THE National Beef Association's Beef Expo 2007 proved a huge success at Skipton, in North Yorkshire, with almost 6,000 farmers attending - the largest crowd it has ever attracted.

Export orders worth £498,000 were won as importers from 12 countries arranged deliveries for 332 breeding cattle.

The sale of a further 196 animals was expected to be concluded with buyers from Kenya, Germany, Turkey - and Charolais semen sales to France.

Kim Haywood, National Beef Association policy advisor, described the event as a "huge success" with 42 delegates attending from Portugal, Poland, Germany, the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, Australia, Nigeria, Kenya, Turkey and Denmark.

Polish orders included ten Simmental bulls and females, three Hereford bulls, 120 Limousin heifers and two bulls (with a further 40 to follow), 27 Charolais females, 15 Blonde females, 30 Highland bulls, one South Devon bull and 80 Holstein Friesian females.

Other orders and inquiries included 24 Angus females to Belgium, 20 Angus females to Denmark, 1,000 Holstein Friesian females for Turkey and Charo-lais and Blonde bulls for Germany.

Ms Haywood said: "It was notable that at the International Dinner hosted by the Association on the eve of the event delegates from both Poland and Germany made clear that the UK was the first port of call on their re-stocking trips because of the quality of stock on offer."