ALL is set for the National Beef Association's (NBA's) Beef Expo 2016 at Bakewell Mart on Friday, May 20.

The event brings together the very best in British pedigree and commercial cattle and will also showcase advances in technology and focus on how producers can modernise production to meet ever changing consumer demands.

As a prelude to the main day, farm tours will take place on Thursday (19th) featuring beef herds from the Chatsworth and Haddon Hall Estates and at Hopping Farm, where Simon Frost, a former Farmer’s Weekly Beef Focus Farmer, breeds 150 Black Limousin cross suckler cows, including heifers, to easy calving, high index Charolais bulls.

The Expo itself includes the National Spring Spectacular Show (NSSS), which has attracted more than 120 cattle competing for £5,500 in 12 classes, including Native, Continental, British Blue, Limousin-sired heifers and steers, baby beef classes, and two young handlers’ classes.

Phil Sellers from Lincoln will judge the Native, Continental and supreme championships while the Baby Beef classes, Baby championship and Young Handlers will be judged by Christine Williams from Shropshire.

Event organiser Euan Emslie said: "NBA Beef Expo is a true celebration of British Beef and visitors to this year’s event in Bakewell are guaranteed to see some tremendous cattle competing in the National Spring Spectacular Show ring.

"In addition to the livestock exhibitors themselves we have over 20 Breed Societies exhibiting, so this really does re-inforce the importance of the networking opportunities available on the day to those in the beef industry."

A range of seminars and workshops will also be held. An hour long seminar on TB issues with Defra vets will be followed by a seminar on BVD and an update on the national BVD free strategy for England.

Cattle handling drop in workshops will take place throughout the day with Miriam Parker, an expert on training and technology transfer projects to improve animal handling and slaughter methods.

A specific area of the event has been dedicated to beef from the dairy herd and organic beef with live demonstrations of cattle and associated companies and organisations involved in these sectors.

With a growing focus on health and welfare, and an expanding market in supermarkets and independents, demand for organic production is snowballing. The Soil Association will give a talk on organic beef production, which will focus on market and supply opportunities.

For the second year running, NBA Beef Expo will hold a unique contest aimed at testing the skills knowledge and abilities of teams and individual young beef farmers.

The Future Beef Farmer Challenge encourages beef farmers aged 36 and under to take part either as a team or individually.

NBA has also introduced The Story of British Beef, a major consumer showcase bringing together beef producers, local butchers and the University of Derby to tell the tale from the farm through to the butcher and cookery demonstrations.

Throughout more than 140 commercial and educational stands will provide the latest information on genetics, breeding, nutrition and the industry’s latest technical developments.

Further information is available at beefexpo.co.uk. Tickets for the event, farm tour and dinner can be booked online or by contacting Euan Emslie on 01430 441870; email euan@nationalbeefassociation.com