EVSSAR 2014

The University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław hosted the biggest annual Congress of the European Veterinary Society for Small Animal Reproduction - EVSSAR, which took place on the 26th September in the Hall of John Paul II in the Teaching and Science Center.

– Every year different academic centers apply for the opportunity to organise the EVSSAR Congress, so it is a highly significant distinction. In 2009 and 2014, the Department of Reproduction organised the event. It is clear proof of the confidence placed in us by the European opinion-forming veterinary circles - said Professor Wojciech Niżański, the meeting’s organiser.

Wrocław welcomed 300 participants including 150 foreign guests. The programme included plenary lectures by world class authorities in the field of small animal breeding from Argentina, Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Norway and Great Britain. The meeting addressed the issues of infertility in dogs and cats, diseases during the postnatal period, the herpes virus, brucellosis and other infections influencing reproduction. The problem of anesthesiology in pediatric surgeries was also discussed together with the issue of Caesarean sections and emergencies, and the biotechniques used in breeding cats and dogs. The poster section presented 66 papers. It is worth noting that the first prize for best poster was awarded jointly to veterinary surgeon Sylwia Prochowska from the Department of Reproduction from Wrocław, and Professor Sabine Shaaeffer-Somi from Vienna. The best presentation was the report given by Doctor Greyer from Germany, and the paper presented by Doctor Natalia Mikołajewska from the alumnus of Wrocław department. Professor Wojciech Niżański and Professor Tom Rijsselaere were also honoured with EVSSAR awards for their long-standing contributions to the development of the association.

– The Congress was a great opportunity to promote our University in Europe and proved that we have experienced organisational and staff base in our Wrocław department – added Professor Niżański . 

The main organisers included the Department of Reproduction of the University of Environmental and Life Sciences, the European Veterinary Society for Small Animal Reproduction, the Committee on Biology of Reproduction and Committe of  Veterinary Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Society for Biology of Reproduction, the Polish Small Animal Association and the Lower Silesian Chamber of Veterinary Medicine.

The next EVSSAR Congresses will take place in Hannover in 2015, Nantes in 2016 and Uppsala in 2017.

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The European Veterinary Society for Small Animal Reproduction – EVSSAR is an organisation that gathers together scientists and practitioners working in the field of small animal reproduction. The aim of the organisation is to promote, finance and popularise scientific research, as well as to increase the level of veterinary knowledge in respect of the reproduction of companion animals. Every year, EVSSAR organises a congress for small animal reproduction, workshops on ESDAR congresses, preparation for training courses for European College of Animal Reproduction exams and ESAVS training courses.

The organisation was established by internationally acknowledged authorities in this field. It currently embraces around 200 luminaries from all over the world. Between 2011 and 2014, Professor Wojciech Niżański from the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław, who was president of this year’s organisational committee for the EVSARR congress, was also president of the entire organisation.

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