WCERS VI Speakers, Lectures, and Q & A Sessions, November 5 - 6, 2021

WCERS VI SYMPOSIUM LECTURES

Use of MIsoprostol to Treat Mares   Primary Lecture

Marco Antonio Alvarenga
Nationality –Brazilian
Associated Professor from Veterinary School of São Paulo State University (UNESP)–Brazil since 1989. Bachelor's in VeterinaryMedicine at Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (1983), master science in Veterinary Medicine at Universidade Estadual Paulista (1989), and Ph.D. in Clinical Pathology on Medical School from São Paulo State University -UNESP(1996).
Post Doctorate and Visiting Scientist at Equine Reproduction Laboratory from Colorado State University-USA (1997-1999).
Formal President of the BrazilianEmbryo TransferSociety(SBTE) (2004-2005).
President of the Brazilian Association of Equine Practitioners –ABRAVEQ (2021-2025
Member of the International CommitteeInternational Symposium on Stallion Reproduction
Has experience in Equine Theriogenology, focusing on mare infertility, stallion and donkey semen preservation, and embryo transfer in horses.
Is author and co-author of more then 100 scientific articles.
Is author of several chapters on Equine Reproduction books.

Effects of blue LED light directed at one eye on equine pregnancy and first postpartum estrus  Supplemental Lecture

Dr. Christine Aurich, Associate Professor in Animal Reproduction, Vienna University for Veterinary Medicine, Austria
DVM Hannover, Germany 1990; Dr med vet Hannover, Germany 1992; Dr med vet habil Hannover, Germany 1997. Christine Aurich is the head of the Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer and the Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Science at the University for Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria. She is a Diplomate of the European College of Animal Reproduction(ECAR. Her current research focuses on gamete physiology, assisted reproductive technologies, and pregnancy in the horse. Christine is the current chair of the scientific board of the International Symposium for Equine Reproduction (ISER) and the International Symposium of Stallion Reproduction (ISSR). She is the author of more than 200 scientific articles in international journals and the editor of a German-language textbook on equine reproduction. She is Associate Editor of the journal Animal Reproduction Science and will be the Co-Editor in Chief from 2022. She is an Editorial Board member of the journals Theriogenology, Reproduction in Domestic Animals, Domestic Animal Endocrinology, and Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

Rational use of antibiotics and non-antibiotic therapies in broodmare practice   Primary Lecture

C. Scott Bailey, DVM, MS, DACT
Dr. Bailey received his DVM from Kansas State University in 2003 and an MS in Veterinary Science from the University of Florida in 2009. He became a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists in 2008. He spent 10 years at North Carolina State University, where he taught didactic and clinical theriogenology and developed a research program aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine disease in veterinary patients. In 2019, he accepted a position as a resident veterinarian at Claiborne Farm in central KY. He continues to be active in research and veterinary education and serves in adjunct positions at North Carolina State University and the University of Kentucky.

Complications and management of the pregnant mare   Primary Lecture

Chelsie A. Burden, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACT
Equine Reproduction SpecialistGoulburn Valley Equine Hospital, Victoria, Australia
Dr. Burden graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She subsequently completed an internship at Oklahoma City Equine Clinic followed by a residency and master’s degree at the Colorado State University Equine Reproduction laboratory. Dr. Burden became board-certified with the American College of Theriogenologists in 2015. Dr. Burden transitioned to Australia (Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital) following her residency. She continued transitioning between the southern and northern hemisphere breeding seasons working at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, Haras Al Boraq in Morocco, and the University of Florida before settling in Australia in 2017. Dr. Burden’sinterests focus on the problem broodmare and assisted reproductive technology in the mare.

Effects of equine endocrine diseases on reproduction   Primary Lecture

I received my BS and DVM degrees from Iowa State University (Colleges of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, respectively), and I performed my internship, residency, and PhD training at The Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. I am an equine internal medicine specialist, board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (specialty of Large Animal Internal Medicine). I am currently an associate professor of Equine Internal Medicine and the Bud and Marilyn Jenne Designated Professor in Equine Clinical Sciences and Research in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at OSU. Our research team’s efforts are focused on equine endocrinology and laminitis (in particular, therapeutics useful for treating equine insulin dysregulation), and my clinical interests are equine endocrine disease, neonatology, and general internal medicine.

