International Livestock Congress
ILC – Calgary July 8, 2026
Stampede Park
At The Fence Line: Where Livestock Policy, Innovation and Markets Converge
July 8, 2026 | BMO Centre, Stampede Park
ILC Calgary brings together the producers, researchers, market experts and policy makers shaping the future of cattle and beef — for open, honest conversation on the issues that matter most to the industry.
Speakers
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Global Beef Research Director, Alltech
Dr. Vaughn Holder is the global beef research director at Alltech. In this role, he oversees Alltech's beef research around the world and works to improve the scientific understanding of the role beef cattle play in ecosystems and food systems. Holder first joined Alltech in 2012 as a post-doctoral trainee, with a focus on advanced technical support in ruminant protein nutrition. In 2013, he transferred to Alltech’s office in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where he served as the company's national research and technical director. Holder returned to Alltech’s research headquarters in Nicholasville, Kentucky, in 2015 to lead the company's global nutritional research in beef species. He later served as the director of Alltech's global ruminant research group, heading up global nutritional research in ruminant species, before being appointed to his current role in 2024. Holder holds a bachelor's degree in animal science and a master's degree in ruminant nutrition and microbiology from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He also holds a doctoral degree in ruminant nutrition from the University of Kentucky, where his research focused on nitrogen utilization and protein nutrition in cattle.
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Chief Operating Officer, Cattlefax
As a Northern Colorado native, Michael Murphy, was raised on a farming and ranching operation and remains active in the cattle business today, running summer stocker grass cattle. Mike graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business.
Prior to joining CattleFax, Mike worked in the cattle feeding industry in Texas and Colorado. Since starting in 1996, Mike has been involved with all facets of CattleFax, covering most all of the regions and all of the sectors – feedlot, stocker and cow-calf – as well preparing feedgrain analysis. In Mike’s role as Chief Operating Officer, his focus is on Risk Management analysis for the beef, cattle and grain sectors.
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Executive Director, King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management
Dr. Rick Machen was born and raised in Central Texas. He received a Bachelor of Science from Angelo State University in 1981, and pursued graduate training at Texas A&M University in College Station, receiving a Master of Science in 1984, and a Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition in 1987. Rick began his career with a beef cattle research appointment with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science at Ona. In 1989, he returned to Texas to pursue his passion for teaching and natural resource management as an Extension Specialist located in Far West Texas. In 1993, the Extension Service combined two positions, beef cattle, and goat and sheep specialists, and moved Rick and his family to Uvalde. For almost three decades, he provided leadership to regional and statewide learning opportunities such as A Gathering of Goat Producers, the Texas Beef Quality Producer Program, Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, Beef Boot Camps for Retailers, the TAMU Grassfed Beef Conference and Rebuilding the Cow Herd. In June 2016, Rick accepted a faculty position in the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management (KRIRM) located on the campus of Texas A&M University-Kingsville. As professor and holder of the initial Paul C. Genho Endowed Chair in Ranch Management, he worked closely with graduate students, taught graduate classes, and cooperated in the development and conduct of KRIRM’s annual Holt Cat® Symposium and numerous lectureships. In February 2024, Dr. Machen became the Institute’s third Executive Director.
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Master of Ceremonies
Founder and CEO, LOFT32
Crystal is a respected leader with a rich background in agriculture and food that started with her family farm and grew to CEO level roles. Her passion? Fuelling the future by inspiring the dedicated individuals who make the agri-food world turn.
Crystal has an impressive track record for collaborating and connecting across North America’s food system. She created many award-winning farm to fork efforts - including starting two non-profit organizations, Farm & Food Care and the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, and her own company, LOFT32 in 2019. Mackay has been recognized for her contributions to agriculture, food and communications on many fronts, including the University of Guelph Medal of Achievement, named as a Most Influential Woman in Canadian Agriculture, and most recently the CAMA Lifetime Achievement Award for Agri-Food Marketing.
She loves to cheer her two teenagers on in life and sports, and plays hockey whenever she gets the chance!
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Beef Cattle Technical Services, Merck Animal Health
Dr. Jessica Sperber was raised on her family’s 4th generation cow-calf and grain operation located in Central Alberta, CAN. She earned her B.Sc. from MacEwan University, M.S. specialized in meat science from West Texas A&M University, and Ph.D. in feedlot nutrition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Sperber served 3 years as an Assistant Professor and Feedlot Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with her research and extension programming focused on feedyard nutrition, management, and growth enhancing technologies that improve cattle production efficiency. Dr. Sperber joined Merck Animal Health in 2026 as a Beef Cattle Technical Services Manager, supporting research and innovation while working directly alongside producers, veterinarians, and academics to advance the beef sector. Dr. Sperber resides in SE Nebraska with her partner, Mitch, on his family’s farming operation.
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Chief Trade Advisor, Canadian Cattle Association
Dennis Laycraft recently retired after 36 years as the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of the Canadian Cattle (men’s) Association. During this time, Dennis served as a leading spokesperson for the beef cattle industry on trade, product quality and safety, sustainability, and animal disease issues.
Dennis is continuing to support the work of the Canadian Cattle Association in a new capacity as Chief Trade Advisor.
Dennis successfully managed numerous legal actions to defend Canada's beef cattle sector from trade actions or unfair trade practices
Dennis has also served as the President of the Global Round Table for Sustainable Beef, a founding Director of the Canadian Round Table for Sustainable Beef, Chair of the Canadian Beef Value Chain Round Table, the industry Co-Chair of the Agriculture Sub Committee on Food Safety, and a Driector on the Board of Prionet Canada.
Dennis led the Industry Government BSE Round Table during the BSE Crisis.
Agenda
Stampede Park, BMO Centre, 2nd Level
Rooms 209-211
8:30 AM - Registration & Breakfast Networking
9:15 AM - Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:25 AM - Bigger Cattle, Bigger Carcasses: How did we get here?
Dr. Jessica Sperber, Merck Animal Health
10:05 AM - The Science Behind Beef's Global Story
Dr. Vaughn Holder, Global Beef Research Director, Alltech
10:45 AM - Coffee & Networking Break
11:00 AM - Managing for Profit: A Ranch Management Systems Approach to the Next Era of Livestock Production
Dr. Rick Machen, Executive Director, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management
11:50 AM - Networking Lunch
12:40 PM - North American Market Outlook
Mike Murphy, Chief Operating Officer, CattleFax
1:35 PM - Beyond Borders: The International Trade Landscape for Livestock
Panel — Speakers:
Carlo Dade, Director, International Policy and New North America Initiative. School of Public Policy, University of Calgary
Dennis Laycraft, Chief Trade Advisor, Canadian Cattle Association
2:20 PM - Coffee & Networking Break
2:35 PM - The Smart Ranch: How Innovation is Changing the Way Producers Operate
Panel — Speakers:
Brianna Elliot, Project Lead - Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production, Olds College of Agriculture and Technology
Moderator:
Chris Paterson, Executive Director, AgSphere
3:25 PM - Closing Remarks
3:30 PM - Conference Concludes
5:30 PM - International Agriculture & Agri-Food Reception
Sponsors
