MIDWESTERN SECTION

AMERICAN DAIRY SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

January 1998

Dear ASAS and ADSA member:

The Midwestern Sections of ASAS and ADSA will hold their 1998 Joint Annual Meeting on March 16-18 in Des Moines, Iowa. We are anticipating another meeting with top quality scientific sessions and record attendance. Please, preregister for the meetings to take advantage of discounted rates. Included in this mailing are preregistration materials, hotel registration form, and biographical sketches and ballot for Midwestern Board candidates.

New highlights for this year's program are the Swine NRC Publication Symposium that is scheduled for Monday, March 16 and the Undergraduate Competition Paper Session — Contemporary Issues in Animal Agriculture. Other topics include:

Extra valine for sow diets Genetic markers for growth Symposium — Growing Dairy Heifers Microsatellite markers for paternity identification Feeding value of new varieties for grain and silage

New implants and ionophores Improving meat quality New vaginal inserts for synchronizing estrus Use of byproduct and co-product feeds for beef cattle NC-119: The National Dairy Herd Management Research Project

For hotel reservations, we will again use the Des Moines Housing Bureau; rooms will be available at the Savery Hotel, Kirkwood Hotel, Hotel Fort Des Moines, and Embassy Suites. The Savery Hotel will serve as Association headquarters, and headquarters for the Academic Quadrathalon will be the Hotel Fort Des Moines. Meeting registration, scientific sessions, and receptions will be held in the Des Moines Convention Center.

The Midwestern Section Board has an integral role for planning and conducting programs and activities of the Section. A key responsibility for Section members is electing Board members. Please, read the enclosed biographical sketches for Board candidates, vote for one nominee for each Board position, and return your completed ballot today. Ballots must be postmarked by February 27, 1998 to be counted.

We hope that you plan to attend the upcoming Annual Meeting. The program includes activities for all scientific sessions, Academic Quadrathalon, Student Placement Center, Graduate Student Paper Competition, new Undergraduate Competition Paper Session — Contemporary Issues in Animal Agriculture, Awards Breakfast, and informal receptions. Please, encourage colleagues and students to attend, also. Those who have never attended an Annual Meeting are important for the future of the Midwestern Sections of ASAS and ADSA. See you in March!