International Pheasant Management Seminar
We’re looking forward to the 15th International Pheasant Management Seminar, scheduled for March 8-11, 2026. Stay tuned for more details to come.
View archives and testimonials from our past seminars below. Have questions about past or upcoming seminars? Contact us today.
Seminar Testimonials
I participated in my first MacFarlane’s seminar in 2016. I really enjoyed meeting people working on the same sector from another part of the world, we have shared a lot our respective experience. The technical presentations were interesting all along the seminar. I would like to thank Bill and his very nice team for this great time.
A very positive experience. The speakers were of a very high caliber but spoke in a manner relevant to the audience’s level of experience. Lab sessions were helpful and practical. Hospitality was unsurpassed and the chance to meet and share ideas was invaluable. I would heartily recommend this conference to anyone.
I was so impressed with the whole operation especially on how open the staff was about the operation. The attendees were a unique collection of characters with the common thread of the love for birds. I highly recommend the seminar to anyone.
It’s amazing to meet raisers from around the world. Learning about new technology advancements along with the onsite tour, makes it a must to attend.
This seminar provides an excellent variety of speakers and subjects relative to the gamebird industry. Without this seminar I would not have met and made friends within the industry that have been so helpful to me. Wonderful flow of information.
Past Seminar Topics & Details
MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. presented their “1st International Pheasant Management Seminar” on March 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th of 1998. The seminars touched on a variety of subjects and offered chances for those starting and those in the business to learn from almost 70 years of gamebird business experience.
Activities included presentations by veterinarians and professionals on gamebird breeding, bird health, and general management practices; discussion and exchange of ideas; and an extensive tour of MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. The seminars have more than helped those who have attended.
The following people spoke at the seminar in 1998:
- Dr. Radivoje (Rade) Spasojevic, D.V.M., PhD., M.S., A.C.P.V. Veterinarian with Sparboe Companies, Litchfield, MN.
- Mycoplasma Reduction Program
- Dr. Gorica Rajcic-Spasojevic, D.V.M., M.S., A.C.P.V. Embryologist with Willmar Poultry Company, Willmar, MN.
- How it Affects the Health of Chicks
- Dr. Richard Decker, D.V.M.Retired Avian Pathologist, Madison, WI.
- Avian Pathology
- Dr. Richard Schambow, D.V.M Local mobile vet who has served as Mac Farlane’s farm veterinarian since 1987.
- Interstate & Export Health Requirements
- Dr. Dan Weinstock, D.V.M., PhD. Veterinarian at the Animal Diagnostic Lab, Penn State University.
- Preventing Coccidiosis
- William MacFarlane: President of Mac Farlane Pheasant Farm.
- Covered Pen Construction, Planting & Setup
- Ben Lawton: Hatchery Manager for Mac Farlane Pheasant Farm.
- Biosecurity & Pheasant Breeder Selection
- Richard Stevens: Mac Farlane Pheasant Farm Assistant Hatchery Manager & Brooding Consultant.
- Brooding Chicks
- Wayne L. Wendorf: Sales/Nutritional Consultant for Nutrena Feeds, Div. Of Cargill; former owner of Garver Feed & Supply.
- Feed Formulation for Game Birds
Tours included:
- Mac Farlane Pheasant Farm, Janesville, WI
- Hatchery, & Hen Barn (artificial insemination)
- Eastman Hunt Club, Edgerton, WI.
- Wern Valley Hunting Club, Waukesha, WI
- General Motors Assembly Plant, Janesville, WI
MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. presented their “2nd International Pheasant Management Seminar” from February 27 through March 3 of 2000. The seminars touched on a variety of subjects and offered chances for those starting and those in the business to learn from almost 70 years of gamebird business experience.
Activities included presentations by veterinarians and professionals on gamebird breeding, bird health, and general management practices; discussion and exchange of ideas; and an extensive tour of MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. The seminars have more than helped those who have attended.
