A record 17,000 visitors attended the Livestock Event staged at The NEC, Birmingham on 2 and 3 July 2014 - the figure was up six percent on the year.
“The event continues to evolve and goes from strength to strength,” said RABDF Chief Executive, Nick Everington. “The main trade halls buzzed throughout as visitors explored the latest technology, discussed new business and placed orders, while the technical demonstrations proved a huge attraction, in particular the world’s first live robot feeding and milking demonstration at an exhibition. Farmers were challenged and inspired by presentations in the speaker areas with the Farm Health Planning Seminars in particular packed out over the two days. Whilst outdoors of the exhibition halls visitors seriously considering investing in the latest 4x4 and UTV models took the opportunity to test drive them around The NEC’s off-road track.
“Feedback from exhibitors was very positive with good quality business leads received over the two days, which is testimony to our strict exhibitor policy.
“Livestock continued at the heart of the event. Cattle entries were up 31% on the year and relocating the main judging ring to the genetics zone proved to be a huge success, enabling them to be even more prominent and enhance the experience for both visitors and exhibitors who enjoyed our very modern air conditioned facilities. Once again, we had a clean show.”
He added: “We look forward to continuing to build on the event’s success in July 2015 and creating the opportunity for all livestock farmers to get away from their farms to gain more technical knowledge and do business.” The 2015 Livestock Event will be staged on 8 and 9 July - for more info see www.livestockevent.co.uk
Females First with Charolais
In the National Charolais Show held at the Event, Sportsmans Highness, a two-year-old heifer from Boden and Davies took the supreme championship. Home bred, she was Charolais junior female champion at last year’s Royal Welsh Show. Taking the reserve supreme rosette was the reserve female, Balbithan Hersieys, a January 2012-born in-calf heifer from Andrew and Beth White, Dorset. A winner at the event last year, she has been inter-breed champion at Devon County Show and reserve inter-breed winner at the Royal Bath and West and Royal Cornwall shows this season.
Gretnahouse Indian, owned by Alasdair Houston, Gretna Green, took the male championship. Born in April 2013, he is from one of the herd’s best female families, with his grand-dam producing bulls which have sold to more than £25,000 (GBP). He will be sold at the Stirling sales if not privately before then. The reserve male championship went to Marne Impeccable, a January 2013-born bull, from Robert and Michelle Tremayne, Cornwall. He has been male champion and reserve breed champion at the Royal Cornwall and Devon County shows this year and also took the junior inter-breed bull title in Devon.
4 July 2014