Review of early pregnancy loss: causes and solutions   Primary Lecture

Field assessment of frozen semen quality using a microdrop of semen   Supplemental Lecture

Nutrition and Pregnancy   Supplemental Lecture

Dr. Claire Card is a three-time graduate of Cornell University. She is a full professor, director of the Equine Reproduction Service, and clinician-scientist at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Univ. of Saskatchewan. She is a past president of the American College of Theriogenologists, past board member of the Society for Theriogenology, and Theriogenology Foundation. She was the Theriogenologist of the Year in 2020. Her research focus includes the maternal recognition of pregnancy and nutritional impacts on fetal health and development in horses. In her spare time, she is a 4th Dan black belt, community activist, and long-term volunteer for Vets Without Borders in Canada’s North and in Uganda.

The oocyte of the older mare   Primary Lecture

Mare factors affect oocyte function and potential dietary interventions   Supplemental Lecture

Dr. Carnevale received her DVM from Colorado State University in 1998, prior to obtaining an MS at Colorado State University in reproductive physiology. Her Ph.D. was obtained in 1993 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a focus on reproductive aging in mares. Dr. Carnevale taught at Southern Illinois University before returning to CSU in 1998 to establish a program in equine assisted reproduction, which included commercial applications of oocyte transfer and ICSI. Dr. Carnevale is currently a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University. Her research is focused on maternal factors that influence oocyte quality and reproductive efficiencies, such as aging and metabolic problems.

Advanced technologies helping to troubleshoot stallion subfertility   Supplemental Lecture

Dr. Jennifer Clulow –Senior Lecturer in Theriogenology
BScAgr, BVMS, Ph.D., DACT
Charles Sturt UniversityWagga Wagga, NSW Australia
Jen is a Theriogenologist based at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga Australia. Jen has extensive industry experience in both the Thoroughbred industry and the use of artificial reproductive technologies. Jen has had the privilege of working alongside some of the best equine reproductive veterinarians in the world spending time at Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, Hagyard Equine Medical, Equibreed NZ, Colorado State University and has spent the last 7 years working at Scone Equine Hospital. Jen’s passion is using the artificial reproductive toolbox to solve problems in the broodmare and the stallion.

Reproductive endocrinology for equine practitioners   Primary Lecture

Distinguished Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA USA. Dr. Conley is the Director of the Clinical Endocrinology Laboratory and holds the John P. Hughes Endowed Chair in Equine Reproduction. He obtained his veterinary degree at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and saw dairy and mixed animal practice in Australia and Scotland before moving to America to complete a theriogenology residency at Iowa State University, Ames Iowa. He earned MS and Ph.D. degrees in reproductive physiology before leaving Iowa State to accept an NIH post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas Texas, later becoming a Research Scientist at the USDA Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center Nebraska. He subsequently joined the faculty of Animal & Range Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota before moving to join the faculty at UC Davis. He served as chair of the Department of Population Health & Reproduction from 2013-2018. In 2013 he was awarded a diploma of Fellowship by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and was elected an honorary diplomate of the American College of Theriogenology in 2019. Reproductive endocrinology and physiology have remained a central theme of his research throughout his academic career. He speaks three languages, Australian, English, and American.

Induction of lactation and adoption of orphan foal   Primary Lecture

Peter Daels graduated from the University of Gent, Belgium.  Between 1984 and 2005, completed a residency and Ph.D. training at UCDavis, was on the faculty at Cornell University and Utrecht University, head of the equine reproductive research team at the INRA institute at Nouzilly, France, and director of the ET devisition at Equitechnic in France.  From 2005 to 2012, he helped develop the ET division at Keros in Passendale, Belgium.  Since 2012, he is a professor in equine reproduction at his alma mater where he teaches veterinary students, conducts research in embryo transfer and placental pathophysiology in mares, and provides clinical embryo transfer services.  He is a diplomate of the ECAR and ACT and maintains a very active research collaboration with the equine reproductive laboratory of Prof Dini at UCDavis.

Postmortem gamete retrieval   Primary Lecture

An update on nocardioform placentitis   Supplemental Lecture

Pouya Dini, DVM, PhD, PhD, DECAR, DACT
Assistant Professor in Equine Reproduction
Dr. Dini is a veterinarian with board certification in the European College of Animal Reproduction (subspecialty Biotechnology) and the American College of Theriogenologists (subspecialty Equine Reproduction). Dr. Dini holds two Ph.D. degrees, one in Animal Reproduction from Azad University/Ghent University and one in Equine Reproduction from Ghent University/University of Kentucky. Dr. Dini’s laboratory has a focus on three primary areas with four graduate students and two residents: equine placental development and its pathologies, optimizing the use of biotechnology in equine reproduction, and the effect of the assisted reproductive technique on placental development.

