Luxembourg hosted the largest agricultural fair

The agricultural fair in the commune of Ettelbruck, which is Luxembourg’s largest trade fair of its kind, welcomed around 50,000 visitors over three days. Alongside the traditional displays of cattle and agricultural machinery, the organisers introduced a new feature: an open-air enclosure for small animals. As Anne Dirkse, a member of the organising committee, explained, donkeys, goats, sheep, poultry and rabbits had previously been housed exclusively in enclosed marquees, which limited the opportunities to showcase them to the general public.

Bringing the animals out into the open air enabled the experts to describe their behavioural and physiological characteristics in greater detail. Pascale Hoffmann, who specialises in the care of donkeys, noted that these animals have a calmer temperament than horses, yet possess a marked tendency to assess their surroundings. In particular, during entertainment events, donkeys may refuse to continue giving children rides after twenty laps, clearly signalling their physical limits.

At the same time, the open-air exhibition has become an important tool for specialist breeders. Lucien Koch, President of the Luxembourg Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders, emphasised the significance of this new format for showcasing species diversity. According to him, the total sheep population in Luxembourg stands at between 8,000 and 10,000 animals, including breeds with specific agricultural characteristics. For example, some breeds do not require shearing for genetic reasons, whilst others are used primarily for maintaining Christmas tree plantations, as they do not feed on coniferous branches. Lucien Koch also added that on Friday, the exhibition was mainly visited by schoolchildren and professional livestock farmers assessing the animals for potential purchase, whilst at the weekend the main audience consisted of families.