The Symposium was started in the early 2000’s through a collaborative effort led by Dan Thomson, Hans Coetzee, Ed Pajor, Janice Swanson, Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, and others. This community was led and supported by animal welfare scientists, veterinarians, and ethicists.

The target audience has historically spanned all sectors of beef cattle production. This has included retailers, packers, feeders, veterinarians, tech, cow/calf producers, transporters, etc. The format includes a day and a half of symposia, and a half-day wet lab/workshop designed to address current issues.