EUROTIER 2012 LARGER THAN EVER
Four days of show may not even be enough for this year’s visitors of EuroTier, held in Hanover, Germany, from 13-16 November. The 2012 edition of Europe’s most extensive livestock event promises to be the largest and most international edition ever. Apart from a record number of exhibitors, there will be plenty of attention for animal welfare as well as a special zoom on farrowing units. At least 2,336 exhibitors from 51 countries have booked exhibition space, to be held at Hanover’s Exhibition Grounds. With 250,000 m2 of exhibition space, the show has grown by more than 30% since its last edition in 2010. The international contingent at the biennial show will be over 1,000 exhibitors, which is a 25% increase in comparison to the 2010 edition. This means that nearly half of the exhibitors will come from outside Germany. The Netherlands again leads the field with 193 companies. Strong exhibitor participation will also come from France (139), China (97), Italy (90), Denmark (85), Spain (68), United Kingdom (64), Austria (57), Belgium (55) and the USA (40). The show will address the pig, cattle and poultry sectors, with every possible leading company in the field of genetics, housing, climate control, animal health, nutrition and feed additives. In addition, attention for bioenergy with also be available at he ‘BioEnergy Decentral’ show. Highlighting innovations, an independent jury will be awarding gold and silver medals. In total, 160,000 visitors are expected in Hanover.
Farrowing units
Gestation crates are still being replaced throughout the European Union, but at EuroTier the next dimension of animal welfare shall already be highlighted: that of farrowing units. A special theme, Animal Health in Farrowing Units’ Special, will focus on the latest developments for modern and resource-conserving piglet production. Various options for piggery construction, installations and facilities, floor design, climate control, and hygiene and health management will be shown by way of example in Hall 11. Alongside conventional methods, alternative forms of keeping that give sows greater freedom of movement will be shown. More animal welfare related information can be found in the Animal Welfare Info Centre. This is opened to offer open discussion sessions on socially critical priority topics. Two discussion panels will be held daily following the round table principle. The discussion sessions will be chaired professionally and feature experts representing opposite positions on the various topics. These discussion events will be supplemented by information islands on the subject of animal welfare in animal husbandry and management. Also new is a special Feed Gallery. Visitors will be able to see the variety and broad base of the raw materials (feed materials) for animal husbandry.
Side events
Apart from the show and its specials, EuroTier presents an extensive technical programme – with for example the EuroTier International Pig Event being held in the Convention Centre on November 12, the day prior to the onset of the show. With cooperation of the Chinese Animal Agriculture Association (CAAA), the Pig Event will provide a platform for European as well as Chinese pig farmers to meet and greet. Main theme of this event is ‘Europe: between export continent America and import continent Asia – Perspectives for the global pork market’. One day later, the traditional Eastern European Conference will examine the prospects and challenges of animal production in the CIS countries. Other side events will include the Young Farmers Day; the ‘TopTierTreff’ for the best dairy cows and cattle; an Aquaculture Forum; and the congress of the German Federal Association of Practising Veterinarians. A preview of some innovations at EuroTier 2012 can be found on pages 48-49. The Pig Cough Monitor (pages 34-35) is also presented at EuroTier.
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