present between organic and conventional dairy production. “I hope that my research can transcend management types and be useful to all dairy farmers,” she says. “The well-rounded discussion and networking opportunities with a variety of groups represented in the NMC membership should help in that process.”
Lies Beekhuis-Gibbon Lies Beekhuis-Gibbon’s road to large animal medicine began at Utrecht University in the Netherlands where her undergraduate studies focused on ruminants. The experience sparked an interest for research which matured during her time at the Royal Veterinary College in London and through her residency at the University College Dublin, Ireland. It was during her residency that Beekhuis-Gibbon was first introduced to the National Mastitis Council. “At the time, I was finishing the final six months of my residency and completing a project that I had been working on for much of that time,” Beekhuis-Gibbon remembers. “The practical project focused on the development and implementation of an HACCP-based mastitis control program for six Irish dairy farmers.” Beekhuis-Gibbon then began applying what she had learned through the project on additional dairies after her residency. In 2011, she started working for the Welsh Regional Veterinary Centre in South-West Wales where she currently works as a large animal veterinarian specializing in dairy cattle. “Most of my mastitis work now involves solving and monitoring SCC and clinical mastitis problems on individual farms,” she says, adding that she also organizes producer meetings on mastitis prevention and control throughout the region.
Beekhuis-Gibbon’s willingness to share her research partially stems from on-going involvement with NMC. In 2010, she attended the 49th NMC annual meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico as an NMC scholar. The 4,700 mile trek paid off as the young researcher began discussing her doctoral project with mastitis researchers from across the world. “The NMC scholarship helped me to get up-to-date research knowledge from a North American perspective,” she says. “I also met experts and students from around the world. That has been helpful as dialogue across and between continents improves everybody’s expertise in mastitis-related fields.” Along with the networking opportunities, Beekhuis-Gibbon was excited to see NMC’s commitment to milk quality through its producer awards. “Though research is essential, it’s great to see farmers given credit for their input and dedication,” she says.
Ingrid Zwertvaegher In January 2011, Ingrid Zwertvaegher took a break from her studies at Ghent University in Belgium to travel to Arlington, Virginia. Close to 3,400 miles from home, the young researcher found familiarity in a group of researchers and milk quality experts known as the National Mastitis Council. “I was given the opportunity to attend the NMC 50th Annual Meeting thanks to the group’s scholar award,” she says. “At the meeting, I presented my work on teat dimensions during the Research and Development Summaries Session and the Technology Transfer Session.” During her presentations, Zwertvaegher discussed research she worked on while pursuing a Ph.D. at Ghent University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in collaboration with The Institute for Agricultural
2010
50 Years of Milk Quality
2011
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