BETA Feed Conference’s Recipe for Success

The first BETA Feed Industry Conference was hailed an overwhelming success by organisers and 70 delegates who gathered to hear some of the equestrian sector’s most prolific speakers discuss a wide range of nutrition-related issues.

With a guest list reading like a Who’s Who of the feed industry, the conference welcomed leading lights from across the world of equestrian feed manufacture and distribution, including British Horse Feeds, NAF, Spillers, Baileys Horse Feeds, Mitavite UK, Dodson & Horrell, Friendship Estates and Chestnut Horse Feeds.

An informative programme of hot nutrition topics was rolled out by speakers such as Mars Horsecare commercial director Robert Clegg, who explored the outlook for raw materials, Professor Tim Morris, from the British Horse Racing Authority, who put medication control in British racing under the spotlight, James Pheasant, of Burges Salmon, who discussed the high-profile case of the FEI v Christine Yeoman, and Joseph Nicholas, of the FSA, who delivered a legislation update.

“We were really pleased that the BETA Feed Industry Conference was able to provide a much needed forum for a combination of really useful talks covering a wide range of topical issues, as well as delivering a prime networking opportunity,” said BETA executive director Claire Williams. “The feedback we have received has been extremely positive. Some really interesting ideas have been raised and we are certainly planning to do this again.”

Mitavite UK agent Cam Price added: “The concept was brilliant, the topics were good – particularly the Sportswise stats, which had some great-quality content and everybody hanging on every word, and the NOPS update, which created a very active forum. It was amazing to have all those people in one room for one day only. It was specific to our industry and there is nothing else quite like it!”

The BETA Feed Industry Conference, on 25 May, was held at the British Horse Society Lecture Theatre, Abbey Park, Kenilworth, and organised following consultation between the association and its members. It was aimed at those working in the feed and supplements industry, such as manufacturers, distributors, retailers, nutritionists and university lecturers.