To benefit a broad segment of the global dairy industry, the American Dairy Science Assn. (ADSA) Foundation will undertake another major initiative, this time to meet the growing information needs of dairy farmers, service professionals and students worldwide.

In 1978, a symposium designed specifically to produce a book, Large Dairy Herd Management (LDHM), was held in Gainesville, Fla. Speakers' presentations were developed into book chapters. In 1992, the book was updated under the co-editorship of Jack Van Horn and Charlie Wilcox.

In view of continuing interest in the second edition (1992) of LDHM and requests for an update, the ADSA Foundation announced that it will undertake publication of a third edition of LDHM, which will be available in e-book or print-on-demand options with completely new content, designed to allow for convenient updating, sold at member, nonmember and student rates, and distributed directly by ADSA.

The ADSA Foundation will sponsor a conference to facilitate development of the updated third edition. The conference is tentatively planned for May 2016 in the Chicago, Ill., area. Dairy experts from around the world will be selected to prepare and make chapter presentations as a first step in creating the third edition of LDHM. Publication is anticipated for spring 2017.

Dr. David Beede will serve as conference chair and editor-in-chief of the third edition. He was an author in the second edition and is currently the C.E. Meadows endowed chair of dairy management and nutrition with the department of animal science at Michigan State University.

Nonprofit organizations, companies and individuals are invited to join the ADSA Foundation as co-sponsors of the conference, the e-book or both. For information on sponsorship, please contact Larry Miller ([email protected]).