"Livestock 2025 - an almost animal-free show, with prices that baffle exhibitors
A month from now, on 25-27 September, the VMU Academy of Agriculture will host the exhibition „Livestock 2025“. Curiously, the exhibition on livestock farming will take place almost without livestock. „ In Europe this year, contagious diseases (Foot and Mouth, Blue Tongue) are spreading, which are dangerous for cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals (sheep, goats), so the Lithuanian State Food and Veterinary Service has banned events with these species“, – the organisers of the event confirm, while also assuring you that you will be able to see exhibitions of horse, rabbit and bird breeds. Is that enough for the livestock sector?
Enticing seminars
„The recent experience of foreign countries shows that events dedicated to the livestock sector are still taking place, despite infectious diseases, albeit in a slightly different format“, – says Dr. R. Pranaitienė.
What does a different format look like? „The focus is on sharing best practices, networking and strengthening contacts, dissemination of the latest knowledge and promotion of the newest technologies, as this helps to ensure the competitiveness of farms“, – believes the Head of the Department of Exhibition Organisation of the Academy of Agriculture of VMU.
„ We also hope that companies, farmers, small craftsmen will communicate and cooperate more actively, and the public will have an opportunity to show what is the farmers' lot in this difficult and challenging period“, – the expectations of the exhibition are clarified by dr. R. Pranaitienė.Lack of interest
„It is an opportunity for companies to showcase the latest solutions in the livestock sector, promote their products and services, see how much demand there is for their products, research customer needs and even sign contracts, and broaden their customer base. At the same time, it is an opportunity to establish collaborative links with science for the development and testing of new products and technologies, etc.“, – assures the Head of the Exhibitions Organising Department.
But the eloquent canvassing does not entice UAB „Dotnuva Baltic“ to take part in the exhibition. This was confirmed by its Managing Director Dangis Valaitis.„We participated a couple of years ago, but there were not many customers. Last year we saw an even bigger drop in the number of clients. So we are not going to participate in the near future. We don't see any prospects for this exhibition. And besides, livestock have no place there either," Valaitis clarified his position.
Gediminas Kvietkauskas, General Director of AB „East West Agro“, also speaks about the decreasing interest in the exhibition. Although he revealed that he will still participate this year. It is more just that he wants to see if the situation has changed.
Inadequate prices
Dr. R. Pranaitienė pointed out that there are currently 60 exhibitors registered for the show. Among them is UAB „interAG“. Ugnius Stančiauskas, Director of the company, noted that this would be the third time that the company would be participating in this exhibition. But he also expressed concern about people's interest in it.
„The exhibition is like a train going uphill – it's going uphill for the third year and it's not moving. If it doesn't increase in scale, it will probably die," Stančiauskas muses.
In addition, the fees for the exhibition are also in question.
„The fees are very exorbitant compared to our neighbours the Latvians. We have an exhibition in Latvia on the same days, so the prices here are 1.5-1.7 times higher. That is not adequate. Of course, the exhibition „What you sow...; is another thing – it pays off the investment, because the traffic is really high. But investing exactly the same for each square metre at a livestock exhibition – we as exhibitors would like one thing – to have people, customers, to have interest“, – criticised the director of UAB „interAG“.
The exhibition „Livestock 2025“ is also funded by the state. Under the Rules on Aid for Breeding, the event has received funding of EUR 100 189.25.
