“7. International Congress on Fertility and Udder Health in Farm Animals” was held in TRNC. The three-day congress brought together many academics from the USA, Spain, England, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Southern Cyprus and Turkey and over a thousand participants, 600 of whom were from abroad, in TRNC. The opening of the congress, where new foundings of research, technologies and applications to increase the health and productivity of farm animals were discussed, was attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hüseyin Çavuş, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprises, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel. At the closing of the congress held on “27 April Veterinary Day”, Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ attended the event.

The three-day congress was chaired by Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Diseases, Prof. Dr. Selim Aslan. At the congress, Prof. Dr. Carlos Risco and Prof. Dr. Klibs N. Galvão from the USA, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oriol Franquesa from Spain, Prof. Dr. Theo J.G.M. Lam from the Netherlands, Prof. Dr. Martin Kaske from Germany, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Johannes Lüttgenau from Switzerland, and Dr. Zbynek Dvorak from Czechia, Dr. Wojciech Ptak from Poland and Prof. Dr. Ayhan Baştan from Turkey took part as an invited speaker.

New foundings of research, technologies and applications to improve farm animal health and milk and conception efficiency were discussed at the congress. Many farmers and producers also attended the congress, which started with a moment of silence and the National Anthem. The folk dance show performed at the opening of the congress was especially appreciated by foreign participants. At the opening of the congress, respectively; Head of Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Diseases, and also Chairman of the Organizing Committee Prof. Dr. Selim Aslan, Dean of Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş, Chairman of the Near East Enterprises Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel and Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Hüseyin Çavuş made speeches.

Hüseyin Çavuş: “We will continue to grow production in the country with the significant contributions of our producers and scientists.”

Noting that the congress brings together the agricultural production sector, one of the cornerstones of society and science, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Hüseyin Çavuş stated that the resulting studies will have a positive impact on the country’s production. Noting that the TRNC has 70 thousand cattle and that 99 percent of production is done with cold chain, Çavuş said, “We are grateful to you, esteemed veterinarians, for offering us this opportunity. Conscious production, created with the contributions of veterinarians, has allowed us to grow day by day in agriculture and animal husbandry.”

Emphasizing that animal production in the country should continue to grow stronger, Çavuş said, “This is a path to be walked not only with producers, but also with our esteemed scientists and veterinarians. In this context, I know that this congress will contribute a lot to us and our country. We closely follow and appreciate the important works and studies of Near East University in this field.”

Reminding that Near East University provided great support to production by establishing the island’s first Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Çavuş said, “The young people graduating from this faculty started to support this production in our country by graduating. Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has been performing all our blood tests for the last four years. We will always support these collaborations.”

Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “Sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry practices are the key to leaving a healthy living space for future generations.”

Emphasizing the importance of sustainability of the agriculture and livestock sectors, Near East Enterprises Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel stated that sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry practices based on scientific foundations are the key to leaving a healthy living space for future generations by balancing environmental, economic and social impacts. Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel emphasized that these practices offer multiple benefits such as protecting soil quality, effective use of water resources, implementation of biosafety standards, ensuring animal welfare and meeting the nutritional needs of the society.

Prof. Dr. Günsel noted that protecting the health of farm animals and increasing reproductive efficiency is also economically important and said, “I have no doubt that this congress, which brings together the most important researchers in the field, will support the improvement and development in the sector by discussing scientific research and applications.”

Providing information about the academic achievements of Near East University and the scientific projects it carries out, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “We organize more than a thousand national and international scientific events every year at our university, which also hosts this important congress today. These events, which center on the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations, are an indication of the responsibility we feel towards the world and humanity. On the other hand, in 2023, the number of articles published by our university’s researchers in journals, most of which had an impact level of Q1 and Q2, reached 1,760. It is a result of systematically sharing the results of the research projects we carry out with the scientific world.”

Prof. Dr. Günsel congratulated the faculty members of Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for organizing the 7th International Congress on Fertility and Mammary Health in Farm Animals, one of the most respected congresses in the world in the field of Veterinary Medicine, and also thanked the congress participants.

Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş: “We would like to thank all our participants who came to our country from abroad and shared their knowledge and experiences with us.”

Dean of Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş stated that their faculties are constantly growing, changing and renewing and that they have produced hundreds of graduates so far. “Our students spend two semesters in internship training before graduating.” said Prof. Dr. Seyrek İntaş, also gave information about the content of the practical training they provide.

Stating that her students receive training in many departments on rotation in the first semester of applied education, Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş said, “In the second semester, they can study in small animal, farm animal or horse medicine and breeding modules or in the food hygiene and technology module, organized according to animal species.”

Prof. İntaş stated that the organizing committee of the congress, which they organized for the 7th time this year, has been working with the same care for years. Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş said, “I would like to thank our teachers from the USA, Spain, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland, who we are honored to host on our beautiful island, for taking the risk of this long journey and sharing their valuable time, knowledge and experience with us.”

Prof. Dr. Selim Aslan: “The intense interest of veterinarians shows the importance of our congress in the field of milk productivity and calf diseases.”

Head of the Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Diseases, Prof. Dr. Selim Aslan, who also assumed the chairmanship of the congress, in his opening speech stated that the congress has actually been held for 10 years with the expansion of the scope of the event. Prof. Dr. Selim Aslan said, “This continuity and the practice of hosting international speakers once again reveals the importance our university and faculty attach to science and progress. It is a pleasure to provide information and innovation especially to our veterinary colleagues.”

In his speech, Prof. Aslan also drew attention to the importance of data tested on farms and the losses in the field of cattle management. Prof. Dr. Selim Aslan emphasized that in order to solve these losses, detailed information flow, data collection, observation, protection, feeding, shelter and vaccination programs must be followed. Stating that approximately 30 percent of the students are from families that own farms and make a living by producing cows and livestock, Prof. Dr. Aslan stated that these students will continue to produce more consciously when they enter business life. Prof. Dr. Aslan also stated that the intense interest of veterinarians shows the importance of our congress in the field of milk productivity and calf diseases.