroll down to the registration form. DSANA members receive a discounted package price which is available to new members as well - why not join DSANA today?
1. FULL CONFERENCE PACKAGE FOR DSANA US MEMBERS: EARLY BIRD $325 USD
Early Bird Pricing available until June 1st - 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
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 fee on registration form is shown in USD equivalent to $350 CAD)
Early Bird Pricing available until June 1st - 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
4. Daily Rates $150 USD
For US and Canadian members and nonmembers wanting to attend single days of the symposium
For Presentations on Thursday, November 8th (includes breakfast lunch & cheese reception)
For Presentations on Friday, November 9th (includes breakfast, lunch & dinner social)
For Farm Tour on Saturday, November 10th (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 your email address and password. For questions or if you need a hand please email hello@dsana.org. We would love to help! Want to pay the DSANA price? Join DSANA Today!
“We've been attending the Symposium for over twenty 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 16th this DSANA group rate is good for any night from Wednesday November 6th through Saturday night November 9th.
Click here to book your hotel room
Symposium attendees using the 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 to get our preferred rate.
You must book your hotel room by October 16th to get the DSANA group rate!
Getting Here
Travelling 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 4am and midnight and every 30 minutes after midnight. Domestic Travellers (Terminals 1 - 3) head to the arrivals level of terminal 2 and exit via door 2A. Cross to the middle lane to catch the shuttle. International Travellers (Terminal 5) exit door 5E. Cross over the first lane of traffic and proceed to the 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 travelling to the symposium by car. Please email us hello@dsana.org if you are interested in carpooling.
