The Alberta Sheep Breeders’ Association is very proud of the long standing presentation of the biannual Symposium. This event is a premier opportunity for the sheep industry as it brings in speakers from across the globe, who are experts in their field to present research and technology pertinent to the industry’s growth and sustainability.
We look forward to welcoming back an in-person event after missing the 2021 Symposium due to Covid restrictions. The Symposium will be held at the Holiday Inn (Gasoline Alley) in Red Deer. There is a block of rooms available until October 9th for a discounted rate. Call 403.348.8485 to book your room.
The course Alberta Sheep Breeders Symposium held on 10/19/2023, is approved for 10.5 hours ABVMA CE credit(s).
The course is approved for CE credit for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists
Some of the presenters include:
Dr John Gilleard - Parasites
Dr Lynn Tait - Production limiting diseases, ideal selection and lamb health
Speakers from MNP - Production Economics and Accounting 101
Grant Lastiwka - Rotational grazing and Cover Crops
Louise Liebenberg - Economics and selection of Guardian Dogs
Kristen Ritson-Bennett - Nutrition
Dr Rebecca Purc-Stephenson: Agknow- Mental Health Resilience
There will be a parasite workshop on Thursday Evening but will be limited to 25 people. You must be a registrant of the Symposium in order to participate.
Dr John Gilleard BVsc PhD DipACVM DipEVPC FCAHS FRCVS
Dr John Gilleard BVsc PhD DipACVM DipEVPC FCAHS FRCVS
Dr John Gilleard BVsc PhD DipACVM DipEVPC FCAHS FRCVS
Dr. John Gilleard is a veterinarian and a Professor of Parasitology and Associate Dean of Research at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. His research program focuses on anti-parasitic drug resistance and improve sustainable parasite control. He has a particular interest in sheep parasites bus also active projects in
Dr. John Gilleard is a veterinarian and a Professor of Parasitology and Associate Dean of Research at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. His research program focuses on anti-parasitic drug resistance and improve sustainable parasite control. He has a particular interest in sheep parasites bus also active projects in cattle, companion animals and humans. He is a former president of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitology
(2018), a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
Dr Lynn Tait
Dr John Gilleard BVsc PhD DipACVM DipEVPC FCAHS FRCVS
Dr John Gilleard BVsc PhD DipACVM DipEVPC FCAHS FRCVS
Dr. Lynn Tait was born and raised in Alberta and graduated from the University of
Saskatchewan in 1990 with degrees in both Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. She is
currently the owner of OC Flock Management Inc, which, since 1996, has provided small ruminant veterinary and consulting services as well as operating CFIA approved and CETA
Dr. Lynn Tait was born and raised in Alberta and graduated from the University of
Saskatchewan in 1990 with degrees in both Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. She is
currently the owner of OC Flock Management Inc, which, since 1996, has provided small ruminant veterinary and consulting services as well as operating CFIA approved and CETA certified semen and embryo production facilities. Currently, OC Flock is one of only four facilities in the world that is accredited to export semen and embryos to the EU. Over the past 25 years, Lynn has maintained a sheep flock of her own and has been actively involved in the sheep and goat industries both domestically and internationally. In addition to her private practice, she teaches small ruminant medicine as a contract instructor at the University of Calgary, College of Veterinary Medicine. OC Flock Management is a member of the Disseminated Veterinary Learning Community that provides senior year students from UCVM with clinical rotations in small ruminant medicine and advanced reproductive technologies. OC Flock also supports youth in the industry through sponsorship of a number of 4H clubs and 4H on Parade in Calgary.
Rebecca Purc-Stephenson
Dr John Gilleard BVsc PhD DipACVM DipEVPC FCAHS FRCVS
Rebecca Purc-Stephenson
Rebecca Purc-Stephenson is an Applied Social Psychologist and Professor at the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus. She is also the Lead Researcher of AgKnow, the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network. Her research focuses on stress, health, and resilience in agriculture. Over the past 20 years, she has conducted studies that examined h
Rebecca Purc-Stephenson is an Applied Social Psychologist and Professor at the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus. She is also the Lead Researcher of AgKnow, the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network. Her research focuses on stress, health, and resilience in agriculture. Over the past 20 years, she has conducted studies that examined how individuals with chronic physical and/or mental health conditions adapt at work, and what strategies help them build and sustain resilience to ongoing work stressors. Now working with community partners across Alberta and other researchers across Canada, she is examining the mental health and well-being among farmers, their families, and those in the agricultural industry. Current projects include a provincial assessment of stress and coping among farmers, succession planning, transitions in and out of agriculture, farm animal epidemics and depopulation, and the farm management and mental wellness. This line of research is a natural fit for Dr. Purc-Stephenson as she lived on a farm, worked as a farm labourer on a large livestock operation, and is a survivor of a childhood farming accident.
Rick Burton
Dr John Gilleard BVsc PhD DipACVM DipEVPC FCAHS FRCVS
Rebecca Purc-Stephenson
Rick is a Farm Management Consultant with MNP’s Farm Management Services team in Red Deer. Rick draws on more than three decades of Western Canadian agricultural industry and commercial banking experience to support clients throughout central and northern Alberta. He helps clients successfully expand, improve efficiency, overcome financi
Rick is a Farm Management Consultant with MNP’s Farm Management Services team in Red Deer. Rick draws on more than three decades of Western Canadian agricultural industry and commercial banking experience to support clients throughout central and northern Alberta. He helps clients successfully expand, improve efficiency, overcome financial challenges, drive informed management decisions, and determine practical solutions to create stronger, more resilient operations.
