Livestock Event 2014: Dairy, beef and sheep farmers gather at NEC

Beef prices, the impact of CAP reform and a strategy to increase milk production in the UK will be among the dominant topics at the 2014 Livestock Event.

Thousands of farmers are expected to visit the NEC in Birmingham for the two-day event (2-3 July) looking for answers on key questions affecting their businesses.

It comes just a day after a beef summit organised by Defra minister George Eustice, aimed at halting the beef price crash, and two days after the dairy sector unveiled plans to grow milk production in the UK.

The show, organised by the RABDF, this year boats a record 400 livestock entries, more than 450 trade exhibitors and a programme of more than 50 short seminar sessions.

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Visitors will be able to watch the National Dairy Show, and some of the UK’s highest-performance-recorded beef cattle in the National British Blue and Charolais Shows and the Aberdeen Angus National Junior Championship.

Away from the ringside, visitors will have the opportunity to evaluate automated systems – the event is staging a robot milking and feeding demonstration with 40 commercial cows, along with a robotic equipment display from the world’s leading milking machine manufacturers.

A new off-road venture will feature some of the latest UTVs and 4×4 pick-ups for test driving around the NEC’s specially configured off-road track.

RABDF chief executive Nick Everington said: “The Livestock Event is responding to last year’s visitor survey by offering more livestock and technical exhibits, resulting in the largest-ever offering, all of which has been designed to help farmers make more money and enjoy a day away from the farm with their partner, herdsman, nutritionist and vet.”