On December 2–3, 2025, Zamorano University hosted the Intermediate Dairy Cattle Course offered by the Soy Excellence Center for the Americas (SEC Americas), a continuing education program led by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC). The project, funded by the U.S. Soybean Exporting Executive Council, brought together 27 technical professionals from companies across Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.
SEC Americas is an initiative designed to strengthen the skills of early- and mid-career professionals working in the dairy, poultry, swine, aquaculture, and feed manufacturing sectors. Through high-quality in-person and virtual training, the program aims to improve production efficiency, optimize animal nutrition using U.S. soy, drive economic growth, and contribute to food and nutrition security across the region.
The event welcomed representatives from USSEC, including Fernando Pérez (Mexico) and Liz Karina del Río (Colombia). Faculty members from Zamorano University also participated, delivering key technical sessions to strengthen capacities across the dairy value chain: Dr. John Jairo Hincapié (Department of Agricultural Sciences and Production), Dr. Rommel Reconco (Department of Agribusiness), and Dr. Raúl Espinal (Department of Agroindustry).
As part of the program, participants visited several campus production units, including the concentrated feed plant, the dairy processing plant, and the animal reproduction laboratory. They also attended a specialized session on milking operations and animal health, reinforcing essential knowledge for improving efficiency in dairy production systems.
This in-person course is part of a structured learning pathway for participants who previously completed SEC’s virtual Dairy Cattle training and who remain active within the SEC Continuing Education Community.
Through this collaboration, Zamorano University reaffirms its commitment to advancing technical training, fostering innovation in animal production, and strengthening international partnerships that contribute to development and food security across Latin America and the Caribbean.
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