VIV EUROPE 2006:
Feed links for the ‘feed-to-meat’ chain
The 19th edition of VIV Europe, 16-18
Nonetheless, at this writing, two months in
advance of the show, the organisers list more
than 620 international animal industry suppli-
ers to exhibit at the Utrecht show. Alth ough
the show had been rescheduled
from its traditional biennial November
timing, the event that proclaims itself
to be western Europe’s biggest trade
exhibition for intensive livestock pro-
duction in 2006 is on course to match
the exhibitor numbers it achieved at its
last edition in 2003. The change from VIV Europe 2006, 16-18 May in Utrecht in the Netherlands,
a four-day show in 2003 to a three-day is set to cover a little over 57,600 square metres—some
show in 2006 appears to be in line with 15% smaller than the previous show in 2003. The Dutch
the trend towards shorter, more intensive organisers stress the increasing importance of the
trade events worldwide. ‘Feed to Meat’ theme and boast that 30,000 decision-mak-
By FEED INTERNATIONAL’s tally, some ers from 125 countries will ply the Jaarbeurs halls during
22% of the 2006 VIV Europe exhibitors are di- the 10: 00-18: 00 hours exhibit period over the three days of
rectly involved in feed manufacturing, includ- the show. For more information: http://sites.vnuexhibitions.
ing premixes and concentrates. But a larger com/sites/www_viveurope_nl/en/ index.asp.
number are suppliers of feed ingredients to
both feed compounders as well as animal
producers. As in past VIV Europe shows,
those who make feed for sale and those who question to what extent veterinary prescrip- ‘Livestock Farming Tomorrow’ promises
make feed for their own animals are shopping tion of pharmaceutical-type antimicrobial details on electronic management systems
side-by-side at Utrecht. compounds has increased as the feed-grade and electronic animal ‘ID’ to track animals and
A glance at the feed-related exhibitor use has declined and eventually ceased. animal products throughout the feed-to-food
list suggests a range of feed additives and Some 23 feed additive and animal health chain: “You can see this system working!”
nutritional ingredients that is more-or-less in firms from China have signed on as exhibitors. says VIV.
line with the new EU feed regulatory structure, Many are suppliers of various antimicrobial In 2003, VIV Europe attracted 60% foreign
which has been in law since November 2004, compounds, which attests to the attraction of visitors versus 40% from the Netherlands.
but is being brought up to date on a con- the ‘VIV City’ for both feed ingredient sellers Then, poultryinterests dominated, witha third
tinuous basis (see FI March 2006, ‘European and buyers from outside the EU. of visitors involved in the poultry meat or egg
Union regulatory update’). To date, the EU’s Pig feeds in the EU are most dramatically sectors. A quarter of the visitors were involved
Register includes nearly 3,000 products, changed by the AGP ban. One place feed in the pig sector, while 11% represented calf
covering every EU-approved non-nutritional visitors might encounter new ingredients and cattle farming.
additive (such as organic acids, microbials, for pig feeds—or updated combinations of In 2006, Dutch animal agriculture is
palatants, botanicals, etc) as well as nutritional organic acids, direct-fed microbials, and other smaller in gross terms than before. At the
micro ingredients (such as vitamins, synthetic AGP-substitutes—is the ‘PIT-stop’. In this Pig same time, there is more technology applied
amino acids, trace minerals, etc). Innovation Theatre, qualifying exhibitors can to animal production and a larger global
Although all pharmaceutical-type anti- parade their new products or services in a animal product trade, much of it targeting
microbial growth promoters (AGPs) are now free-of-charge space of 9 square metres. Europe. So, international visitors may be more
banned in the EU, the VIV Europe exhibitor Other technology of special interest to numerous and they may be looking beyond
list shows a number of antibiotic suppliers in feed compounders may include animal iden- poultry. Will European preoccupation with bird
both its ‘animal feed/feed additives’ list as well tification—often a key issue in questions of flu spike interest in VIV Europe 2006 for other
as its ‘animal health’ list. It remains an open feed safety. A VIV Europe programme called species?
May in the Netherlands, is the European
Union’s first major, multi-species, animal
industry show following EU’s total ban on antibiotic growth promoters in January this year.
Moreover, VIV this year takes place under the
cloud of lower European consumer demand
for poultry meat, following the appearance of
H5N1 avian influenza in western Europe.
