About 80pc of the Rockhampton Showgrounds venue will be occupied by commercial trade displays during Beef 2018 in May

AN emphasis on technologies designed to deliver efficiency and greater productivity for the beef industry is in clear evidence among exhibitors lining-up to mount displays at Beef Australia 2018 in May.

What promises to be the largest beef industry-specific trade show ever seen in Australia will be mounted at the national industry event in Rockhampton, where more than 500 commercial exhibitors will engage with an anticipated 100,000 visitors attending the triennial event.

A quick glance through the exhibitors list this year shows some interesting trends. Technology continues to feature ever more strongly in the trade display program.

Just a few novel technologies evident in this year’s exhibitor list include a new range of smart tags for real-time geo-location of livestock, which also monitor animal health indicators and biometric data; a wide range of remote monitoring technologies for larger scale beef enterprises; an array of software solutions for herd, pasture and financial/business management; systems to automatically calculate, administer and record livestock animal health treatments; and new stock water medication technologies.

Exhibitors featuring new technologies range from ag-tech ‘start-ups’ to well established international industry leaders.

Genetics and genetic technologies is another area where growth is evident among displays this year. Technologies ranging from sexed semen to genetic decision-support tools will feature heavily among exhibitors in the Durack indoor trade pavilion, and outdoor cattle sites.

Other sectors that will be strongly represented this year with trade displays include:

• stock handling equipment including yards, fencing and other infrastructure
• energy solutions
• animal health and welfare
• animal nutrition
• haymaking and fodder conservation
• water management
• finance and professional services
• management consultancy services in various forms
• education and training, and
• transport.

Exhibition space fully subscribed since July

Minor modifications to the Beef 2018 commercial display site plan have squeezed a few more sites into the event layout, but the available spots were fully-subscribed with exhibitors by the time applications closed last July. A stand-by list has been established in the event of cancellations.

Combining the four indoor trade display buildings with the larger outdoor equipment and cattle display sites, commercial displays occupy about 80 percent of the Rockhampton showgrounds venue.

Now only 15 weeks away, the Beef 2018 trade fair will be open Monday to Friday, 7-11 May, from 8.30am each day. Trade displays will not be open on Saturday, May 12.

If past Expo events are any indication, many exhibitors will offer attractive discounts on goods and services for sale during the week. Many exhibitors in the past have reported sales up to six months after the Expo, directly linked to connections made with potential customers during the event.

New features

In 2015 a record 90,000 people passed through the Rocky showgrounds gates, with a further 1100 registered international delegates from more than 40 countries in attendance. With the cattle price boom experienced in the Australian beef industry since then, organisers are banking on attendance above 100,000 this year.

New features for Beef 2018 among commercial displays include a series of outdoor ‘gold’ sites featuring large eurotop pagodas along Beef Boulevard near the Main Entrance. These sites will add a sleek look to the main entry and will provide patrons with innovative and interesting exhibits to visit when they first arrive. Some indoor pavilions will feature updated shell scheme booths, slightly larger than previous years.

• Beef Central will feature some of the new and innovative products and services on show this year in a series of articles closer to the event.
• Trade Fair inquiries should be directed to the coordinator, Danielle Knox phone 4922 2989, email danielle@beefaustralia.com.au