The following people spoke at the seminar:
| Speaker | Topic |
| Curt Sheffield, Chick Manager | Chukar Partridge Management |
| Richard Stevens, Hen Barn Manager | Breeder Selection |
| Brian Check, Assistant Chick Manager | Hungarian Partridge Management |
| Dr. Gorica Spasojevic, D.V.M., M.S., A.C.P.V. | Troubleshooting Hatchery Problems |
| Dr. Rade Spasojevic, D.V.M., PhD.,M.S., A.C.P.V. | Disease Control |
| Chris Theisen, Pen Manager | Pheasant Pen Management |
| Dr. Dan Weinstock, D.V.M. | Parasitic Poultry Diseases |
| Dr. Dan Weinstock, D.V.M. | Gamebird Diseases |
| Ben Lawton, Hatchery Manager | Bio-Security |
| Dr. Rade Spasojevic, D.V.M., PhD., M.S., A.C.P.V. | Improvement Process on a Poultry Farm |
| Jim Clark, Blonhaven Game Farm | Common Sense Operation of a Commercial Game Bird Farm |
| Greg Martinelli, Cargill, Inc. | Feeding Gamebirds |
| Dr. Richard Schambow, D.V.M. | Interstate and Oversea Shipment of Gamebirds |
| Bill Brandel, Breeder Manager | Breeder Management & Egg Washing |
| Jesse Steurer, Assistant Chick Manager | Pheasant Chick Management |
Tours included:
Mac Farlane Pheasant Farm, Janesville, WI
Wern Valley Hunting Club, Waukesha, WI
6th International Pheasant Management Seminar
MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. hosted their 6th Bi-Annual Pheasant Management Seminar from March 2nd through March 5th, 2008. With over 90 attendees and speakers present from all over the United States and United Kingdom the week was filled with opportunities to learn more about the gamebird industry. There were many professional and knowledgeable speakers covering a variety of subjects which included ventilation, water quality, pen construction, disease in gamebirds, and much more. The pheasant seminar also included 2 days of tours of MacFarlane Pheasants operations, a necropsy lab, and egg breakout lab.
The seminar provides game farmers from around the world an opportunity to network and learn new ideas about making their own farm better. With the number of people attending it is a great opportunity to meet and share ideas with other business men and women involved in this industry.
Who attends these seminars? Anyone involved in the game bird industry – many of whom are MacFarlane’s competition! The past attendees have come from Canada, England, Ireland, and all over the United States. Here’s what some of the attendees have said about the seminar just concluded:
Speakers
| Speaker | Topic |
| Bill MacFarlane MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. |
Delegation |
| Ben Lawton | Managing the Hatch Window |
| Trudy Baumeister MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. |
How to Prepare for the Season |
| Chris Theisen | Pen Construction |
| Milt Briney Briney’s Bird Farm |
New Brooder Facility |
| Rusty Breyley | Pheasant Breeding |
| Joseph Peterson Flying B Ranch |
Flight Cover Management Irrigation system |
| Dr. Porter | Necropsy & Diseases |
| Mike Czarik | Brooding Chicks |
| Vern Christensen | Incubation of Pheasant Eggs |
| Susan Watkins University of Arkansas |
The Importance of Water Quality |
| Dr. Eva Pendleton Penn State University |
Mycoplasma and Coccidiosis |
| Michael Jones USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services |
Starling Prevention |
| Terry Musser & Ron Wilmore | Manchurian Release Program |
| Dr. Alan Pearson | UK Breeder Vaccination Program |
7th International Pheasant Management Seminar
MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. hosted our International Pheasant Management Seminar March 7-10, 2010. More than 60 people were in attendance. Guests heard a broad array of speakers, asked questions of an expert panel of Poultry Veterinarians. Speaker presentations will include: the detection of and strategies to deal with Rota-Virus, the effective use of myco-toxin binders in feed, water conditioning and management, bio-security protocols, and a recent study of the effectiveness of various poultry coccidiostats in gamebirds. Other presentations will be given by experienced gamebird producers. Attendees also participated in extensive farm tours at MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc., the largest pheasant production operation in the United States and necropsy and egg breakout labs offered opportunities to see pheasant pathology first hand.
This is a link to the Center For Dairy Profitability web site, one of our speakers, Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, sent us this link . Dairy Profitability has examples of the Dupont system Dr. Kevin Bernhardt spoke about at the seminar.
