The traders look grim. With 437,402 visitors, compared to 607,000 welcomed in 2025, the doors of the International Agricultural Show (SIA) closed on Sunday 1is March, Porte de Versailles in Paris, with attendance down 27.9%.
Even before its inauguration, Saturday February 21, the 62e edition of this agricultural meeting had made history. Indeed, for the first time, the cows were not brought to the capital, with cattle breeders remaining in shock from the epidemic of lumpy skin disease (NDC), which made its first appearance on French territory in the summer of 2025. Even Biguine, the muse cow, a Brahmin from Martinique, was called pale. It was replaced by a hologram.
“When there is no muse, a symbol is missing”affirmed Jérôme Despey, president of the SIA, who halfway through, already announced a 25% drop in attendance, and said he regretted the absence of cattle. He then also mentioned the school holiday calendar to justify this drop in the number of visitors. Ultimately, the rebound hoped for in recent days did not occur. The blow is particularly hard for exhibitors.
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