Livestock 2012 is proving to be a bigger and better event than its predecessor, the Dairy Event. Continuing to have a big focus on the dairy industry, Livestock 2012 incorporates the beef, sheep, pig and poultry sectors too. Held on 4^th and 5^th September, the event boasts two ten hour days with exhibitors offering over 100 new products including more than 30 launched for the first time at the event, along with a range of practical working demonstrations.

Nick Everington, RABDF’s Chief Executive said; “The rebranded Livestock 2012, the UK’s largest business event in the sector, will be welcoming more than 16,000 farmers, their partners and their staff from the UK and beyond. With exhibitor bookings having achieved a record of more than 525, an additional sixth exhibition hall has been taken to provide the extra space required,” explains RABDF chief executive, Nick Everington.

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What’s on at Livestock 2012.

Farm Health Planning seminars – the joint farmer vet approach
Farmers and their vets will be teaming up to address some of the most common issues found among all livestock enterprises in the Farm Health Planning seminars, managed by the Cattle Health and Welfare Group, chaired by British Cattle Veterinary Association members. Key issues include mastitis, fertility, and lameness issues, together with some new seminars on fluke and IBR.

Feed Science Forums
The Feed Science Forums will offer practical science based advice and the latest ideas on feeding by some of the UK’s leading animal nutritionists and technical specialists. Five subjects will be covered including alternatives to soya, developing best practice for heifer rearing, and links between metabolic disease and poor fertility.

Business Debates
These debates organised by RABDF will cover how to add additional livestock enterprises, diversify or make a Fresh Start and will also include the benefits of farm assurance, the new professional register for dairy farmers, opportunities and innovation in the sector and what differentiates the most successful fairy farmers.

Farm Safety Demonstrations
RABDF is working with Lantra and the HSE to deliver key health and safety messages in practical demonstrations to farmers and those working in the industry in an attempt to arrest some of the 40 to 50 workers killed annually on British farms. Farmers will be shown what to look out for with PTOs and blockages, driving ATVs, working at heights, stacking bales and handling stock.

Foot trimming demonstrations
Foot trimming demonstrations will be staged four times a day in a purpose built marquee alongside the main Livestock Hall. They will feature the most popular techniques supported by independent commentary with additional information provided on locomotion.

National All Breeds Show
The National All Breeds Show organised by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers and managed by Holstein UK, has 300 stall places available. The class schedule will run throughout the two day event.

Tuesday will feature the individual cow in milk classes. The coloured breeds’ judging will take place in the morning followed by Holstein in the afternoon. Each will culminate with their respective championship, while the prestigious interbreed award with £1,000 at stake will be made at Wednesday lunchtime. Wednesday commences with the showmanship classes, followed by junior coloured breeds’ classes, and in the afternoon the junior Holstein classes. Each will once again culminate with their respective championships.

New Smithfield - dedicated beef and sheep exhibition
New Smithfield, the feature designed to help all commercial beef producers improve their enterprise margins is extending to the sheep sector at this year’s Livestock 2012.

A series of workshops will provide information on a variety of areas, from use of EID, beef AI, eliminating fluke, farming profitably without payments and how to get in to sheep farming. Some of the UK’s leading processors will be offering advice on how to improve returns from achieving the ideal carcase specification, how to improve value and the importance of producing for specific markets.

Beef from the dairy herd is the EBLEX focus at the event, examining rearing, rations and selection for slaughter as well as options for dairy bull calves. Producers will also be able to test their carcase classification skills using the EBLEX virtual program. There will also be an opportunity to find out more about establishing a direct selling enterprise.

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