Guest Speakers & Topics:
- Dr. Kevin Bernhardt, Professor of Agribusiness, UW-Platteville Farm Management Specialist – DuPont Financial Analysis Model
- Dr. R. Keith Bramwell, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Poultry Science, The University of Arkansas – Egg Handling and Incubation
- Greg Emerick, Director of Sales, Pheasants Forever, Inc. – Pheasants Forever Overview
- Don Giesting, Business Development Manager, Cargill Animal Nutrition – Reducing the Impact of Mycotoxins on Game Birds
- Dr. Larry McDougald, Professor of Poultry Science – Coccidiosis in Game Birds
- Dr. Rob Porter, Veterinary Pathologist, Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory – Rotavirus Infection in Pheasants
- Dr. Casey Ritz, Associate Professor, Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia – Composting Daily Mortalities
- Gary M Smith, Director of the Southwest Wisconsin Small Business Development Center – Raising Pheasants
- Dr. Susan Watkins,Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas – Interpreting Water Results
- Derek Woods, D B Woods Consultancy Ltd., Managing Director – Crichel Estate – An English Sporting Estate
- Tim Zindl, Oakridge Pheasant Ranch – Speed and Efficiency
MacFarlane Speakers:
- Bill MacFarlane, Owner – How to Find and Hire
- Ben Lawton, Hatchery Manager – Day Old Chick Quality
- Troy Cisewski, Brooder Manager – Partridge Management
8th Bi-Annual International Pheasant Management Seminar
MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. had the 8th International Pheasant Management Seminar from March 4th through March 7th, 2012. There were presentations by veterinarians, professionals, and fellow gamebird producers on disease, breeding, health, brooding and much more. Extensive tours of the largest pheasant farm in the United States were also included with the seminar.
2012 Guest Speakers
Here is a list of the professional speakers that presented at our seminar.
| ‘The Status of USDA Approval of Fenbendazole’ Dr. Ron Griffith DVM, MS, Ph.D., North Central Region Coordinator from Iowa State University |
‘The Use of Distillers Grains in Poultry Feeds’ Dr. Sally Noll Professor and Extension Poultry Specialist from University of Minnesota |
| One’ Harlan Schaefer Best Vet Solutions in Iowa |
‘Gamebird Husbandry in France’ Olivier de Chevigne’ Sales and Logistic Manager from L’envol de Retz in France |
| ‘Gamebirds Physiology’ Dr. Rob Porter Veterinary Pathologist from University of Minnesota |
Poultry’ Dr. Susan Watkins Professor/Extension Specialist from University of Arkansas |
| ‘ Aivlosin’ Dr. Alan Pearson Green Lane Vet Centre in England |
‘Assessing Egg Quality in Breeders’ Dr. Keith Bramwell Associate Professor from University of Arkansas |
| ‘Presentation on Blue Hill Gamebirds’ Mr. Don Montgomery President/Owner of Blue Hill Gamebirds in Kansas |
‘Trapping Presentation‘ Mr. Brian Klein MacFarlane’s Pen Manager |
| Management Mr. Jeff Spooner MacFarlane’s trapper. |
‘Animal Husbandry in Game Birds’ Jeff May Regional Sales Manager – Dawe’s Laboratories LLC |
| ‘A Safer Method to Control Infestations of the Northern Fowl Mite in Poultry’ Dr. Mark E. Berres Assistant Professor of Avian Biology- UW-Madison |
Steve Shaw Territory Manager – ECO Animal Health Ltd. – Great Britain |
9th Bi-Annual International Pheasant Management Seminar
2014 Guest Speakers
Here is a list of the professional speakers that attended our seminar as well as the presentations they gave.
| Leon “Fuzzy” Stock Owner Fuzzy’s Pheasant Farm |
Luc Ledoux Business Unit Manager CID Lines NV Hatchery Hygiene |
 Ross ThoresonSales Manager Best Veterinary Solutions Cleaning & Disinfecting |
John Menges Sales Representative Best Veterinary Solutions Air Quality Presentation |
| Dr. Rob Porter Veterinary Pathologist from University of Minnesota |
Dr. Susan Watkins Professor/Extension Specialist from University of Arkansas Managing Water |
| Ted Bruesch Technical Support Manager Lipha Tech Rodent Control |
Dr. Keith Bramwell Associate Professor from University of Arkansas Incubation and Embryology |
| Trudy DeRemer Genetics Manager MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. French Redleg Partridge |
Brian Klein Milton Farm Manager MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. Transitioning Birds From Barns to Pens |
| Bill MacFarlane Owner MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. Economics of the Pheasant Industry |
Brad Lillie Financial Officer MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. Ringneck-X Project |
| Chris Theisen Production Manager MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. Various Pen Designs |
Ben Lawton Hatchery Manager MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc Breeder Selection |
| Kristin Merriman Hungarian Partridge Manager MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. Raising Hungarian Partridge |
Matthew Hudson GM Brooder Ltd World Pheasant Presentation |
10th Bi-Annual International Pheasant Management Seminar
MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. 10th International Pheasant Management Seminar was held from March 6th through March 9th, 2016. Extensive tours of the largest pheasant farm in the United States were included with the seminar.
