Some 850 exhibitors and more than 70,000 visitors are expected to attend the 15th edition of Europe's leading trade show for beef professionals. French President Jacques Chirac should be officially opening the show. The programme for this year’s event will be a very full one, with a comprehensive presentation of the beef, sheep and horse industries, two national competitions featuring the Brown Swiss and Simmental breeds, the European Congress of Brown Swiss Breeders, business meetings, a technological innovation competition, farm tours, symposiums and conferences, etc., not to mention the nearly 1,600 animals that will be present on this site which is continually being developed so as to provide the best possible reception and exhibition conditions.
The trend toward increasing numbers of international exhibitors will continue in 2006, with 10% more foreign exhibitors than last year. The “SOMMET DE L’ELEVAGE” trade show will welcome a total of 240 international exhibitors, including more than 50 foreign firms exhibiting directly and representing the agricultural machinery as well as livestock supply and equipment sectors. Show organizers expect more than 1,500 foreign visitors during the three-day event.
This year's country guest of honour will be Poland, with a large delegation of Polish buyers attending, invited to the event in partnership with UBIFRANCE and the International Cooperation Technical Bureau of the French Cattle-Breeding Institute [l’Institut de l’Elevage]. On this occasion, business meetings with the exhibitors will be specially organised for the Polish delegation.
Given the success of the farm visits open to international visitors to last year’s show, these will be stepped up during the three days of this year's event. The visits allow a first-hand look at the region’s quality breeding conditions and farming environment.
Even more animals to be exhibited in 2006
The “SOMMET DE L’ELEVAGE 2006” trade show will also feature two national dairy cattle competitions. Producers of the Brown Swiss and Simmental breeds will have an opportunity to show their best animals with 150 cows competing for each breed. The dairy section will be expanded and international elite heifer auctions will be held during the trade show.
Another noteworthy event is the European Conference of Brown Swiss Breeders to be held on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 October, to be followed by the national competition on Friday 6 October. The Simmental breed competition will be held on Thursday 5 October. Another new event this year is the Norman breed competition. The Jersey breed will also be returning to the show.
For the beef cattle section, additional slots have been made available for each breed, resulting in an expanded animal recruitment area. The concept of a unified sector will be developed with a more extensive presentation of the entire beef production range (crossbreeds, grassers, finished animals, quality labels, etc.). Two French breeds will be presented for the first time ever at the event: the Villard de Lans and Saônoise breeds. The “SOMMET DE L’ELEVAGE” trade show will also host the INTERBEV symposium (Thursday 5 October) on the topic of “Grassers at the SOMMET: prospects and partnerships for livestock breeders, owners and fatteners in Europe”.
For the sheep section, the trade show will also host the national competition for the BMC (Blanc du Massif Central) breed, with more than 350 animals competing.
Horses will also have a dedicated area with more than 250 heavy draught (Percherons, Ardennais and other breeds) and saddle horses on display.
