The show’s organisers, while continuing to monitor the situation, note the recent progress in the fight to overcome the COVID-19 epidemic in France. As a result of which, the SOMMET DE L’ELEVAGE will be open for business on the scheduled dates of 7, 8 & 9 October 2020.

“We are currently working hard and hand in hand with the local and national authorities as to the measures that we need to put in place to guarantee the health and safety of all the participants”, as Fabrice Berthon, the show’s Director, highlighted. “Though these conditions are not final at this point in time, we will, as soon as possible, be informing all exhibitors and all our visitors.”

Today, as almost 90% of trade exhibitors have confirmed their presence at the show, the organisers, despite the difficult context, are already confident that this 2020 edition will be good. “The SOMMET will be one of the very few farm shows to be held in Europe this year. And this explains why, since the end of the lockdown period, we are taking, every day, more and more stand bookings from new exhibitors.”

Another point of satisfaction for the organisers is the economic recovery in the farm sector. “Although some livestock sectors have been badly hit by the pandemic, notably that of the cheese-making sector, this year’s forage harvest, following 2 years of drought and fodder deficit, is off to a flying start. This leads us to believe that the farm economy and the trade environment in general will be far more promising come the autumn.”

The only uncertainty, as things stand today, remains the presence of the international visitors at this year’s show.  As a reminder, the 2019 SOMMET DE L’ELEVAGE attracted 4,800 foreign visitors from over 90 countries confirming even more so the show’s stature as one of the world’s foremost farm livestock events.

However, the show’s organisers remain hopeful that during the course of this summer the barriers to the unrestricted circulation among all countries and specifically within the E.U. will fall. It should be noted that most of the show’s international visitors are from Europe. “In conclusion, if all the conditions are met, we expect to welcome many visitors and exhibitors for this 29th edition of the show, it will though however, be one of the most unusual”, as Fabrice Berthon added.

A PACKED PROGRAMME

Beef cattle – the Aubrac breed will hold its national championships at the SOMMET in 2020 with over 400 of the breed’s best animals in judging, plus an auction sale on Friday 9 October of some of the Aubrac’s best breeding stock. 15 beef cattle breeds, of which 5 are foreign breeds, will be in judging or be presented over the three days of the show in Hall 3. Among the new breeds announced this year, the return of the Italian Piedmontese breed.

Dairy cattle – the Simmental breed will hold its European championships during the show with cattle from Germany, Austria, and France. Not overlooking the traditional competitions for other breeds such as the Holstein, Montbeliard, Swiss Brown, Normandie, Jersey, plus many others.

In the sheep ring, the Texel breed will be in the spotlight with its national championships, whilst other breeds such as the Ile de France, Charollais sheep, Suffolk and Rava will be using the event to hold their inter-regional competitions. Similarly, for the Ardennais, Comtois, Percheron and Breton heavy horse breeds.

A programme of farm visits, primarily for international visitors, will roll across the three days of the show. And as a supplement, 4 pre-show tours – organised along the following themes: beef, milk, sheep and the Aubrac breed – are scheduled for Tuesday 6 October, the eve of the SOMMET’s opening. Finally, a number of conferences and workshops will punctuate the 3 days of the SOMMET. A