CUMBRIA is preparing to play host to the biggest and most important gathering for the UK’s beef industry, Beef Expo 2024, taking place at North West Auctions near Kendal on Saturday, April 27.

Entries in the cattle from the county include Neil Slack from Plum Tree House, Penrith and David Miller from Crookdake Mill, Wigton.

Timed to coincide with British Beef Week, Beef Expo has become the most significant one-day showcase for the British beef industry, attracting thousands of breeders, breed societies, farmers, suppliers and industry stakeholders from across the country to this free event to celebrate the UK’s world class beef genetics, and to share ideas and innovations for the industry’s future development.

In the National Commercial Cattle Show, over 100 head of some of the UK’s best commercial cattle will come to Cumbria from the four corners of the country to compete for top honours, judged by a panel of leading British experts, and the stars of the future will be chosen from the next generation of commercial breeders and farmers aged between 14- 21 in the Young Handlers classes.

In this year’s Beef Expo trade exhibition, a record number of more than 100 trade exhibitors and 13 Breed Societies will highlight the latest research developments, technology, and innovation, giving beef farmers the chance to view demonstrations and discuss potential options and ideas to improve productivity and efficiency at home.

This year’s programme of seminars will tackle some of the fundamental issues facing the industry in the current landscape of rising costs and falling government support. Panellists, including MPs, and leading supermarket procurement directors, will address issues including farming and finance and retailer requirements. AHDB will lead a seminar focussing on the fundamental question of suckler profitability, and every seminar will give farmers and breeders full opportunity to seek answers to questions on the future of the industry and their own businesses.

National Beef Association Chief Executive, Neil Shand, “The British beef industry has very deep roots in this part of the world. The industry is very resilient and highly progressive, and this event will raise issues and answer questions on how we ensure the industry is future fit.”