Persistent mating induced endometritis - tips and tricks   Primary Lecture

TVA in practice, what to expect, and potential complications   Supplemental Lecture

Ghislaine Dujovne is originally from Chile, after getting her DVM degree she worked in private practice mainly in the thoroughbred industry in Chile for 4 years, her passion for Equine Reproduction took her to Auburn University in Alabama for graduate studies and an Equine Theriogenology Residency, she got her ACT board certification in 2010 and stayed in Auburn University for an extra year as a clinical instructor. Since 2012 she started as a faculty at the University of California Davis, her current position is Clinical assistant professor in Equine Theriogenology she is the Clinical Service Chief and her main research interests are management of endometritis in mares and advanced reproductive technologies.

Uterine diagnostics for the general practitioner – more than just a swab   Primary Lecture

Sarah Eaton, DVM, DACT, CVA
Associate Professor of Practice
University of Arizona, College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Sarah Eaton graduated from the Purdue University College of Veterinary medicine in 2006. She then completed an equine internship at Durango Equine in Arizona and a theriogenology residency with Dr. Claire Card at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. After becoming board certified in Theriogenology Dr. Eato entered private practice and worked in general mixed practice in British Columbia, a thoroughbred broodmare practice in New York, and was the theriogenologist at an equine referral practice in Michigan. Dr. Eaton is currently an Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine.

Immunomodulators in the mare: Treatment options in an era of ever-increasing antibiotic resistance   Supplemental Lecture

Dr. Carleigh Fedorka is a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center.  A global expert in reproductive immunology, she has focused her research on understanding the relationship between the immune system and the reproductive tract, evaluating the efficacy of immunomodulators on various reproductive disorders, and discovering immune-related biomarkers for reproductive health.
Dr. Fedorka earned her BS degree from St. Lawrence University and her Ph.D. in Veterinary Sciences from the University of Kentucky after working in the industry as a manager of a commercial Thoroughbred breeding farm.  In her spare time, she currently owns and operates Sewickley Stables, a thoroughbred retraining facility while competing at the upper levels of eventing.

Pregnancy and neonatal aspects in mules   Supplemental Lecture

Claudia Barbosa Fernandes, DVM, MSc, Ph.D.
Department of Animal Reproduction at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science – University of São Paulo – Brazil
Dr. Claudia Barbosa Fernandes graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the Londrina State University - Brazil (1999). She then completed a residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Reproduction at the Veterinary Hospital of Londrina State University (2002). She then finished a master’s degree in 2004 and a Ph.D. in 2008 both in Animal Reproduction at the Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science College UNESP Botucatu - SP - Brazil. Her sabbatical year was on Gluck Equine Research Center University of Kentucky – USA (2015/2016). Currently, Dr. Fernandes is an associate professor of veterinary obstetrics at the Department of Animal Reproduction at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science – University of São Paulo - Brazil, where she is the head of the Laboratory for the Study Pregnancy and Peripartum in equids (LEPPE) since 2009.

Selecting antimicrobials to treat post-partum metritis. Lessons learned from a retrospective study   Supplemental Lecture

Dr. María Ferrer received her veterinary degree in 2000 from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. She earned her MS degree from Louisiana State University in 2005 and became a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists in the same year. Dr. Ferrer started her career as a private practitioner. She then pursued formal training in Theriogenology at Louisiana State University (2002-2005). Dr. Ferrer was a theriogenology faculty at Kansas State University (2006-2014), before joining the University of Georgia in 2014. Dr. Ferrer’s research interest is in reproductive immunology and male fertility.

Pregnancy rates after transfer of ICSI generated equine embryos   Primary Lecture

Rob Foss, DVM
Dr. Foss is a 1981 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri. He is the founding partner of Equine Medical Services in Columbia, Missouri where he established a commercial embryo transfer program in the early 1990s. The ICSI program started commercial production in 2007 and currently produces over 1,000 blastocysts per year.

