16 August 2011

3 minute read

Europe

Developed by the event’s organiser, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers in partnership with The Royal Smithfield Club, and sponsored by EBLEX, New Smithfield will feature displays, practical demonstrations and workshops and offer an opportunity to meet with the leading meat processors.

In addition, beef producers will find that from a total of over 480 stands, more than 280 companies will be offering products and services of interest, a figure twice as many as any other UK livestock trade show.

Each of the major beef breed societies, Aberdeen Angus, British Blue, British Charolais, British Simmental, Devon, Hereford, and South Devon, will present the strength of their respective breeds and the use of Estimated Breeding Values for the key performance traits to achieve genetic progress. Halter led demonstrations will be made in the ring and a display of cows with calves at foot will highlight the impact of sire selection on dairy crossbred dams.

The UK’s leading processors will offer advice on how to improve returns from achieving the ideal carcase specification, how to improve value and the importance of producing for specific markets. ABP will focus on the new VIA system, Dovecote Park plans to jointly demonstrate with Waitrose live cattle to meet with its market requirements, Dunbia will feature a selection of cull cows and how they meet with its various market requirements, while Vion will focus on the importance of increasing dairy herd margins by producing calves from the dairy herd to match the needs of the beef sector and avoid the needless slaughter of unwanted calves.

In addition, three workshops led by industry specialists and beef producers themselves will cover key areas that will directly affect returns - genetics, nutrition and management.

Potential export markets will be a key theme on the EBLEX stand. Producers will be able to put their carcase classification skills to the test using the EBLEX virtual program and there will be an opportunity to find out more about establishing a direct selling enterprise.

The Royal Smithfield Club’s Geoff Burgess comments: “We are very proud to work with RABDF to create this new feature to help producers identify ways in which they may improve their margins by introducing technology along with business and management information that is available for everyone in the industry to take up.”

“The UK’s largest specialist livestock event is not just about dairy, it will be focusing on beef too,” says RABDF chief executive, Nick Everington.

“We are confident that all beef producers visiting the event will find a very professional exhibition at The NEC which reflects the true worth of the industry, and provides a one-stop shop for all livestock farmers, their partners and their staff.”

New Smithfield will be staged in the Livestock Hall alongside the National All Breeds Show.

TheCattleSite News Desk