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Dr. R. Keith Bramwell, PhD
Associate Professor
University of Arkansas-Poultry Science Dept.
Incubation & Embryology
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Dr. Susan Watkins
Professor/Extension Specialist
University of Arkansas-Poultry Science Dept.
Drinking Water Quality – What’s New?
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Chris Theisen
Production Manager
MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc.
Caring For Mature Birds
|
Brian Davis
Brooder Manager
MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc.
Brooder Barn Design
|
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Ross Thoreson
Sales Manager
Best Veterinary Solutions
Biosecurity – Cleaning & Disinfecting
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Jeff May Clear View Enterprises LLC A Brief History of the National Poultry Improvement Plan
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Dr. Dale Lauer
Poultry Program Director
MN Board of Animal Health
Biosecurity – Asain Influenza & NPIP
|
Alan Pearson
Veterinary Gamebird Consultant
Garstang, UK |
| Doug Anderson
DVM
Georgia Poultry Laboratory |
Austin Baker
Ventilation Director
Hog Slat Inc. |
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Maria Rodriguez
Technical Service Manager
Olmix |
Dr. Roger Draycott
Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
United Kingdom |
| David Wacker
Owner
Prairie Land Gamebirds |
Brad Lillie
Financial Officer
MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc.
Avian Influenza Update
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Dr. Dave Butler
Perdix Wildlife Solutions
United Kingdom |
Laurent Soullard
Commercial Director
Gibovendee |
| Doug Manzer Senior Scientist and Wildlife Program Manager Alberta Conservation Association Life on the Edge |
11th Bi-Annual International Pheasant Management Seminar
MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. hosted the 11th International Pheasant Management Seminar March 4th-7th, 2018. Extensive drive-around and virtual tours of the largest pheasant farm in the United States were included with the seminar. The seminar was hosted at the Ramada, located at 3900 Milton Ave, Janesville, WI
Check out the itinerary below and click on a presentation to learn more.
Itinerary
Monday March 5, 2018
| 7:50 – 8:00 AM | Welcome | Bill MacFarlane |
| 8:00 – 8:45 AM | All About Feathering | Dr. Justin Fowler, University of Georgia |
| 8:45 – 9:30 AM | Managing Vegetative Cover in a Gamebird Operation | James Clark, MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. |
| 9:30 – 10:00 AM | BREAK | |
| 10:00 – 10:45 AM | All About BioSecurity | Trudy DeRemer, MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc |
| 10:45 – 11:30 AM | Modern Brooder Barn Ventilation | Austin Baker, Hog Slat |
| 11:30 – 1:00 PM | LUNCH | |
| 1:00 – 3:00 PM | Drive Around Tours of MacFarlane Pheasants | |
| 3:15 – 4:15 PM | MacFarlane Pheasants Brooder Operation | Brian Davis, MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc |
| 4:15 – 4:45 PM | Virtual Farm Tour | Shayne Noller, MacFarlane Pheasants Food Production |
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
| 7:50 – 8:00 AM | Welcome | Bill MacFarlane |
| 8:00 – 8:45 AM | Moving Birds for Interstate Transfer | Dr. Richard Schambow, MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc |
| 8:45 – 9:30 AM | Forsgren’s Pheasant Farm | Michael Forsgren, Forsgren’s Pheasant Farm |
| 9:30 – 10:00 AM | BREAK | |
| 10:00 – 10:45 AM | Breeding & Raising Exotic Pheasants | Royd Hatt, Hatt&rsquo’s Ranch |