Semen processing for storage   Primary Lecture

Implications of aging in the stallion   Supplemental Lecture

Zamira Gibb
The University of Newcastle, Australia
Dr. Zamira Gibb is a mid-career reproductive biologist with over 80refereed publications and total grant earnings of over $4.5M.Dr. Gibb graduated with a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience (first class Honours) from the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney in 2006. She then went on to do a Ph.D. in Veterinary Science with a focus on stallion sperm sex-sorting and commenced her postdoctoral appointment at the University of Newcastle in2013 under Laureate Professor John Aitken.  Dr. Gibb is now the leader of UON’s Priority Research Centre’s Animal Fertility Research Group, where she supervises nine Ph.D. students and four research assistants. Dr. Gibb is on the executive committees of both the International Symposium for Equine Reproduction, and the Association for Applied Animal Andrology, and her research encompasses a stream of strategically important developments that provide solutions to the challenges faced by livestock breeding industries.

Contraception: intrauterine devices with the potential to control fertility in feral equids   Supplemental Lecture

CARLOS M. GRADIL DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACT
661 N Pleasant St. ISB 427q University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
Ph: 413-577-2214
gradil@umass.educarlos.gradil@tufts.edu http://www.umass.edu/vasci/eqreprodctr/ Contraception for feral equids technology was developed by Veterinarian Carlos Gradil. His initial goal was to improve control of mare behavior. Mares can behave erratically during their mating season, which can be disturbing or even dangerous to riders. The traditional remedy has been to insert a glass marble into the uterus, which stimulates progesterone secretion and calms behavior. But marbles are known to fall out easily, and their presence or absence can’t be easily detected.
Dr. Gradil has developed an elegant solution to this problem. He developed an IUD (iUPOD) made up of plastic-coated magnets, which self-assemble into a shape that keeps them from falling out, while at the same time their individually small size makes insertion and removal very easy. Their presence can be confirmed by ultrasound, or easier yet, they can be detected by simply holding a hand-held metal detector to the mare’s abdomen. At the end of the mating season, the magnets can easily be retrieved from the uterus using a magnetic wand - would need no string.

iUPODs should be useful not only for behavior control but also capable of providing long-term reliable contraception - with or without traditional copper coatings. Because of their simple design, ease of insertion, and ease of removal, these drug-free devices could be used for controlling animal populations in the wild, for example, feral pigs, and to provide a non-surgical means of controlling fertility in feral equids.

Auto-transfer of ICSI-generated equine embryos   Supplemental Lecture

Jennifer Noelle Hatzel is originally from Katy, Texas, and attended Texas Tech University.  Her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree is from Western University of Health Sciences.  Upon graduation, she completed a variety of professional development experiences throughout Ocala, Florida, and Lexington, Kentucky.  Following these, she obtained a Master of Science degree from the University of Florida and completed a residency program in Theriogenology from Colorado State University (CSU).  Upon board certification with the American College of Theriogenology in 2013, she began focusing on equine-assisted reproduction at CSU and joined the faculty as an assistant professor in 2017.  She lives on a small farm with her husband, three children, and various farm animals.

Bacteria in the mares’ reproductive tract, not all are bad   Supplemental Lecture

Babiche Heil  DVM(Hons) MSc DipACT MANZCVS(reproduction)
Matamata Veterinary Services – Equine
Matamata, New Zealand
American Registered Specialist in Equine Reproduction

Babiche graduated from Utrecht University in The Netherlands in 2010. After several years in mixed and equine practice, Babiche completed an internship in equine reproduction followed by a second internship in medicine, surgery, and anesthesia. She developed a special interest in equine reproduction and went on to do several back-to-back stud seasons between The Netherlands, Western Australia, and New Zealand.
In 2014 she permanently moved to New Zealand to work as a stud vet in the Waikato and she started her residency in Theriogenology at Louisiana State University in the USA in 2017. During her residency, she presented her research on the Metagenetic characterization of the equine uterine microbiome at the International Symposium on Equine Reproduction in Cambridge, UK, and won the Michelle LeBlanc award for young presenters. She became a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists and a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientist reproduction chapter in 2019. After a year as a resident vet on a large thoroughbred stud farm in Australia, and a locum in mixed practice, Babiche came back to the Waikato to join the team at Matamata Veterinary Services, Matamata, New Zealand, where she currently works as an American registered specialist in Equine Reproduction. She has a special interest in mare (in)fertility and endometritis.