Rick facilitates financial analysis and strategic planning to promote the improved financial health of client's operations. He quickly and efficiently assesses and develops solutions for clients in the agricultural sector, including primary producers and agribusiness operators. He also works with clients in other industry sectors, including business owners requiring support with financial
management coaching and oversight, new debt acquisition or debt restructures.
Prior to joining MNP, Rick was a managing director, Western Canadian agriculture and agribusiness at a major Canadian chartered bank. Rick earned a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) from the University of Alberta in 1991 and a Master of Business
Administration (MBA) from Dalhousie University in 2005.
Grant Lastiwka
Kristen Ritson-Bennett
Kristen Ritson-Bennett
Grant and his wife Della and two daughters Alexa and Mataea/husband Garett run a small grazing/cow-calf operation where Grant tests what he learns from producers, scientists and extensionists.
Grant worked in Central Alberta with Alberta Agriculture in varying roles:
Forages/Grazing/Livestock/Economics Extension for over 30 years. Those eff
Grant and his wife Della and two daughters Alexa and Mataea/husband Garett run a small grazing/cow-calf operation where Grant tests what he learns from producers, scientists and extensionists.
Grant worked in Central Alberta with Alberta Agriculture in varying roles:
Forages/Grazing/Livestock/Economics Extension for over 30 years. Those efforts are almost always related to trying to realize the value from seizing the opportunity of
managing forages and grasslands to be a high valued crop. His forage management
thought is from the plant to the soil, to the livestock, to the people, and to the consumer. The systems he works towards are managed in ways that consider finances, the environment, the people, and the community. This Holistic Management decision making approach is family based, done simultaneously and strives to be regenerative. Grant is working part-time with Union Forages, plus providing forage support to producers through many of Alberta’s Forage and Applied Research Associations. He enjoys participating on varying forages projects with “Forage Centric and Producer Empowering” groups. Grant is a proud board member of the Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN), which is “Alberta’s Voice for Forages”.
Kristen graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science and nutrition. Kristen is the co-owner of Blue Rock Animal Nutrition which just hit a milestone of 10 years in business this spring. Kristen and Lee have since developed the company into one of the preferred rumina
Kristen graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science and nutrition. Kristen is the co-owner of Blue Rock Animal Nutrition which just hit a milestone of 10 years in business this spring. Kristen and Lee have since developed the company into one of the preferred ruminant nutrition consulting and mineral manufacturing companies in the province. Blue Rocks philosophy around ruminant nutrition is focussed on providing nutrition consulting that is independent, economical and productive. Our whole team utilizes science-based nutrition solutions to producers and are continually looking at ways to assist the client in improving their bottom line on their operations.
Louise Liebenberg
Kristen Ritson-Bennett
Louise Liebenberg
Louise Liebenberg is a rancher, a lover of wildlife, a writer and an amateur photographer. I grew up in South Africa and obtained my Bachelor of Science degree. After University I took my border collie and
traveled to Europe and the UK, to work on various sheep farms. We started a shepherding company grazing nature areas, dykes, parks, and
Louise Liebenberg is a rancher, a lover of wildlife, a writer and an amateur photographer. I grew up in South Africa and obtained my Bachelor of Science degree. After University I took my border collie and
traveled to Europe and the UK, to work on various sheep farms. We started a shepherding company grazing nature areas, dykes, parks, and military areas while living in the Netherlands. We ran the first shepherding school in the Netherlands and had multiple flocks and shepherds doing a variety of grazing projects throughout the country. We direct marketed organic lamb to butcher stores.
In 2008 we emigrated to Canada, where we now ranch. We run a commercial and purebred Angus cattle
and sheep operation.
We ranch in an area that has many large predators including wolves, bears, cougars, and coyotes and have utilised Livestock Guardian dogs since 1992. I, write articles for multiple publications, including the US based “The Shepherds Magazine” where I have a monthly column where I write about livestock guardian dogs. I have spoken at various conferences in Canada and Internationally, on Ranching with Wildlife (primarily on conflict reduction between predators and livestock) and on Livestock Guardian Dogs (raising, training, behaviour, problem solving, and any other topics related to the use of LGD). I have travelled extensively all over the world, looking at how LGD are used and worked. I like to speak
broadly about LGD, with a practical focus on their use. I like to help people find good solutions to help mitigate conflict between livestock and wildlife.
Dr Sawsan Ammar
Kristen Ritson-Bennett
Louise Liebenberg
Dr. Sawsan Ammar is a veterinarian graduating from Sadat city University, College of Veterinary Medicine in Egypt and obtained her PhD in Parasitology at the University of Tennessee. She is currently a postdoctoral research associate and clinical parasitology resident at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) fund
Dr. Sawsan Ammar is a veterinarian graduating from Sadat city University, College of Veterinary Medicine in Egypt and obtained her PhD in Parasitology at the University of Tennessee. She is currently a postdoctoral research associate and clinical parasitology resident at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) funded by the National Centre of Veterinary Parasitology (NCVP). Her research interests focus on the translation of advanced technologies into routine diagnostic applications including DNA sequencing and Mass Spectrometry methods. Dr Ammar will be presenting the Parasite workshop Thursday.
With Appreciation - Our Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Contributor Sponsor
In-Kind Industry Support
Producer Showcase Sponsorship
Agenda: Thurs Oct 19-Sat Oct 21, 2023
Subject to slight changes due to speaker availability.
The Symposium will be held at the Holiday Inn (Gasoline Alley) in Red Deer. There is a block of rooms available until October 9th for a discounted rate. Call 403.348.8485 to book your room.