EuroTier returns in November, this time with a special section known as the World Poultry Show (WPS). The complete hall devoted to the poultry industry was missing from the exhibition in 2006, but the companies for the sector are backing it in force to be a major part of the event taking place in Hannover, Germany, from November 11-14 this year.
Their support was clear in July, when a check by the organisers found that over 220 specialised poultry suppliers and organisations had booked stands in the World Poultry Show with the full line-up including market leaders in the fields of breeding, production and processing.
"The WPS is set to become a huge international gathering point for the poultry sector," said EuroTier manager Dr Karl Schlösser. "It has played a major role in allowing EuroTier to grow 30 percent compared to the last edition two years ago. Over 1,600 companies have registered to have a stand and their exhibits will cover 170,000 square metres."
About 15,000m2 of this total net area will be for the WPS in Hall 11 and part of Hall 12 on the Messegelände showground. Exhibits are due to illustrate many of the current German and international developments seen in the poultry sector. For example, animal welfare legislation in Germany will require optimal housing solutions relating to climate and lighting. Other rules brought in by the European Union (EU) impact the choice of drinkers, feed, ventilation/temperature regulation, heating, noise reduction and ammonia control. For the first time this year, selected forum topics will be translated into English and lined up to be discussed in forums inside the showground each day.
Global issues discussed
Additionally, the European Poultry Club network of professionals is hosting a panel discussion on November 10, a day before EuroTier opens. The discussion of key global issues for the future includes participation of organisations from France, Brazil, Australia and Germany. The traditional International Poultry event will take place that evening with information on the markets in the enlarged EU and worldwide. This event includes speakers from the European Poultry Club and features Rick Greubel of Tyson Group as the keynote speaker.
Heidy Schonebeck, manager of poultry production at the DLG and manager of the European Poultry Club, reports that topics for discussion this year range from the management of broiler production to the role of the discounter with regard to quality and food safety requirements.
The discount sector among retailers currently accounts for half of all sales of fresh meat in Germany and its share is growing, which should mean an extra demand for poultry meat, but could imply difficulties in supplying high quality at a reasonable production cost because of feed prices.
"The German poultry production is on a record high. Poultry raised in Germany has increased nearly 14 percent in 2007 and with 12 percent the first four months of this year compared to the volume of the same period in the previous year," Schonebeck said.
She said that this year, consumers in Germany are purchasing 10 percent more poultry meat than last year, with fresh meat purchases increasing 25 percent over the previous year.
Schlösser said, "The proportion of WPS exhibitors from outside Germany is almost 70 percent higher than it has ever been before in this sector. This will make the World Poultry Show the highlight for the entire international poultry sector this year."
Veterinary exhibition
For the first time this year, European veterinarians will be part of EuroTier through their own veterinary exhibition held in Hall 16. The German Association of Veterinary Practitioners (bpt) is hosting the exhibition and holding its annual congress. An international animal health evening event is scheduled for November 13, organised jointly by the DLG, bpt and the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe.
Cross-species synergies
Visitors will be able to enjoy the strong synergies provided by the cross-species exhibition segments at EuroTier, such as feeding and feed storage, animal health or animal housing climate control. Animal health, feed and associated products are located in Hall 14 and 15, aimed at all species, including poultry, pig, dairy and cattle. This sector will account for over 300 exhibitors dedicated to feed and associated products on 11,000m2.
Map: Cross species exhibits will provide synergies for visitors.