Transvaginal oocyte aspiration and ICSI for the clinician   Primary Lecture

G. Reed Holyoak is a professor and holds the Bullock Equine Reproduction Endowed Professorship in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences department of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University. He received his B.S. in animal science in 1983 and M.S. in animal reproduction in 1984 from Brigham Young University before earning his DVM from Washington State University in 1988 and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky in 1992. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists (ACT) in 2000. Holyoak served on the ACT Examination Committee, as Secretary to the Board, ACT Vice President, and President.  He has over 140 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, abstracts, and published proceedings on equine, bovine, and canine reproduction topics.  Holyoak has over a decade’s service in helping teach theriogenology-related topics in Asia. His current research interests include reproductive infectious diseases, including the reproductive tract microbiota, and the integration of assisted reproductive technologies in clinical practice.

Endometrial biopsies - are they still useful?   Supplemental Lecture

The composition of stallion seminal plasma and its effects on spermatozoa (cooled semen)   Supplemental Lecture

Maria Kareskoski DVM Ph.D. DiplECAR Veterinary Specialist in Equine Medicine
Clinical instructor in Equine Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
Maria Kareskoski graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Helsinki in 2003, and she is a Diplomate of the European College of Animal Reproduction since 2011. She did her residency in Helsinki with some detours to the UK, Germany, and the US. Her Ph.D. thesis (2011)focused on stallion seminal plasma and artificial insemination. She is currently working as a clinical instructor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Helsinki, teaching veterinary students, supervising residents and Ph.D. students, and lecturing on CPD courses. Kareskoski has have been working within the field of equine reproduction since 2004, together with Prof. Terttu Katila. She serves as the secretary for the international committee of the International Symposium of stallion Reproduction (ISSR), and she was a member of the review panel of The Swedish-Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research. Kareskoski has also served as chair of the education committee of the Finnish Veterinary Association, and she coordinates the national equine specialist training at the University of Helsinki. She is a member of the licentiate program executive group at the faculty, and a board member of Ypäjä Equine Hospital in Ypäjä, Finland. Kareskoski’s current research projects are focused mostly on the mare’s endometrium and stallion seminal plasma, and she is continuing her education in university pedagogy.

Frozen semen: importation, breeding doses, contracts and live foal guarantees   Primary Lecture 

Upon graduating from CSU in 1982, Mr. Loomis became VP and General Manager of Green Hills Farm, a large Warmblood breeding operation in South Carolina where he established one of the country’s first commercial semen freezing laboratories, the first to import and produce foals from frozen semen of European sires.  In 1987 Mr. Loomis accepted a position as Director of Biological Research for Hamilton-Thorne Research in Massachusetts and was involved in the refinement of the Equitainer System for cooled semen as well as the development of computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) for objective analysis of sperm motility. Also in 1987, Mr. Loomis founded Select Breeders Service, Inc (SBS) as a company devoted to the responsible development of the equine frozen semen industry.  In 1992, Mr. Loomis left Hamilton-Thorne to devote full attention to the growth and development of SBS and relocated the company to Maryland.  During that same year, Paul co-founded along with partner Whit Byers, Select Breeders Southwest in Texas.  In 1999, SBS launched the SBS Affiliated Laboratory Program, a global network of equine reproduction laboratories with the purpose of establishing standard operating procedures, an independent quality control program, and a reliable system for the production, distribution, and application of equine frozen semen. Select Breeders Service Europe and Select Breeders Service Australasia followed quickly behind and today the SBS Affiliate network consists of 26 laboratories in 8 countries. In 2012, Paul Loomis and David Scofield, DVM, MS, DACT, established Select Breeders Service, Veterinary Services, LLC to provide equine and canine veterinary reproductive services to clients in the mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Loomis has published numerous articles in scientific and lay journals, has been an invited speaker to several National and International Conferences, and is a peer reviewer for numerous scientific journals in the areas of semen evaluation, sperm physiology, and cryopreservation.

Manual removal of fetal membranes: options and consequences   Primary Lecture 

Dr. Margo Macpherson received her DVM degree in 1990 from Michigan State University.
She completed a residency and Master’s degree in Equine Theriogenology at Texas A&M University and became a Diplomate in the American College of Theriogenologists in 1994. After her residency, Dr. Macpherson practiced at the University of Pennsylvania and in central Kentucky. Dr. Macphersonis presently a Professor in the Section of Reproduction at the University of Florida. She is interested in all aspects of equine reproduction but is especially intrigued by problems affecting late pregnancy in the mare, most notably placentitis. Dr. Macpherson is also passionate about organized veterinary medicine and has served as President of the American College of Theriogenologists(2005) and president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners(2018). She is currently serving as Alternate Delegate (AAEP) in the House of Delegates for the American Veterinary Medical Association and is the Treasurer for the World Equine Veterinary Association(WEVA).

