Rebranded livestock event prepares for bumper two days

Livestock Incorporating Dairy Event will provide a comprehensive learning and business opportunities for all producers whether farming dairy, beef, sheep, pigs or poultry, on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 September, at The NEC, Birmingham.

The event will be officially opened on the first day, Tuesday by Agriculture Minister, Jim Paice MP.

“The rebranded Livestock 2012, the UK’s largest business event in the sector, will be welcoming more than 16,300 farmers, their partners and their staff from the UK and beyond. With exhibitor bookings on course to exceed last year’s 480, an additional sixth exhibition hall has been taken to provide the extra space required,” explains RABDF chief executive, Nick Everington.

“Dairy farmer visitors continue to remain dominant at the event and we will not be diluting the dairy content. The milking and genetic zones and foot trimming demonstrations will all remain key features,

as will the National All Breeds Show, the dairy sector’s premier competitive event staged over two days of judging featuring leading genetics from seven different breeds and a comprehensive range of classes covering calves, heifers and milking cows.

“However over the past 10 years, as the number of UK dairy farmers has fallen by approximately 11,500 to 15,000, exhibitor numbers have increased by 70 per cent and visitors by 42  per cent. At the same time, we have widened the event’s appeal to not only beef and sheep farmers, but also to our dairy farmer visitors, almost 60 per centof whom have additional livestock or arable enterprises.

Consequently, Livestock 2012 will provide a comprehensive range of products and advice covering most aspects of livestock farming. And the event will continue to be divided in to 13 clear product zones to help all visitors to find exhibitors more easily and make better use of their time. Also, this year exhibitors will be launching more than 80 new products and services.”

Brand new for 2012 are the Farm Safety Demonstrations offering advice on various issues from what to look out for with PTOs and blockages, driving ATVs and working at heights to stacking bales and handling stock.

The popular Farm Health Planning Seminars, Business Debates and Feed Science Forums will each offer advice across species, while NEW SMITHFIELD developed by RABDF in partnership with the Royal Smithfield Club and located in the two acre Livestock Hall, is once again dedicated to all farmers with beef and sheep enterprises.

Workshops will cover a comprehensive range of subjects from getting to grips with Estimated Breeding Values to exploiting EID as a management tool. Young entrants will be discussing how they put together a business plan to get started, while the daily debate will feature AI v natural service.

He adds: “The NEC venue is continuing to provide us with the opportunity for future expansion as we continue to build the Dairy Event and Livestock Show to become the flagship not only for the UK industry, but also to rival its European counterparts.

“While farmers may want to take advantage of the free car parking, they should consider joining the 1,500 visitors who took the train to last year’s event, and catch one of the many direct services in to Birmingham International, just an easy 10 min undercover walk away from the exhibition halls.”

For further details see www.livestockevent.co.uk