Dairy Cattle exhibitors traveling from across North America will get a warm welcome to this year's World Dairy Expo. The Dairy Cattle Show, featuring over 2,500 head of elite animals, will be held October 4 through October 8 in Madison, Wisconsin. Dairy cattle owners and their staff of bovine beauticians will be bringing their best cattle to World Dairy Expo to compete for honors and to network with fellow dairy producers. The owners and caretakers of these top-notch animals will be treated to a tasty Exhibitor Welcome Barbecue early in the week as they pack bedding, feed and settle their cattle in for their week-long stay in Madison. The Exhibitor Welcome Barbecue, for dairy cattle exhibitors only, is planned for Sunday, October 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Estrumate® Sale Pavilion. Merck Animal Health has committed to sponsoring this Dairy Cattle Exhibitor event and the Estrumate® Sale Pavilion through 2013. Merck's support of Expo's Dairy Cattle Show and Exhibitors is part of their overall support of Expo as a Five Star Sponsor. "We are proud to be a five-star sponsor at World Dairy Expo, where some of the best dairy producers showcase the best dairy cattle in the world," said Rick Cozzitorto, dairy marketing manager for Merck Animal Health. "Dairy producers work hard breeding cattle and developing cow families all year-long, and it's exciting to support them at this signature industry event." Select Sires, Inc., long-time supporter of World Dairy Expo has also shown their support by increasing to become a Four Star Sponsor in 2011. Their support now includes sponsorship of additional Dairy Cattle Show awards including the Junior Champion, Reserve Junior Champion, Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion of the Junior and Open Shows. BouMatic has also provided increased support of the Dairy Cattle Show by providing the premium money for the International Junior Holstein Show portion of the competition. As a continuing Five Star Sponsor of World Dairy Expo, BouMatic has supported many facets of the five-day dairy event and the support of this youth show will assist those future dairy industry leaders. Laura Herschleb, Dairy Cattle Show Manager remarks, "We are extremely appreciative of the support we receive from our generous sponsors each year, especially the increased commitment Merck Animal Health, Select Sires, Inc., and BouMatic have made to this year's dairy cattle shows. We are looking forward to welcoming over 1,000 exhibitors expected from across 36 states and 7 Canadian provinces." World Dairy Expo takes place at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. "Around the World of Dairy in 5 Days" is the theme for the 2011 show scheduled for October 4 through October 8. For more information, contact World Dairy Expo at 608-224-6455 or visit www.worlddairyexpo.com. 09.12.2011