Equine Embryo transfer - tips and techniques for practitioners   Primary Lecture 

The desperation cycle   Supplemental Lecture

Patrick M. McCue, DVM, Ph.D., Diplomate American College of Theriogenologists
Dr. Patrick McCue graduated from veterinary school at the University of California, Davis, in 1986. He subsequently completed an internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and a residency in Equine Reproduction at theUniversity of California, Davis. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists in 1991 and received a Ph.D. in Comparative Pathology, with an emphasis on reproductive endocrinology and ovarian pathology in the mare, from UC-Davis in 1992. Dr. McCue joined the faculty at Colorado State University in 1994 where he is currently the Iron Rose Ranch Professor of Equine Theriogenology. Dr. McCue teaches the core course in Theriogenology (the study of animal reproduction) to veterinary students as well as advanced courses and clinical rotations in Equine Theriogenology. He coordinates the clinical Stallion and Mare Services at the Equine Reproduction Laboratory and attends to dystocias, high-risk pregnancies, and other equine reproduction cases at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. In addition, he helps coordinate the Continuing Education programs in Equine Reproduction for veterinarians and horse owners. He is the author or co-author of 10 books or eBooks and over 400 refereed publications, textbook chapters, scientific proceedings, and/or abstracts. He has also written over 200 monthly columns called ‘The Breeding Shed’ for The American Quarter Horse Journal. His research interests include infectious endometritis, reproductive endocrinology, reproductive pathology, and embryo transfer. Dr. McCue has received the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award and the American Association of Equine Practitioners Teaching Award from veterinary students at Colorado State University. In addition, he received the 2017 Theriogenologist of the Year award from the American College of Theriogenologists for outstanding accomplishments in the field of Theriogenology. He has served on the Board of Directors or Organizing Committees for the American Association of Equine Practitioners, International Equine Reproduction Symposium, International Symposium on Equine Embryo Transfer, and the West Coast Equine Reproduction Symposium.

Ejaculation failure: Five easy fixes   Primary Lecture

Sue McDonnell, Ph.D. CAAB is the founding head of the Equine Behavior Program at the University of Pennsylvania
School of Veterinary Medicine.

From sperm and egg: the basic and applied biology of ICSI and early embryo development   Primary Lecture

Dr. Meyers received his DVM from Michigan State University, his Ph.D. from UC Davis in Comparative Pathology, and residency training in Large Animal Theriogenology at Texas A&M University. He is board-certified as a Theriogenologist with the American College of Theriogenologists. He was an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, and is presently a Professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis. He was a resident veterinarian at a Standardbred breeding farm following residency and has been in mixed and equine clinical practice after veterinary training. Dr. Meyers’ laboratory has a focus on three primary areas with 5 graduate students: equine and canine sperm pathophysiology and cryopreservation, equine oocyte maturation and embryo development, and germ cell transplantation in fish and aquaculture reproduction.  He is a struggling jazz guitarist and an avid, mostly unproductive, fly fisherman.

How the weather affects follicular dynamics and the predictability of ovulation  Supplemental Lecture

Lee Morris graduated with a BVSc from The University of Sydney in 1992. She was in rural practice in northern NSW for 3 years. In 1997 Lee became a Diplomat of the American College of Theriogenology and in 1998 Lee graduated from The University of Guelph (Canada) with a Doctorate of Veterinary Science which studied the effects of the male on in vitro and in vivo embryo production. She then undertook 3 years of post-doctoral studies in advanced artificial reproductive technologies in horses with Prof. Twink Allen at the Equine Fertility Unit, Newmarket, UK. There, Lee and Twink developed the hysteroscopic low dose insemination method used for sex-sorted semen in horses and pioneered ICSI embryo culture. In 2001 Lee became the senior registrar in Equine Reproduction at The University of Sydney and then moved to New Zealand in 2002. Over the last 10 years, Lee has been the Director of EquiBreed NZ specializing in advanced fertility treatments for mares and stallions. During this time she has supervised 2 Ph.D. students and 5 Masters students to completion. Lee has also published many peer-reviewed papers on equine reproduction and presented her work internationally.

