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Scientific Program of the IDF Mastitis and Milking Technology JointConferences 2026
March 10, 2026
Optional short courses
Venue: Waterfront
Day Package Includes: Morning coffee break, lunch, afternoon coffee break and dinner.
09:30 – 10:00 Registration with morning coffee break
10:00 Course start
12:00 Lunch
14:30 Afternoon coffee break
16:00 – 16:30 Course conclusion
19:00 Dinner in the restaurant
Dinner is included with course registration.
10.00 - 16.30
Optional short courses
A
(Mastitis thematic area):
10.00 - 16.30
Precision udder health management with low use of antibiotics
Course Leaders: Josef Dahlberg (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden) & Dinah Selighson (Swedish Veterinary Agency, Sweden)
Senior teacher: Päivi Rajala-Schultz (University of Helsinki, Finland)
Course Overview: This short course is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of antimicrobial stewardship and teat health in dairy farming. The course will cover the responsible use of antimicrobials to prevent resistance and ensure animal health, as well as best practices and innovations in maintaining and improving teat health to prevent mastitis and other related issues.
B
(Milking Technology thematic area):
10.00-16.30
Progressive Milk Extraction
Course Leaders: Sabine Ferneborg (Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway) & DeLaval International (Sweden)
Senior teachers: Doug Reinemann (University of Wisconsin, USA), Rupert Bruckmaier (University of Bern, Switzerland), Ian Ohnstad (The Dairy Group, UK)
Course Overview: This short course is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the critical aspects of promoting animal well-being, efficient and sustainable practices in milking. Through a series of expert-led sessions attendees will gain valuable insights into possibilities with machine settings.
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Course participants will be awarded a certificate, if registered as a student and present an oral or poster at the conference. Participants of both courses will have the opportunity to participate in a study visit to Lövsta (SLU’s animal research facility) as a part of these courses. Aims of these courses are to equip dairy farmers, agricultural professionals, and researchers with the knowledge and skills needed to implement effective antimicrobial stewardship programs and sustainable milking technologies.
March 11, 2026
10:00-10:30
10:30-12:00
10:30-10:50
10:50-11:20
11:20-11:50
11:50-12:00
12:00-13:30
13:30-15:00
13:30-15.00
13:30-14:00
14:00-14:30
15:00-15:40
15:40-17:00
15:40-16:10
16:10-17:00
17:00-17:30
19:00-22:30
General Opening Session
Room: Auditorium
Registration, posters
General Opening Session
Venue: Auditorium
Opening and welcome
IDF and the conference hosts
Invited talk: Facts and Forecast of the global dairy business
Lynda McDonald, University of Adelaide & University of Nottingham Alliance, Joint PhD Program, New Zealand
Invited talk: Contribution of milk harvesting research to optimal interaction between biology and milking technology
John Upton, Teagasc, Ireland
Discussion
Venue: M1
Lunch and posters
Parallel sessions
Venue: A2
Mastitis theme session A1
Responsible Use of Antimicrobials for udder health
Invited talk: Prudent use of antibiotics in bovine mastitis: The Swedish approach
Karin Persson Waller and Ylva Persson, Swedish Veterinary Agency
Invited talk: Rapid on-farm diagnosis of mastitis pathogens for clinical mastitis treatment decisions: update from South America Marcos Veiga dos Santos, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
+ short oral presentations
Venue: A4
Milking technology theme session B1
Best practice milking
Invited talk: Cows’ response to Machine Milking
Rupert Bruckmaier, Bern University, Switzerland
Invited talk: Novel technology meets the modern cow
Doug Reinemann, University of Wisconsin, USA
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+ short oral presentations
Venue: M1
Swedish fika (coffee break) and posters
Venue: Auditorium
Main session: Changing landscapes of milk production and the milk value chain.
Torsten Hemme, Kiehl University, Germany.
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Invited talk: To be announced
Case studies on milk production, milk quality and payment schemes from around the world.
Venue: M1
Posters and mingle
Gala Dinner at Berns
March 12, 2025
09:00-10:00
09:00-09:30
09:30-10:00
10:00-10:40
10:40-12:00
10:40-12:00
10:40-12:00
12:00-13:30
13:30-16:30
13:30-15:00
13:30-15:00
15:00-15:40
15:40-17:00
19:00
Main Session
Room: Auditorium
Possibilities to manage milk yield and udder health through tailored lactation management and breeding
Invited talk: Possibilities to reduce health risks by tailoring dairy cow lactations
Ariette van Knegsel (WUR; The Netherlands)
Invited talk: Recurring mastitis – cumulative and lasting effect on mammary glands and milk
Angela Costa (University of Bologna, Italy)
Venue: M1
Swedish fika and posters
Parallel sessions
Venue: A2
Mastitis theme session A2
New and Emerging Mastitis Threats
Got Flu? The H5N1 Enigma in U.S. Dairy Herds
Andrew S. Bowman (Ohio State University, US)
Prototheca-mastitis outbreaks in three Finnish dairy herds
Leena Riipinen (Univ of Helsinki, Finland)
+ short orals
Venue: A4
Milking technology theme session B2
Milking system efficiency
Invited talk:
Morten Dam Rasmussen (Aarhus University, Denmark)
Invited talk:
Ian Ohnstad (The Dairy Group UK)
+ short orals
Venue: M1
Lunch and posters
Parallel sessions
Mastitis theme Session A3
Milking technology theme Session B3
Venue: A2
Mastitis detection and treatment strategies
Invited talk: To be announced
+ short orals
Venue: A4
Milking system performance indicators
Invited talk: To be announced
+ short orals
Venue: M1
Swedish fika and posters
Venue: A2
Mastitis detection and treatment strategies
Invited talk: To be announced
+ short orals
Venue: A4
Milking system performance indicators
Invited talk: To be announced
+ short orals
Dinner at Stockholm Waterfront
March 13, Venue: Waterfront Auditorium
09.00-11.30 Closing session
11.30-12.30 Lunch
13.30-17.00 Technical Tours
March 13, 2026
13.30 -17.00
17.00
Technical Tour/s
A:
Hamra Farm (DeLaval’s research farm, Tumba)
B:
Lövsta Farm (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences’ research farm, Uppsala)
Indicate your preference (A/B) when you register
End of conference