Livestock 2012: New Smithfield for sheep and beef farmers
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, to be staged at The NEC, Birmingham, on 4 and 5 September.
Developed by the event’s organiser, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers in partnership with The Royal Smithfield Club, and sponsored by EBLEX, New Smithfield will feature displays for all beef and sheep producers and offer them an opportunity to meet with the leading meat processors. 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.
In addition, from a total of over 500 stands, more than 340 companies will be offering products and services of interest to beef produces, twice as many as any other UK livestock trade show, while for sheep producers, there will be 250 exhibitors of interest. Some of the UK’s leading processors will be offering advice on how to improve returns from achieving the ideal carcass 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 carcass classification skills using the EBLEX virtual programme. There will also be an opportunity to find out more about establishing a direct selling enterprise.
The Royal Smithfield Club’s Geoff Burgess comments: “Once again, we are proud to work with RABDF to create this feature to help all beef and sheep producers identify ways in which they may improve their margins by introducing technology along with business and management information that is available for everyone in the industry to take up.”
“The UK’s largest specialist livestock event is not just about dairy, it will be focusing on beef and sheep too,” says RABDF chief executive, Nick Everington. “We are confident that all beef and sheep producers visiting the event will find a very professional exhibition at The NEC which reflects the true worth of the industry, and provides a one-stop shop for all livestock farmers, their partners and their staff.”
New Smithfield, sponsored by EBLEX, will be staged in the Livestock Hall alongside the National All Breeds Show.
Find out more about Livestock 2012