Management of the donor mare for OPU: from the collection to the shipment of the oocytes   Supplemental Lecture 

Dr.Denis Necchi,DVM, Dipl. ECARKeros Embryo Transfer Center(Belgium)
After the Veterinary Degree at the University of Milan starts to work as a veterinary resident at Select Breeders Services Italia, in charge of mares’ management, foaling, semen collection, and freezing, Embryo Transfer.
In 2005 became Diplomate at the European College of Animal Reproduction.
In 2013 leave SBS Italia for a position as Assistant Professor in Equine Reproduction at Utrecht University, where he works for 2 years.
In 2015 he works for one year in Avantea a big laboratory of advanced technologies for biotechnology research and animal reproduction, in charge of Ovum Pick up and recipient’s management.
In 2016, till 2018, he moves to Sweden to work as Veterinary chief of Broline int. a very big trotter farm responsible for the main reproduction activities.
In 2019, till today, he works as a Veterinary resident at KEROS (BE), the biggest embryo transfer center in Europe, performing more than 1000 ET a year and with a herd of 1700 recipients.
His interest is equine theriogenology involving semen freezing, fertility of the stallion and mare, broodmares management, Embryo Transfer and Ovum Pick Up.
Member of the ECAR examination committee since 2019, he always attends national and international conventions also an invited speaker.
Speaker and instructor in courses of Equine Reproduction.  Author and co-author of several publications in international journals and other material of equine reproduction.

Is uterine transmigration of the early blastocyst always necessary for the delivery of the Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy?   Supplemental Lecture

Professor (Hon) John R Newcombe
Equine Fertility Clinic
Warren House Farm

Qualified Royal Veterinary College University of London 1968
Post-graduate at London 1969-1972
Study. Equine genital flora and bacterial endometritis
Been in Equine Practice since 1974
Developed an Equine Fertility Clinic from 2000

Should cysts stay or should cysts go? Understanding the endometrial cysts formation and impact improves the therapeutic choices   Supplemental Lecture

Dr. Jérôme Ponthier
DVM, M. Sc., Ph. D., Diplomate ECAR
Equine Clinic Department, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University of Liège, Belgium
5D, Avenue de Cureghem, B41
Quartier Vallée 2
4000 Liège
Belgium
Jérôme Ponthier is born in 1978 in the French-speaking part of Belgium.  
He was graduated in Liège University (Belgium) as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. Jérôme Ponthier worked for 2 years in a Private Equine Practice dedicated to racehorses in the training center Chantilly (France). Then, he went back to the Equine Clinic of the Veterinary Medicine of the Liège University.
He began an ECAR program in 2006 and passed the ECAR exam in 2009. Thereafter, Jérôme Ponthier began a Ph.D. program, about stallion semen freezing. To complete this program, various externships were completed in different semen collections centers in Belgium and Normandy. In 2010, Jérôme Ponthier discovered and enjoyed the American way of life and of research during an externship in Texas A&M University, where he experimented with advanced methods of semen freezing.
His Ph.D. degree was defended in 2012 and he took the lead in a large Belgian semen collection and freezing center, while he was still involved in the general theriogenology cases received in the Equine Clinic of the University of Liège.
In 2017, Jérôme Ponthier became a full-time Assistant Professor for Equine Theriogenology in the University of Liège. For the clinical activity, Jérôme Ponthier developed infertility activity for stallions and mares, trying to propose individual treatment solutions for endometritis, endometriosis. Besides the clinical activity, Jérôme Ponthier developed research about semen, wild animals, endocrinology of equine pregnancy, and infertility.
After work, Jérôme Ponthier dedicates his time to cooking, landscape, and wildlife photography. He also enjoys traveling during his holidays (in the US, when possible) to discover mighty nature.

How to determine location of the retained testes in stallions using ultrasonography   Primary Lecture

Clinical applications of Doppler ultrasound evaluation of stallion testes   Supplemental Lecture

