Sommet de l’Elevage offered resistance to Bluetongue

When “the most important in Europe for livestock professionals encounter” closed, organizers smiled again thanks to a not so catastrophic that the announced result. In this year of 2015, welcomed 72,000 visitors came reflecting “only” a 17% attendance compared to the previous edition. “The worst happened,” said Fabrice Berthon, General Commissioner of the Sommet de l’Elevage. “Livestock is the essence of the show and the total absence due to Bluetongue (for the first time in 24 editions) is a real loss for our event. This situation should never happen again, “he said Berthon.

“This issue will not be the best crop, but given the economic situation and health of livestock, the Sommet finally resisted well,” added Jacques Chazalet, president of the fair. For the exhibitors, satisfaction is generally a turnover that would not have suffered through this difficult context. “The Sommet de l’Elevage has a solid foundation and our 1,400 exhibitors realized they could do business. Despite the economic crisis and the health situation, farmers have the will to prepare for the future without obscuring the difficulties, investing, innovating. The first conclusions of the exhibitors, especially the machinery sector are positive. If the contacts were younger, their quality is increasing, which is a good sign, “continued the president of the Sommet. As for the legendary amenity event, was present as long as possible, that the 24th edition perform without mishap.

International: positive results

Roger Blanc, the founder president of the Sommet, now in charge of international development of the fair, spent three intense days. “We expected strong growth of our international visitors. In the end, we had almost 3,600 visitors from 75 countries made the trip to the city of Clermont-Ferrand, a slight decrease of less than 10% compared to 2014”. However, new Countries were represented as Uzbekistan, Kosovo, Estonia, Finland, Costa Rica, Panama and Saudi Arabia. “Many delegations also had the opportunity to buy French genetics (semen purpose cattle with dairy and meat, also semen for sheep and goats) to As agricultural material, “he said.

Visits to the farms

These were reinforced, allowing offset, in part, the absence of cattle at the fair and maintain a very good dynamic. The the international visitors were very satisfied with the program that are prepared exclusively for them. In this way they were able to discover the herds in their environment with the proposed visits to 52 farms (a world record!, according to the organization), thanks to the mobilization of farmers and professional organizations.

A moderate outcome for the sheep sector

Despite a difficult health situation, only 60% of the animals were present, assistance to the flag of sheep remains identical to that of previous years.

The arrangement of the organizations racial selection was to be present for two reasons: to show the excellence of French sheep genetics and maintain a privileged moment of exchange with national and international buyers. Sheep breeds that did not come to Sommet de l’Elevage, could benefit from a high profile among international visitors thanks to the organization of multiple visits to farms. For the first time, the flag of sheep herding dogs presented with the French pastoral dog breeds.

This year, emphasis was also placed on innovation to show young people that the sheep sector is a modern and dynamic sector.

Michèle Boudoin, president of the National Sheep Federation, informed that this is a modest but hopeful conclusion: “We are very grateful to breeders who have made the effort to keep the animal presentations yet. We have shown that we are able to adapt. ”

Equine Pavilion, busy

Always very popular with visitors, the horse pavilion gathered 330 breeders and 120 horses representing the entire territory of the Massif Central. The restructuring of the pavilion was successful with a very good flow of public, animal and contests. Gapihan Gilles, head of the equine sector, the balance is more than positive: “With numerous animal presentations and high quality competitions, the audience was always full number and corridors.”

The next edition: from 5 to 7 October 2016

After a 2015 edition disturbed by Bluetongue, organizers are already thinking about 2016. The 25th edition of the Sommet de l’Elevage will be an important anniversary that will see the return of all beef cattle competitions in the concert hall the “Zenith d’Auvergne, a scenario that will also host the national Charolais competition. “What will give an extra dimension to the event,” concluded President Jacques Chazalet.

Source: Sommet de l’Élevage