01 Every two years, the showgrounds of Hanover, Germany, are the venue for Europe's largest animal husbandry show, EuroTier.

02. The show opened its doors on Tuesday, November 16 and will run four days. No less than 1,939 exhibitors from 49 countries are on display at an 18 hectare exhibition area.

03. Speaking at the opening press conference, Dr Reinhard Grandke, CEO, German Agricultural Society, DLG, said that 778 exhibiting companies came from abroad. Especially the number of Chinese exhibitors, to a total of 52, was striking.

04. President of the German Association of Veterinary Practitioners, Hans-Joachim Götz, signaled that with the requirements made of producing foods of animal origin, the vet's work has changed too. It now extends well beyond purely beyond therapeutic work.

05. The German Agricultural Society itself is present with a large booth, helping farmers find their way in livestock production.

06. A large part of the EuroTier is taken up by halls dedicated to intensive livestock production, like pigs and poultry.

07. Among the exhibitors, the larger German agricultural companies like animal health company Boehringer Ingelheim, present themselves prominently.

08. German feed cooperative Agravis is well rooted in northern Germany. With a turnover of almost €5 billion and around 5,000 employees it is one of the largest agriculture companies in the area. In a press conference at their stand the national and international press was informed about the company’s activities.

09. Livestock equipment manufacturer Big Dutchman, this year focusing on pigs only, launches at least five innovations at EuroTier, among which BigFarmNet – an all-encompassing computer system for the whole farm. The company also received a gold medal for its SonoCheck.

10. As always, German animal nutrition company Sano manages to attract very many people.

11. This EuroTier focuses more on pigs than on poultry. Due to a decision of the so-called ‘Showco group’ of companies the majority of exhibitors in the poultry business are not on display at this year's EuroTier. Still, there are non-Showco members at the show, such as Cobb breeding which attracts many visitors.

12. Besides the well-known exhibitors in the poultry business, also relatively unknown companies are trying to get access to the international marketplace, such as Jomapeks from Serbia. The company supplies and installs feeding and drinking equipment from manufacturers in Italy and Germany.

13. Volker is a genuine German company. They supply egg sorting and grading equipment and they are specialists in labelling and coding of table eggs. The latest addition to their product portfolio is a labelling system for which the adjustments can easily be made at on a touch-screen display at the printing device.

14. Other booths worth mentioning includes Belgian animal nutrition company Vitamex, which introduced its product Vitadys, a mixture of natural components to tackle swine dysentery.

15. Dutch animal nutrition company Sloten launched its Nuklospray Yoghurt at EuroTier. This is described as being a pre-weaning solution, developed to keep more piglets with sows.

16. Animal nutrition company Global Nutrition, headquartered in Fougeres, France, was only found in 2002 and is now successfully building a global network.

17. Dutch livestock systems producer Nedap presented its hi-tech system for sorting sows (Nedap Velos Sorting), after having already shown its Electronic Sow Feeding concept in the market for many years. The company is also introducing technology to allow individual finisher pig monitoring.

18. This last philosophy was also apparent at the ‘Electronic Animal Identification’ seminar, organized by Schippers. Using High Frequency and Ultra High Frequency signals, producing affordable ear tags has come within the reach of pig producers, with great monitoring advantages.

19. In a multi-media approach to close the gap between animal producers and veterinarians, German animal health company Bayer Animal Health presented checklists related to piglets from birth to weaning and mastitis in dairy cattle.

20. As always, Reed Business’ International Agri Media, publisher of e.g. World Poultry, All About Feed, Vetsweb.com and Pig Progress made its appearance in hall 16, J18. Paying a visit definitely is rewarding as an iPad can be won.

21. The German government is strongly supporting the development of alternative energy sources. Not surprisingly at EuroTier is the presence of many companies active in this area. Two halls were dedicated to this sector, which is unique in the world of agriculture exhibitions.

22 During the forum special mini-seminars were organized on the bioenergy-subject.

23 Aquaculture is firmly established at EuroTier. Here a set-up of a indoor pond to grow catfish.

24 One feed compounder was present at the aquafeed section, Coppens from the Netherlands, who displayed their extruded fish feeds.

25 Biomass from water and exploitation of substance cycles were themes discussed at the well attended aquaculture forums.

26 This exhibitor showed a cut-open TMR-mixer with changing strings of light. Christmas is near…

27 Dairy farming is an important sector in northern Germany. Half of the cattle population is kept in this area on small and large farms. Milking equipment for the smaller tie-on stalls was on display…

28 …as well as the latest robotic milking systems for the sophisticated farmers.

29 Dairy farmers nowadays require informative and competent guiding assistance, especially regarding questions of management, quality assurance, husbandry in line with welfare and appropriate functionality, herd management, feeding, animal health, hygiene and genetics.

30 In contrast to the high producing dairy cows, these alpaca’s have a large 'cuddle'-factor.

31 Apart from Holstein Friesian cattle, German Farmers also keep Brown Swiss (front) and Simmental breeds.

32 This Welsh Black bull, obviously with some Angus genes, was for sale.

33 In Europe many rare breeds of sheep can be found. This is a so-called Villnösser Brillenschaf or “spectacles wearing sheep from Villnöss” in from South Tirol in Austria. The dark ring area around the eyes of the sheep make it look as if it is wearing spectacles.

34 Although it is not a car show, quite some car brands were showing their latest models. Here a Suzuki Jimmy with “straw bale” print. You probably will not find it back in the straw shed.

35. Heard enough about animals? There’s always a way to enjoy some popcorn, try your luck at the Wheel of Fortune (or do both at the same time)…

36. …or instead, turn into one!

37. After a long day walking in and between the enormous exhibition halls, visitors gather as many gadgets as possible and Dr Eckel supplied a carrying box, which makes the trip back home a bit easier.