Dr. Malgorzata Pozor, Med. Vet. (DVM), PhD, Dipl. ACT
Malgorzata Pozor received her Med. Vet. (DVM) degree in 1985, from the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wroclaw, Poland, and in 1992 a Ph.D. degree from the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland. She worked as a junior faculty in the Department of Animal Reproduction at the University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland, starting in 1985, and as an Assistant Professor, starting in 1993. In 1996, Dr. Pozor completed her residency in large animal reproduction at the New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, USA, and became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists. In 1997, she became a Veterinary Specialist in Animal Reproduction in Poland. In 1998, she served as a temporary faculty member in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, USA. She joined the faculty at the College of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Florida in 2002, initially as a lecturer, then as a Clinical Assistant Professor, and currently as a Clinical Associate Professor.
Dr. Pozor’s clinical and research interests include equine andrology, reproductive behavior, and endocrinology, as well as new modalities of imaging in diagnosing reproductive disorders in horses. More specifically, her research focused on medical modifications of testicular blood flow in stallions, and most currently, on intratesticular stem cell transplantation as a treatment for male infertility. Dr. Pozor published numerous articles on stallion reproduction and presented her work at national and international conferences.

Tulio Prado

Surgical Procedures on the Mare Reproductive Tract   Supplemental Lecture

Tulio M Prado currently works at the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee. Tulio does research in Higher Education and International Education. Their most recent publication is 'Evaluation of a modification of the McKinnon technique to correct urine pooling in mares.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tulio-Prado-2

How to perform an optimal screening transrectal pregnancy examination during mid to late gestation in the mare   Primary Lecture

Catherine Renaudin, DVM, DECAR
Education
-DVM: graduated from the veterinary school of Lyon (Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Lyon) France: 1988
-Residency in Equine Reproduction, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA: 1993-1996
-Diplomate ECAR (European College of Animal Reproduction): 2015
Professional experience
-Mixed practice (80% equine reproduction):1988-1993-Residency in Equine Reproduction, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA: 1993-1996
-Assistant Hospitalier in equine reproduction at ONIRIS, Nantes, France:2012-2014
-Associate Veterinarian, Equine Theriogenology department, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA: 2015-2019
-Temporary affiliate: visiting research faculty, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis: 2019 to present
Research/Expertise
My area of expertise/ research is the ultrasound monitoring of the placenta and fetus in high-risk pregnant mares throughout gestation. I started to study the normal ultrasonographic appearance of the placenta and established the normal values of the combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP) from 100 days gestation to term. Later, I showed that ascending placentitis could be diagnosed in vivo by ultrasound when CTUP was increased compared to the normal established values. It opened a new field to treat and attempt to prevent abortion. I then focused on studying the fetus: showing that fetal sexing could be determined using a combination of transrectal and transabdominal approaches from 100 to 220 days gestation; establishing growth charts from 100 days of pregnancy to term to assess fetal growth/well-being or estimate gestational age when ovulation/breeding date is unknown.

Monitoring high risk pregnancy in the mare   Primary Lecture

Jutta obtained her veterinary degree in 2006 and received her specialty training at the University of Hanover, Germany. Her main research interests include ultrasonography of the late pregnant mare, use of Doppler ultrasonography in the pregnant mare, and functionality of the pregnant uterus. After numerous years of experience in the field of equine reproductive medicine at the Celle State Stud, the University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation (TiHo) Hanover, the Veterinary Competence Center Karthaus GmbH, Germany, and specialist clinics in New Zealand and Australia, Jutta has recently createdReproTraining -working independently at the interface between science and practice. The focus of ReproTraining is on practice-oriented continuing education -online seminars and on-site courses-and collegial exchange in the field of reproductive medicine. As such, long-term goal

An update on the cryopreservation of stallion sperm   Primary Lecture

Harald Sieme (DVM 1988, Dr.med.vet. 1989, Dr.habil. 2004) worked as a veterinarian at National Stud Lower Saxony, Celle; Germany (1991-2006) and is a Professor of Equine Reproductive Medicine at University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany. Besides teaching and clinical activities, his research interest is mainly focused on stallion fertility, cryobiology of sperm and reproductive biotechnology (AI, embryo transfer).

Management of stallions with reduced fertility   Primary Lecture

Dr. Regina Turner graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. She completed a residency program in Large Animal Reproduction at New Bolton Center and became Board Certified in Theriogenology in 1994. Between 1995 and 1999, Dr. Turner completed a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine. She was then hired as a faculty member in the Section of Large Animal Reproduction and Behavior in Penn’s Veterinary School where she currently serves as a Professor of Large Animal Reproduction. Dr. Turner has broad clinical experience working with both mares and stallions that are presented for routine, referral and emergent reproductive issues. Her research interests have focused on age-related stallion infertility and the molecular and cellular regulation of sperm motility. She is also a fairly mediocre low-level amateur event rider.