Beef to be exhibited at Livestock 2013 for first time
Beef cattle will be exhibited for the first time at Livestock 2013, further broadening the event’s appeal across livestock sectors.
Speaking at Livestock 2013 launch at the Farmers Club, in London, RABDF chief executive Nick Everington said the British Charolais Society has confirmed they will be holding a national Charolais show at the event.
The show will be held on the Wednesday in a bid to attract commercial interest in the breed and will be open to performance-recorded stock only, aged between eight and 30 months.
The society said the British Charolais’ Young Breeders Stock judging competition and society’s AGM will also be held at the event, although the date has yet to be confirmed.
Speaking to Farmers Weekly, David Benson, chief executive of the British Charolais Society, said the change of date to July had facilitated the move.
He added: “You have got to move the job forward. Demand for performance-recorded animals is there and we have got to try and go with the times.”
The society has so far been allocated 80 stalls.
During the launch, Mr Everington backed the move to change the date to July.
“The first week in July is more conducive to farmers’ seasonal buying and investment decisions ahead of the autumn and winter. It will avoid peak harvesting periods – both grass and arable,” he added.
Despite reports of the contrary, Mr Everington said rescheduling had gained support from the livestock community.
He said out of a total of 560 visitors surveyed at the event this year, 85% said they intended to visit the event next year, despite the date change.
He also hit back at claims that the dairy content was being watered down and explained the number of dairy exhibitors had increased by 5% since 2010 to reach 98%.
Livestock 2013 will mark the launch of a new National Dairy Show, as the contract with Holstein UK – who ran National All Breeds for the past two years – comes to an end.
In an attempt to attract more cattle exhibitors, the RABDF revealed stall fees would be slashed next year to £50, instead of £70, and would be fully refunded providing cattle were exhibited at the event.
In 2014, the event will now clash with the NSA Sheep event, but Mr Everington said the NSA date had not been in anyone’s forward calendar when they were looking for alternative dates for the Livestock Event.
“Previously the date has been late July/early August, and here was no indication it would change,” he added.