October 10, 2006

 

EuroTier set to be Europe's biggest professional animal husbandry event

 

Press release
 

 

EuroTier 2006, the seventh international DLG (German Agricultural Society) exhibition for animal husbandry and management, is set to be Europe's biggest information event for the professional animal husbandry sector. Leading companies in the sector will be presenting their full range of products and services and a number of innovations at the exhibition in Hanover, Germany.

 

More than 1,300 exhibitors from 39 countries have already registered, including 435 exhibitors from outside Germany. This underlines EuroTier's leading position as the premier global exhibition in the field of animal husbandry and management.

 

The mood among German livestock farmers is currently more positive than it has been for some years. This is confirmed by the latest findings of DLG's Trend Monitor survey, which the organisation carried out among 4,000 farmers in Germany and several other countries in western and eastern Europe in the autumn of 2006.

 

According to this survey, German livestock farmers currently view their situation as significantly more stable than in recent years. Pig farmers, in particular, are looking to the future with confidence on the back of sustained buoyancy in producer prices.

 

Dairy and cattle farmers have now been through the new system of farm incentives once and are able to accurately calculate what payments they can expect to receive and also where market prices for milk and quotas have settled since removal of the link between production and incentive payments.

 

The survey also reveals that state-of-the-art technology and high-performance farm equipment are assuming key importance for farmers in these countries in developing their businesses. They are looking for solutions that help them to tackle key challenges such as the right approach to genetics and animal feed, housing design and equipment, quality assurance, environmental protection, animal health and animal welfare.

 

In the Russian market, there are clear signs of stronger investment in cattle and pig rearing. Overall, there remains strong demand for information and capital investment in central and eastern European countries. DLG has ramped up its activities in these countries, laying the foundations for successful development and consolidation of business relationships in the region.

 

Meanwhile, the structural change in European agriculture continues apace. The number of farms rearing livestock continues to decline, but due to larger herd sizes, the overall number of animals is remaining roughly constant.

 

With the comprehensive array of information available at EuroTier 2006, visitors can get answers to all their questions about modern animal husbandry. Leading manufacturers and suppliers to the pig and cattle industry will be represented in Hanover and advisors from several international trade associations and organisations will be on hand, as will experts from the fields of science and research and DLG, providing an unparalleled source of information.

 

EuroTier 2006 is geared more to the needs of pig farmers worldwide than ever before. This is a clear indication of Germany's leading role in European pig farming, and EuroTier is consolidating its dominant position in the international pig farming industry with the good response from international exhibitors.

 

The EU regulation on ensuring traceability of food products that came into force in January 2005 poses new challenges for pig farmers. The BFL (die Bauforderung Landwirtschaft) is striving to meet the needs of pig farmers for information in this area and is dedicating its special corner at this year's EuroTier to the theme of "Electronics in the piggery - linking the answers". EuroTier 2006 will also feature some of the solutions being developed by the "ISOagriNET" standardisation committee that will lead to significant cost- and labour-saving benefits in pig farming.

 

Additionally, manufacturers of milking and refrigeration systems will be well represented at EuroTier 2006, with exhibits of automatic milking systems included.

 

EuroTier also promises to feature a unique overview of cutting-edge genetics in European cattle breeding, with daughter animal displays by leading German and international breeding organisations and companies.

 

Self-produced or purchased animal feed quality has to follow through all the way from storage, transport and mixing to the feeding trough. The new EU hygiene regulation that came into force on Jan 1, 2006, will also have an impact on the entire animal feed sector. DLG is therefore picking up on this critical issue for livestock farmers and mixed feed companies and, in close collaboration with exhibitors at EuroTier 2006, will be staging a special section titled "Feed hygiene LIVE - from the silo to the trough" in Hall 20.

 

With more than 250 exhibitors, BioEnergyEurope, being held for the first time under the auspices of EuroTier, is set to become the most important source of information in Europe for all matters relating to bio-energy.

 

Aquaculture will once again be the focus of attention for many trade visitors to EuroTier 2006 from both Germany and abroad. Leading technology and equipment companies and several other suppliers and institutions from the areas of aquaculture, mariculture, inland fishery and environmental technology will be represented in Hall 23. The international fish food industry and suppliers of technology, equipment and general supplies are increasingly focusing on the international marketplace provided by EuroTier.

 

The VDI Knowledge Forum, in conjunction with the VDI's Max-Eyth Society for Agricultural Engineering (VDI-MEG), will stage their international symposium TIER TECHNIK on Nov 13, marking the start of EuroTier 2006. Focusing, among other things, on process management, feed quality and documentation, the aim of the symposium is to outline challenges of modern agricultural production and production processes involved in animal husbandry, and to examine some technical solutions available to help farmers meet cross-compliance requirements. Further information on TIER TECHNIK is available at: www.wissensforum.de

 

Both the EuroTier Pig Event and EuroTier Dairy Event on Nov 13, 2006, provide a forum for leading international farmers to meet and discuss topical issues. They also allow participants to make contacts and gather information, while a distinguished speaker will address a highly topical issue at each event, providing thought-provoking ideas for the future.

 

During the events, an independent jury will bestow the title of EuroTier Pig Farmer 2006 and EuroTier Dairy Farmer 2006 upon Europe's leading farmers in the respective sectors for the first time.

 

There will also be specific forums for individual types of livestock in which scientists, consultants, suppliers and farmers give fascinating presentations on latest trends and key developments in the sector.

 

In accordance with the wishes of a number of exhibitors with regard to the structure of international exhibitions in Europe, the next "World Poultry Show" will not be staged until EuroTier 2008. However, poultry farmers at this year's EuroTier may find information on breeding and on feed, animal health and bio-energy in the cross-species section of the exhibition. A seminar, organised by the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry (ZDG), is also in store at the Convention Centre (CC) at the exhibition grounds in Hanover on Nov 13.

 

Hanover has the largest exhibition grounds in the world, with state-of-the-art exhibition halls providing the ideal location for both visitors and exhibitors. Various exhibition areas are clearly laid out across nine single-storey, easily accessible halls, ensuring that visitors can find their way around with ease and use their day at the trade fair to optimum effect. The adjacent CC provides outstanding facilities for hosting specialist trade conferences.

 

DLG has set up a special, multilingual online information service to provide quick and easy access to information about EuroTier 2006. The online information service is continually updated and features a news service as well as information about exhibitors, travel services and the international symposium. More information is available at: www.eurotier.de

 

DLG once again expects visitor numbers in excess of 100,000.

 

For the full pdf version of this press release, click here.