Cystadleuwyr Sioe Frenhinol Cymru
In spite of restrictions imposed on livestock because of bluetongue disease entries for next month’s Royal Welsh Show have held up remarkably well. Total entries for the four-day event stand at 6770 with horses and ponies, which are not affected by bluetongue, reaching 3449.
“Under the circumstances a reduction in numbers was inevitable and we are grateful to our exhibitors for supporting the show in strength,” said Royal Welsh Company Secretary, Barrie Jones.
“However, it must be stressed that the entry figures are subject to the current bluetongue restrictions and any changes there may be in the weeks before the show.”
The beef cattle classes have suffered a drop of 231 entries compared with last year’s show and total 597, but 23 breeds will be represented – led by British Limousin with 110 – together with commercial beef animals for which 82 entries have been received.
Entries for dairy cattle total 122 – an increase of five on 2007 – which means total cattle entries number 719.
The show’s world famous display of sheep is being supported again this year by entries from 43 pedigree breeds and 2351 sheep have been listed. There are also 60 entries in the lamb carcass competition.
The classes for pigs which, like horses are immune to bluetongue, have attracted 96 entries, 10 more than for the 2007 show, but goat entries are down by 106 to 95.
The entries in the horse section are led by Welsh Mountain Ponies (Section A of the Welsh Stud Book) with 583, and always a major attraction at the show among visitors from the UK and overseas while Welsh Cobs (Section D) another big draw for showgoers, number a record 559, and entries of Welsh Ponies of Cob type (Section D) total 362.