An estimated 140,000 visitors, including 24,000 international visitors, attended EuroTier 2010, an international trade show held in Hannover, Germany, November 16-19. EuroTier is recognized as the world’s “top event for animal production”. This event is sponsored and organized by the Frankfurt-based German Agricultural Society (DLG).
Beginning this year, EuroTier became the first international trade show that covered all areas of the animal agriculture industry in Europe, expanding to cover the aquaculture sector. The overall show program was divided into 14 different areas of animal husbandry, which included breeding programs, trade, reproduction technology, farm inputs, feed storage and feedstuffs, among others.
Hannover, a city in north-central Germany, boasts the world’s largest exhibition grounds. The grounds include more than 5.3 million square feet of covered indoor space, and nearly 625,000 square feet of open-air space. There are 27 halls and pavilions. The grounds were open for EuroTier visitors every day from 9 AM to 6 PM. A record 1,900 exhibitors were present at this year’s event.
The buildings, or halls, were assigned based on the type of animal agriculture involved, including cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry and aquaculture.
Show program:
Forums were held daily to discuss questions related to each livestock species. Many of these discussions were simultaneously translated into English.
Cattle forum topics included: improving farm profitability through professional herd management, Progesterone – Control of cycle and gestation, and optimizing calving and insemination management.
Several international conferences were held throughout the show. One of the conferences, held one day before the show officially opened, focused on the theme of “Dairy Farming Worldwide”, in which different perspectives were presented regarding dairy farming in different countries.
Cattle shows or ‘specials’ were also a part of the program, taking place in one of the cattle buildings. The TopTierTreff or Top Cattle Genetics show was held daily, rotating from one breed to another. The purpose of this cattle show was to provide an overview of the top cattle breeding genetics in Europe. Exhibitors led their cattle into the ring while an announcer commented on the unique genetics of each animal.
Additionally, Innovation Medals were awarded to exhibitors that submitted the innovations of their companies. An international and independent commission of experts was appointed to assess innovations and award gold and silver medals.
Two of the gold medal recipients were involved in the milking and cooling technology sector of the dairy cattle industry. A Swedish company, DeLaval International, received the medal for its automatic milking rotary. This system fully automated udder preparation, attachment of milking units and the spraying of teats by means of robotic arms.
The German-based company Siliconform unveiled the milking taxi. This system is set up for a tandem-milking parlor. The milker is transported through the parlor suspended off the ground using a rail system. The rail system guides the milker from one side of the parlor to another to save time and labor for the milk producer.
EuroTier history
EuroTier first took place in 1993, but Hannover has been its home ever since 1996. The exhibition grounds at Hannover have hosted this event every two years in the month of November.
Visitor attendance (national and international) and the number of exhibitors have steadily increased at EuroTier over the last decade. The next EuroTier will take place November 13-16, 2012. PD
