EXHIBITORS from around the UK have pushed livestock entries to record numbers for this year’s Borderway UK Dairy Expo, the leading spring showcase and celebration of the dairy sector.

Now in its third year, the Harrison and Hetherington-organised event, being held in Carlisle on Saturday, brings together top quality show stock and dairy genetics, and more than 130 trade stands demonstrating the latest developments in the industry.

The thousands of visitors expected from across the industry will also have the opportunity to attend a special forum on the increasing herd size to maximise profits, and watch the sector’s next generation competing in the Dairy Youth Championships.

David Pritchard, operations director at Harrison and Hetherington and organiser of Borderway UK Dairy Expo 2014, said: “The UK dairy industry is big business. The UK’s 12,500 dairy farmers have 1.56 million cows producing nearly 12 billion litres of milk a year.

“Borderway UK Dairy Expo is now one of the industry’s leading events and our base in Carlisle is a great location in easy reach of the main dairy areas. As one of the first major spring shows, we’re looking forward to kicking-off a great season for exhibitors, and we have attracted more high quality entrants than ever before and internationally-renowned judges to appraise them.”

The 59 show classes take place over a day and a half, with the Dairy Youth Championships, promoting the industry to the next generation, and the Heifer Show dominating proceedings on Friday evening. On Saturday, Milking Classes and Supreme Championships will be staged, showcasing the very best in British dairy genetics.