31 January 2012: Over 80 international paratuberculosis experts will visit a leading regional New South Wales research facility and learn about the State’s agriculture industry next month on technical tours that are a part of the 11th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis.
Paratuberculosis is a chronic bacterial disease that is particularly relevant to the Australian agriculture industry, due to the high susceptibility of livestock (principally cattle and sheep). To highlight the strength of regional NSW’s research talent, facilities and industry practice, a group will travel to the NSW Centre for Animal and Plant Biosecurity at Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI) in Menangle, while another group visits a large, modern, commercial sheep and beef grazing property in the Southern Highlands.
“The technical tours to Menangle and Arthursleigh represent a valuable opportunity for the leading researchers, livestock industry representatives, veterinarians and public health authorities in Sydney attending the 11th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis to see the Australian rural experience firsthand,” comments Lyn Lewis-Smith, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Business Events Sydney, the convention bureau responsible for securing the event for New South Wales, along with University of Sydney’s Faculty of Veterinary Science.
“Our local committee identified the need to complement Sydney’s robust scientific program with some on-the-ground experiences for visiting delegates. As most of the committee are from rural areas, we understand that it is places like EMAI and operating farms that will benefit most from the discussions, discoveries and innovations that emerge from the Colloquium,” adds Professor Richard Whittington, Chair Farm Animal Health at the University of Sydney .
The tour to the NSW Centre for Animal and plant Biosecurity at EMAI has proved to be the most popular, with delegates keen to visit the central laboratory for animal disease diagnosis in NSW, Belgenny Farm and a tour of a modern robotic “future dairy” farm. The second tour to the commercial grazing property has a focus on animal husbandry and paratuberculosis disease control in a local context.
To give delegates an authentic regional NSW experience, both tours include a typical Aussie BBQ lunch with produce sourced from local properties. The Arthursleigh Technical Tour also takes in a heritage-listed wool shed, whip cracking, sheep shearing and a wine tour.
“Business Events Sydney is observing a growing number of international conventions and conferences, particularly those with a scientific or medical focus, incorporating regional tours into their programs. Regional NSW boasts some of the State’s leading specialist facilities, brightest minds and best practice, and showcasing this not only enriches conference programs, but boosts our State’s profile as the Asia-Pacific innovation hub,” says Lyn Lewis-Smith.
The 11th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis was secured for Sydney by Business Events Sydney and the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Veterinary Science in 2008 and will see over 260 experts in the international paratuberculosis field gather in Sydney and regional NSW from 5 – 10 February 2012. The event has been organised by professional conference organiser, Concept Event Management.
