Laura Loschke, education and information services coordinator and assistant records supervisor, and Toni Shapiro of the American Hereford Association (AHA) attended the 2018 Breed Council Forum hosted by Neogen GeneSeek in Lincoln, Neb., July 31 – Aug. 2.

The forum included hands-on learning and roundtables for peer-to-peer discussions and featured guest speakers Andy Dorn, beef business development manager at Allflex USA; Matt Barten, owner of Embruon, LLC.; and representatives from GeneSeek. Loschke and Shapiro heard updates on current GeneSeek products and got a sneak peek at new products yet to hit the market. They also participated in a hands-on workshop about GeneSeek’s Lab Information Management System (LIMS), which showcased efficient ways to relay information, reports and animal data back to AHA breeders.

Dorn gave a demonstration on wands, identification readers and bed scanners, as well as discussed innovations in tissue sampling technology. Barten provided a thought-provoking speech on the evolving world of genomics and explained Embruon’s work in helping producers make genomic selections essentially at negative nine months of age.

Following the formal forum presentations, breed associations had the opportunity to tour the Neogen GeneSeek lab and have one-on-one meetings with GeneSeek staff. The event also provided valuable networking and fellowship between representatives from all breed associations in attendance.

“The forum was a great experience,” Loschke says. “The opportunity to network with peers, see the processes at the GeneSeek lab and talk with their employees on how we can better help each other is priceless.”

Shapiro notes the value this forum will provide the AHA staff. “I really enjoyed having the opportunity to meet with everyone from other associations as well as the GeneSeek employees,” Shapiro says. “I also found the segment given by Allflex to be very helpful and informative.”