Committees

UGCN works with a number of committees. The initiative takers formed a steering committee, consisting of Geert Hartlief (NZO; chairman), Suzanne Groot (LTO) and Sophia van der Ploeg (PZ). 
This committee supervises the UGCN activities and reports back to the initiative-takers.

A discipline oriented research committee consists of members who come from all research institutes active in the field of udder health in the Netherlands. Members are: H Hogeveen (economics), GA Hooijer (practitioner), G de Jong (breeding), K de Koning (animal husbandry), TJGM Lam (research coordinator), F Neijenhuis (milking machine) RJ Renes (communication science), SP van der Ploeg (secretary), O Sampimon (infectious pressure), G van Schaik (epidemiology), H Smith (bacteriology), T van Werven (immunology).

A committee consisting of practitioners has helped to develop teaching material for practitioners and farmers and form a group of ambassadors of the project among veterinary practitioners. Members are:
BAM Austie, Tubbergen; RJM van Gent, Zeewolde; E van Leeuwen, Doesburg; AJM Meesters. Roosendaal; JH Roorda, Zuidhorn; JT Siebinga, Gorredijk; N Vreeburg, Oss; PJ Warmerdam, Vorden; AWJ van Wijk, Eibergen; AC de Zeeuw, Lekkerkerk.

Thirdly a committee of dairy farmers follows UGCN activities in daily practice. They report back what they perceive in the field of UGCN activities. Members are: J Brandsma, Giethoorn (chairman); G van de Berg, Lithoijen; W Boer, Stolwijk; RCM Brosens, Wouwse Plantage; D Dierink, Vasse; JR Feitsma, Niehove; W van der Leeuw, Nijbeets; AJFM Ketelaars, Dronten, CM Köning-Wipfler, Zevenaar; JL Berendsen, Mariënvelde. All the committees mentioned, get together on a 3 monthly base.

Finally UGCN participates in a group called ‘Dutch Mastitis Research Workers’. This is a group of researchers, meeting 4 times per year in an informal setting, discussing ongoing mastitis research.