The leading companies in the industry will be presenting a complete programme and many innovations.

So far 2,100 exhibitors from 49 countries have already booked stands. Half of the exhibitors come from outside Germany, the largest contingent once again hailing from the Netherlands with 163 companies. High exhibitor participation is also already evident from France (129), China (109), Italy (84), Denmark (67), Spain (59), the United Kingdom (46), Belgium (45), Austria (45), Turkey (40) and Poland (35).

"These registration figures are roughly at the same high level as for the record event two years ago", stated EuroTier project manager Dr Karl Schlösser. For him the exceptionally high interest shown by exhibitors from abroad is a clear indication of the continuing rise in EuroTier's importance as the turntable to international markets. "The booking figures impressively underscore EuroTier’s pre-eminent position as the world’s leading trade fair for animal production."

Complete information programme covering all details of modern animal production

EuroTier 2014 will again be a first rate information platform. With its unique programme of innovations, trends and points of detail concerning modern animal husbandry, it is a vital source of information for farmers.

All leading manufacturers and suppliers from the pig and cattle sector will be represented in Hanover.

The programme in the cattle sector in particular is larger than ever before. For example, all the world’s market leaders in the field of milking and refrigeration equipment and systems will be at the show. There will be a high level of participation in the cattle breeding segment too, with strong attendance by the major national and international cattle breeding organizations.

Furthermore, outstanding exhibitor participation in the field of pig specialists has also already been noted for EuroTier 2014. All the leading firms and organizations from home and abroad will be presenting their products at the Exhibition Grounds in Hanover.

By comparison with previous years, stand bookings again display encouraging growth in the trade fair areas of feed, animal health and veterinary medicine, as well as for other farm inputs. In particular the unique programme revolving around feed and animal health is an absolute stand-alone feature of EuroTier.

Innovations platform – Impulses for effectiveness, efficiency, precision and animal welfare

For many years now, companies have been gearing their innovation cycles to EuroTier and presenting their innovations there. EuroTier is the platform for launching new machinery, facilities and farm inputs on the international markets.

The innovations from the areas of animal housing, machinery and equipment for feeding and keeping, electronics, instrumentation and controls, as well as data management, will provide new impulses for effectiveness, efficiency, precision and animal welfare.

A neutral, international commission of experts appointed by DLG will again select 'EuroTier Innovations' from among the submissions by the exhibitors on the basis of strict criteria and award them Gold and Silver Medals.

Focus on top cattle genetics – Daily shows at the 'TopTierTreff'

The major prerequisites for viable dairy farming include robust cows with a long life. That is why the importance of cattle genetics continues to grow.

This year too, EuroTier will again offer a unique overview of the world’s top cattle genetics. Leading German and international breeding organizations and companies will be presenting their daughter animals at the 'TopTierTreff'. They use this exclusive platform to present their top cattle genetics to a premium international trade public. The 'TopTierTreff' will therefore again be one of the attractions for cattle farmers from home and abroad. Presentations will be given there in German and at set times in English and Russian too. The best daughter animals of all dairy and meat breeds will be shown.

Special: 'Automated cattle feeding – From silo to rumen'

The use of automatic feeding systems is advancing in dairy cattle, young stock and beef bull husbandry. But what degree of automation is expedient? Answers to this question will be provided by a EuroTier-Special 'Automated cattle feeding – From silo to rumen', which is being established together with exhibitors in the open-air section of the Exhibition Grounds. The different technical solutions will be presented in a practical environment here, with live demonstrations. This will give visitors the opportunity to inspect the modes of operation of the systems in detail.

The focus will be on different solutions for feeding grass and maize silage, as well as hay/straw and mineral feed or feed concentrate. Both the mixing operation and delivery of the mixture to the feeding table can be followed. Alongside the technical demonstrations, information islands will be set up on the topics of animal welfare, environment, costs and feeding management, staffed by experts from the sectors of consultancy, science and research, and industry.

In addition, substantial attention will be devoted to 'Automated cattle feeding' at the 'Cattle Forum', where lectures and discussions will be offered daily between 14:00 h and 16:00 with simultaneous German/English interpreting.

Special: 'Innovative piglet rearing'

Productive animal management and its various systems are increasingly being subjected to the critical eye of the public and policy-makers. Co-determination by associations and law-makers appears inevitable in the coming years. This presents animal farmers with new challenges. In this connection, it will be important to develop new concepts with new products for animal housing and feeding too, in order to cater to the changed requirements. In addition to appropriate herd management by farmers, support from manufacturers of housing facilities, as well as of feeding, climate control and manure removal installations and from feed producers too, will be required in order to develop and implement suitable solutions for improved animal welfare.

This is where the EuroTier Special 'Innovative piglet rearing' comes in. It is being organised jointly by BFL (Bauförderung Landwirtschaft - an organisation devoted to promoting agricultural building construction and optimising livestock management conditions) and DLG.

Examples of various possible ways of building and fitting out animal housing as well as of floor design, climate control, keeping, feeding and health management will be shown.

The focus will be in particular on solutions that allow "extra" animal welfare in piglet rearing. Recognised advisers and consultants for keeping management, animal health and housing construction will guide visitors through the 'Special' several times a day and provide answers to their questions. Furthermore, priority aspects of the Special will be intensified at 'Pig Forum' sessions.

