Call for abstract submission

We are happy to invite you to submit abstracts for making an oral or poster presentation at ICAR Annual Conference & IDF/ISO Analytical Week 2025. Abstract screening committees will decide whether the abstract is accepted for oral presentation/poster presentation or is not accepted. Please email your abstract in desired format to abstract@icaridfiso2025.com.

ICAR Sessions for abstract submission

1. ICAR traits: how ICAR members develop tools to support farmers to increase the sustainability of their dairy herd.
• Today, farmers have access to a range of technologies that can enhance the sustainability of their dairy herds. These include genomic selection and breeding programs, precision farming technologies, feed and environmental management tools, health monitoring systems, and data analytics solutions. This technical session aims to present the optimal, combined solutions offered by ICAR members to the farmers.
2. ICAR RFID Composition and Environmental Performance Test (Full Test).
• "Some years ago, competent authorities and manufacturers around the globe began seeking a comprehensive test for RFID devices where both the transponder and the physical composition of the device would undergo very specific testing to determine the quality of both the electronic and composition of an RFID tag. In answer to these queries, ICAR designed the Device Composition and Environmental Performance Test. This test is the most rigorous and comprehensive test that an RFID device can be subjected to. Only devices of excellent quality can pass this test. As the quality of this test has been recognized, the demand for this testing by competent authorities around the world is beginning to rapidly increase. This session will review the Device Composition and Environmental Performance Test and discuss the specific parameters that are tested. Manufacturers will be shown the application and testing process, and competent authorities will be shown the distinct advantages of devices that have successfully passed the Device Composition and Environmental Performance Test."
3. Advancing climate-smart livestock technology to enhance animal health and resilience, farmer prosperity, and food.
• This session aims to bring together leading researchers, practitioners, and experts to discuss and share innovative solutions and advancements in the field of climate-smart livestock technology. The session will focus on the development and implementation of technologies designed to improve the health and resilience of livestock, thereby enhancing the economic well-being of small-holder farmers. We seek contributions that explore the following themes:
• Animal health and resilience: We invite studies and innovations that address the challenges of maintaining livestock health and resilience in the face of climate change. This includes research on disease resistance, adaptive traits, and sustainable management practices.
• Farmer prosperity: Technologies that contribute to the economic prosperity of small-holder farmers. This encompasses advancements in livestock productivity, cost-effective farming practices, and market access improvements.
• Food security: We are interested in research that demonstrates how climate-smart livestock technologies can ensure a stable and sufficient food supply. This includes studies on sustainable farming practices, resource efficiency, and the integration of livestock systems into broader food security frameworks.
4. How the milk analyses can support the livestock and dairy production ?
• The ICAR 2025 meeting in Anand will feature an engaging session exploring the theme: "How Milk Analyses Can Support Livestock and Dairy Production." This session will delve into the critical role of milk analysis in advancing livestock management and enhancing dairy production. Experts will present cutting-edge methods and technologies that leverage milk composition and quality data to optimize herd health, productivity, and efficiency. The session aims to equip participants with actionable insights into how milk analyses can drive informed decision-making, support sustainability goals, and ensure the long-term success of the dairy industry.
5. Recording and phenotyping strategies with focus on functional traits.
• Genetic improvement of dairy cattle commonly relies on pedigree and performance information collected through national milk recording programs. This has supported notable gains in animal performance over the past century, but also requires substantial investments in personnel, equipment, and logistics. Such programs are common in high-income countries with well-established dairy sectors, but middle- and low-income countries often have systems that are much smaller in scope, reducing the effectiveness of their genetic improvement programs. Common limitations include a lack of uniform animal identification and pedigree recording, limited phenotyping in both number of cows enrolled and traits included, a lack of physical infrastructure (equipment, data collection networks, etc.), and a shortage of human resources to collect and analyze data. The costs of constructing a European-style recording program are daunting, but new technologies point towards new models for data collection, storage, and use. Notably, while many smallholders lack on-farm computers or sophisticated record-keeping systems, many have access to cellular telephones and associated data networks. Given the widespread availability of such tools, new systems that rely on farmers instead of milk recording officials to collect data can be constructed at much lower cost and statistical techniques can be used to identify errors or other irregularities in data recording. Call phone cameras can be used to supplement numerical data and applied for purposes such as animal identification and recording of functional traits. This session will focus on approaches adapted to the local circumstances including the use of modern tools that may be used to support genetic improvement programs in middle- and low-income countries. Success stories and lessons learned within these topics are of interest as well.
6. Breeding for lower methane emission- advances in recording, phenotypic and genetic analysis, and implementation in breeding programs.
7. New developments in Sheep, Goat and Camelids within ICAR.
• This session is related to small ruminants and camelids and aims at presenting new developments in this sector. The presentations should focus on novel phenotypes related to efficiency, resilience and adaptation to global warming. Moreover, as Asia hosts the most important populations of camelids, sheep and goats, this session should be as well an opportunity for Asian countries to highlight initiatives taken in the breeding and performance recording sector.