THE 6TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON BEEF CATTLE WELFARE WAS CONCEIVED AND DEVELOPED BY A TEAM OF COOPERATING U.S. AND CANADIAN ANIMAL SCIENTISTS AND VETERINARIANS. FIRST OFFERED AT KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY IN 2008, THE SYMPOSIUM HAS BECOME A BIENNIAL ROTATING EVENT WITH A U.S. OR CANADIAN PARTNER AS ITS HOST. SYMPOSIA HAVE BEEN HOSTED BY KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY (2008, 2010), UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN (2012), IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY (2014), UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY (2018), AND IN 2020 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY WILL BE THE HOST.THE MISSION OF THE SYMPOSIUM IS TO ADDRESS THE CARE AND WELFARE ISSUES FACED BY THE BEEF PRODUCING SECTOR. THE FIRST SYMPOSIUM LAID A FRAMEWORK FOR ADDRESSING CURRENT AND FUTURE WELFARE ISSUES FACING THE GLOBAL BEEF INDUSTRY SUCH AS PRODUCTION, TRANSPORTATION, SUSTAINABILITY, PROCESSING, MARKETING, LEGISLATIVE, AND SOCIAL CONCERNS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS SYMPOSIUM IS THE ONLY MEETING THAT BRINGS THE ENTIRE BEEF SUPPLY CHAIN TOGETHER TO DISCUSS BEEF CATTLE WELFARE WHICH INCLUDES, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COW/CALF RANCHERS, STOCKER AND FEEDLOT OPERATORS, BEEF PACKERS, VETERINARIANS, SCIENTISTS, LAW MAKERS, GROCERS, RESTAURANT RETAILERS, AND CONSUMER SECTORS.