Poultry keeping – Focus on feeding, climate control and animal health

In consultation with the international poultry industry, the next World Poultry Show at EuroTier will not be held until 2016. Consequently, relatively modest participation by poultry specialist exhibitors is to be expected at the trade fair this year.

Despite this, poultry farmers will find much to interest them in the cross-sectoral areas of EuroTier 2014 addressing issues of feeding, climate control, animal health and energy.

'EnergyDecentral' - International trade fair for innovative energy supply

The international trade fair for innovative energy supply, 'EnergyDecentral 2014', held parallel with EuroTier, focuses attention on production of energy from renewable sources, as well as on plant efficiency, storage and distribution of the energy produced. Decentralised solutions for both agriculture and the supply sector, as well as in various fields of industry such as for example food production, will be offered and presented.

The programme shown by the some 350 specialised exhibitors comprises innovative technologies ranging from electricity generation, feeding into the grid and steering, through storage and distribution, right up to power consumption. The goal is to secure energy supply on the basis of cost-effective and reliable system operation.

In order to establish needs-driven and reliable energy supply, not only bioenergy in its entirety but also many innovative solutions in the area of energy supply via conventional energy sources are necessary. The exhibitors can offer matching solutions to meet energy demands here too. As the global forum for decentralised energy supply, 'EnergyDecentral' brings the different segments and market partners together. With its outstanding programme it will offer a unique marketplace for information on all aspects of the decentralised energy sector.

Complementing the programme offered by the exhibitors, DLG together with partners is organising Specials at 'EnergyDecentral' on the topics 'Treating and using slurry and digester residues' and 'Making pellets and briquettes from agricultural, forestry and timber wastes/residue materials'.

Premiere – Awards for innovations at 'EnergyDecentral'

This year, for the first time, DLG will be highlighting ground-breaking developments in energy management with its innovations awards. An independent, international commission of recognized experts will decide on the awarding of an 'EnergyDecentral' Medal for Innovations. The Medals will be presented at 'EnergyDecentral' in Hanover.

Aquaculture: an integral part of EuroTier

Aquaculture is an integral part of EuroTier. At EuroTier 2014, it will once again be the centre of interest for many expert visitors from home and abroad. Leading technology and outfitting companies and many others as well as suppliers and institutions from the fields of aquaculture, mariculture, inland fisheries and environmental engineering will be represented.

Making use of biomass from the water and material cycles will be a key topic for the future at EuroTier 2014. The latest developments, especially regarding production and use of algae and other water plants, will be presented in a dedicated area, 'Growth in Water'.

bpt Congress to coincide with EuroTier again

In 2014 too, the Federal Association of Practising Veterinarians (Bundesverband Praktizierender Tierärzte, bpt) will be holding its annual congress and associated specialist exhibition 'Veterinarian Medicine' to overlap with EuroTier at the Exhibition Grounds in Hanover.

An International Animal Health Event, organised jointly by DLG and bpt, will again serve as meeting place and contact forum for veterinarians from all over the world, as well as a link between EuroTier and the bpt congress.

Future workshop addressing all areas of professional animal husbandry

EuroTier is the future workshop addressing all areas of professional animal husbandry. Not only are technology trends identified and shown here, but also all important issues of modern animal husbandry and breeding are explored.

Together with partners from the fields of business, science and research, consultancy, trade associations and organizations, this year too, DLG is again presenting an extensive technical programme to complement the offerings of the exhibitors.

It includes international conferences, such as the International Poultry Conference already on 10 November, and a Ukraine Investment Forum on 13 November, as well as Forum events for the individual animal species covering current trends and key developments in the sectors.

The EuroTier Pig Event, the EuroTier Dairy Event and the International Poultry Event will be held on the eve of the trade fair, on 10 November 2014 at the Convention Center (CC), will be platforms for top international farmers. These events are important contact and information forums. They will each feature top-flight speakers addressing topical issues, thus advancing impulses for the future.

In addition, the Central Association of German Poultry Producers (ZDG) will be holding its annual general meeting at the Convention Center (CC) in the Exhibition Grounds in Hanover on 10 November 2014.

Young Farmers Day

At EuroTier 2014, there will again be a Young Farmers Day for young farmers and students of agriculture from Germany and other countries.

In addition to the visit to EuroTier, the programme on 13 November 2014 includes various job forums, including one being organised jointly with the Association of German Feed Producers (DVT) covering prospects in the animal feed sector, career guidance at the DLG exhibition stand, an international panel discussion on the topic 'Taking a different path – my new farm abroad' together with the German Federation of Rural Youth (Deutsche Landjugend, BDL) and Young ISN (interest group of German pig producers), as well as the now traditional Young Farmers Party at the Funpark Hannover.

Multilingual information on the internet

DLG has created a special, multilingual information service on the internet so that users can gather comprehensive information about EuroTier 2014 quickly and easily. The information is available not only in German, but also in English and partly in many other languages too.

The EuroTier website is constantly updated and includes, for instance, information about the exhibitors, the innovations and the technical programme. International visitors to the exhibition can also find out about the DLG Travelservice here with contact partners in 46 countries.

Further information on EuroTier 2014 is available from DLG, Eschborner Landstr. 122, DE-60489 Frankfurt am Main, phone +49/69/24788-265, fax: +49/69/24788-113, e-mail: [email protected] and on the internet at www.eurotier.com.