| 10:45 – 11:30 AM | Feed Ingredients, Additives & Quality Control | Dr. Al Hollister, Dawe’s Laboratories |
| 11:30 – 1:00 PM | LUNCH | |
| 1:00 – 1:30 PM | Pen Management Q & A | Brian Check, MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc |
| 1:30 – 4:00 PM | Hands on Egg Breakout Lab & Demonstration on Sexing Day-Old Chicks | Dr. Keith Bramwell, Josh Deines, Krystal Price & Hatchery Staff |
| 1:30 – 4:00 PM | Necropsy Lab | Dr. Doug Anderson, Dr. Nick Anthony & Trudy DeRemer |
Wenesday, March 7, 2018
| 7:50 – 8:00 AM | Welcome | Bill MacFarlane |
| 8:00 – 8:45 AM | Egg Storage and Impact on Hatchability | Josh Deines, University of Arkansas |
| 8:45 – 9:30 AM | Mycoplasma in gamebirds | Jeff May, ClearView Enterprises |
| 9:30 – 10:00 AM | BREAK | |
| 10:00 – 10:45 AM | Early Embryonic Mortality | Dr.Keith Bramwell, Jamesway Incubator Company |
| 10:45 – 11:30 AM | MacFarlane Hatchery Virtual Tour | Krystal Price |
| 11:30 – 1:00 PM | LUNCH | |
| 1:00 – 1:45 PM | MacFarlane White Breeding Program Virtual Tour | Kate Rollette, MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc |
| 1:45 – 2:30 PM | Brooding Hungarian Partridge | Heidi Welch, MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc |
| 2:30 – 3:00 PM | BREAK | |
| 3:00 – 3:45 | MacFarlane Breeder Farm Virtual Tour | Troy Cisewski, MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc |
Seminar 2000
MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. presented their “2nd International Pheasant Management Seminar” from February 27 through March 3 of 2000. The seminars touched on a variety of subjects and offered chances for those starting and those in the business to learn from almost 70 years of gamebird business experience.
Activities included presentations by veterinarians and professionals on gamebird breeding, bird health, and general management practices; discussion and exchange of ideas; and an extensive tour of MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. The seminars have more than helped those who have attended.
The following people spoke at the seminar:
| Speaker | Topic |
| Curt Sheffield, Chick Manager | Chukar Partridge Management |
| Richard Stevens, Hen Barn Manager | Breeder Selection |
| Brian Check, Assistant Chick Manager | Hungarian Partridge Management |
| Dr. Gorica Spasojevic, D.V.M., M.S., A.C.P.V. | Troubleshooting Hatchery Problems |
| Dr. Rade Spasojevic, D.V.M., PhD.,M.S., A.C.P.V. | Disease Control |
| Chris Theisen, Pen Manager | Pheasant Pen Management |
| Dr. Dan Weinstock, D.V.M. | Parasitic Poultry Diseases |
| Dr. Dan Weinstock, D.V.M. | Gamebird Diseases |
| Ben Lawton, Hatchery Manager | Bio-Security |
| Dr. Rade Spasojevic, D.V.M., PhD., M.S., A.C.P.V. | Improvement Process on a Poultry Farm |
| Jim Clark, Blonhaven Game Farm | Common Sense Operation of a Commercial Game Bird Farm |
| Greg Martinelli, Cargill, Inc. | Feeding Gamebirds |
| Dr. Richard Schambow, D.V.M. | Interstate and Oversea Shipment of Gamebirds |
| Bill Brandel, Breeder Manager | Breeder Management & Egg Washing |
| Jesse Steurer, Assistant Chick Manager | Pheasant Chick Management |
Tours included:
- Mac Farlane Pheasant Farm, Janesville, WI
- Wern Valley Hunting Club, Waukesha, WI
Seminar Schedule
Monday February 28
| 8:00 am | MacFarlane Farm Tour |
| 11:45 am | Lunch at El Jardin |
| 2:00 pm | Tour of Wern Valley Hunting Preserve |
Tuesday February 29
| 8:30 am | Seminar Sessions |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:10 pm | Seminar Sessions |
Wednesday March 1
| 8:30 am | Seminar Sessions |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch at World Buffet |
| 1:15 pm | Seminar Sessions |