Celebrating 20 years of Promoting Excellence in Ruminant Nutrition!
📅 Tuesday 13th – Thursday 15th October 2026
📍 Best Western Airport Motel & Convention Centre, Attwood, Victoria
This year marks a significant milestone as the Australian Association of Ruminant Nutrition (AARN) proudly celebrates 20 years of promoting excellence in ruminant nutrition. We look forward to commemorating two decades of collaboration, innovation, and industry advancement with our members, sponsors, speakers, and delegates.
The conference will feature an outstanding program of expert speakers, delivering the latest research, practical insights, and industry developments across a broad range of ruminant nutrition topics. Alongside the scientific program, delegates will enjoy numerous opportunities to connect with colleagues, researchers, industry leaders, and students from across Australia and beyond.
We will officially kick off the conference on Tuesday evening, 13 October, with a Welcome Cocktail Function commencing at 5:30 pm at the Best Western Airport Motel & Convention Centre main Conference room. Join us for a relaxed evening of networking while enjoying drinks, canapés, a grazing table, and a unique cheese-making masterclass—the perfect way to begin two days of learning, collaboration, and celebration.
On Wednesday evening, delegates will come together for our 20-Year Celebration Formal Dinner, to be held at the Essendon Football Club Training Facility. This special evening will celebrate AARN's remarkable journey over the past two decades, recognising the people, partnerships, and achievements that have shaped the Association. Guests can look forward to a memorable night of fine dining, entertainment, and celebration with colleagues and friends from across the industry.
A complimentary bus service will be available for delegates travelling between the Best Western Airport Motel & Convention Centre, Attwood and The Hangar (Essendon Football Club).
Best Western Airport Motel & Convention Centre → The Hangar
Pick-Up 1: 5:30 pm
Pick-Up 2: 6:15 pm
The Hangar → Best Western Airport Motel & Convention Centre
Pick-Up 1: 10:30 pm
Pick-Up 2: 11:30 pm
If you require bus transportation, please ensure you select a bus ticket during registration so we can accurately coordinate transport requirements.
The conference will conclude on Thursday kicking off with the sponsors breakfast from 7AM, followed by another full day of engaging presentations and networking opportunity.
We hope you can join us.
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PROGRAM
Tuesday 13th October
5:30PM: WELCOME COCKTAIL FUNCTION
Convention Centre, Best Western Airport Motel, Attwood
Join us for an enjoyable evening of networking, featuring drinks, canapés, a grazing table, and an engaging cheese-making masterclass. It will be an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues and industry peers while celebrating the beginning of two days of learning, collaboration and professional connection.
Wednesday 14th October
8:00AM: Registrations
Convention Centre, Best Western Airport Motel, Attwood
8:45AM: Prof. José E. P. Santos
Research Foundation Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida.
Topic: Dietary methods for prevention of hypocalcemia in dairy cows
01:00PM: Prof. José E. P. Santos
Research Foundation Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida.
Topic: Approaches to superior reproductive performance
09:30AM: Prof. Peter Surai
Professor, Vitagene and Health Research Centre, UK
Topic: Selenium in Ruminants: An Essential Driver of Health, Performance and Reproduction.
01:45PM: Shaun Balemi
Ruminant Nutritionist, Agvance.
TOPIC: How New Zealand feeding Systems have evolved over the last 20 years and how they compare with Australia.
10:15AM: MORNING TEA
02:30PM: AFTERNOON TEA
10:45AM: Prof. Frank Dunshea
Professor, University of Melbourne
Topic: Heat stress learnings from the past 20 years.
02:45PM: Phill Pittolo
Ruminant Nutritionist, Phil Pittolo Consulting
Topic: Evolution of feed formulation over the last 20 years?
11:30AM: Dr. Angela Lees
Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland
Topic: Reflecting on what we know about the Heat Stressed Rumen.
03:30PM: Dr.Elliot Block
Research Fellow
Topic: Not all yeast is created equal - understanding yeasts and yeast-based products in ruminant nutrition
12:15PM LUNCH
04:15PM: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
06:00 PM: FORMAL DINNER
Essendon Football Club Training Facility (The Hanger)
This special evening will celebrate AARN's remarkable journey over the past two decades, recognising the people, partnerships, and achievements that have shaped the Association. Guests can look forward to a memorable night of fine dining, entertainment, and celebration with colleagues and friends from across the industry. A complimentary bus service will be available for delegates travelling between the Best Western Airport Motel & Convention Centre, Attwood and The Hangar (Essendon Football Club).
Thursday 15th October
07:00AM: SPONSORS BREAKFAST
FeedWorks
TOPIC: Getting calcium right when it matters most: Introducing CalBal, technology backed by technical expertise that delivers results on farm.
Hear from Presenter Rick Brown from Chemlock Nutrition and Director of Dairy Science as he focus on practical pre-calving nutritional management to support calcium metabolism, highlighting CalBal's technology and the technical expertise behind it to deliver consistent positive on-farm results.
09:00AM: Simon Quigley
Research Fellow, CQUniversity
Topic: Crop-cattle systems in northern Australia
11:45AM: Andrew Lean
PhD Scholarship Recipient
Topic: Changes in total mixed ration nutrition are associated with milk yield up to 4 weeks later
09:45AM: Dr.Kieren McCosker
Research Fellow QAAFI
Topic: Linking Resource Selection to Animal Performance in Free-Grazing Systems.
12:00PM: Kimberly Capdevila
PHD Scholarship Recipient
Topic: Effect of milk powder formulations on goat kids’ growth performance and small intestinal development.
10:30AM: MORNING TEA
01:00PM: Ian Sawyer
Animal Nutritionist, FeedWorks
Topic: Practical drought feeding learnings from the last 20years.
11:00AM: Dr. Ian Lean
Scibus
Topic: Optimizing productive life: Strategic flexibility at the 3rd lactation with insights from DairyUp
01:45PM: Dr. Kristy DiGiacomo
University of Melbourne
Topic: Early life nutrition in dairy goats.
02:30PM: CLOSE
Proudly supported by our 2026 Industry Partners
