Mastitis continues to be the most common and costly disease of dairy cows and it is the predominant reason for antibiotic usage in dairy herds. It has a negative impact on milk production and quality, animal welfare and farm economics; overall, healthy animals are more efficient milk producers.
The Nordic researchers working on bovine mastitis and udder health, lead by Prof Päivi Rajala-Schultz at University of Helsinki, joined forces in 2018 to enhance their collaboration and to build an active network to tackle the challenges of mastitis together. This effort was supported by NKJ (Nordic Joint Committee for Agricultural and Food Research) networking funds. A long-term goal of this collaboration is to support and enhance competitiveness and profitability of Nordic dairy production through science-based knowledge and advice to the dairy sector.
The first Nordic Mastitis Research seminar was held in Uppsala in 2018, the second in Finland in 2019 and the third as a webinar organized from Oslo in 2021. The fourth seminar was organized in Copenhagen in 2022, as a hybrid meeting with the possibility for online attendance, and the 5th meeting was held on site in Uppsala in 2023. The purpose of these seminars/webinars has been to share information about on-going udder health projects and discuss various topics related to udder health in Nordic countries.
To continue these successful meetings and discussions, the 6th Seminar on Nordic Mastitis will be organized as an on-site meeting in Ås, Norway on September 23-24, 2024. Based on the aims of the latest NKJ project, this seminar will focus on bacteriological diagnostics of mastitis. The program will also include presentations given by the participants about their ongoing research on any mastitis-related topic. Priority will be given to presentations by PhD students and post-doctoral researchers.
Please, make plans to join your Nordic colleagues for an informative meeting with active discussions. We look forward to seeing you at the new buildings for the Faculty of Veterinary medicine in Ås, Norway. https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculties/veterinary-medicine.
If you would like a tour in the new buildings, and especially the clinics, you will have to arrive in Norway more than 72 hrs before entering the clinics, i.e. before Saturday at 13:00. The tour will be organized at 13:00 on Tuesday, the 24th of September.
Monday, September 23 (lunch served at 12.00)
Tuesday, September 24
There is no registration fee for mastitis researchers and advisers from farmer organizations in the Nordic countries actively working on udder health issues (thanks to the NKJ-networking grant), but registration is required. Registration includes lunch and coffee on both days and the dinner on Wednesday evening.
Deadline for those who wish to give a presentation is 12.8.2024.
For other participants registration deadline is 25.8.2024.
Venue for the seminar
The seminar will take place at the NMBU, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Oluf Thesens vei 22, Ås, Norway, September 23-24, 2024. NMBU is situated in Ås, 45 minutes by car/bus south of Oslo.
From both Oslo and the Oslo International Airport (Gardermoen) you can travel to the university by bus, train or car.
By train
Intercity and express trains depart every half hour from Oslo airport to Oslo Central Station. The Airport Express Train (Flytoget) has frequent departures to Oslo.
From Oslo Central Station take the local train heading towards Moss. Exit the train in Ås. There is a 15 minutes walk to Campus from the train station (1 km). You can also take the bus.
Walk from Ås station to NMBU - Google Maps
By bus
The airport bus service is run by NOR-WAY Bussekspress and departs from the airport roughly once an hour. The best option is to catch the bus going towards Fredrikstad, route F11. Ask the bus driver to stop at Korsegården, located approximately 1 km from the university. The Korsegården stop is located next to a Shell petrol station. Upon request, the bus driver can have a taxi waiting for you at the petrol station.
By car
NMBU is located close to the E6 motorway. From Oslo follow the signs going towards "E6 Gøteborg". About 40 km from Oslo turn off the motorway at the sign "Ås, Universitetet". Turn left at the roundabout, and follow the signs to Ås. The NMBU campus is on your left-hand side a bit further down the road.
The Student Welfare Organisation in Ås has some simple rental dormitories for rent within walking distance of the teaching premises. Thon Hotel Ski is centrally located in Ski, with a short distance to the train and bus directly to Ås. Reenskaug Hotel is located in the center of Drøbak. Public transport can be used between Ås and Drøbak. Thon hotel Opera is at the train station and ideal for transportation to and from Ås.
Accommodation with a simple standard:
The Student Welfare Organisation in Ås, tel 64 96 63 00
Bilitt Gård, 920 95 252
Hotels:
Thon Hotel Ski, tel 64 85 35 00
Reenskaug Hotel, Drøbak, tel 64 98 92 00
Thon hotel Opera, Oslo
Camilla Kielland, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Norway
camilla.kielland@nmbu.no
Volker Krömker, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
volker.kroemker@sund.ku.dk
Karin Persson Waller, Swedish Veterinary Agency (SVA), Sweden
karin.persson-waller@sva.se
Päivi Rajala-Schultz, University of Helsinki, Finland
paivi.rajala-schultz@helsinki.fi