Press Information for Immediate Release:

Livestock returns to Royal County of Berkshire Show

Organisers of the Royal County of Berkshire Show (20-21 September) have announced that livestock will make a welcome return to the show this year after last year's enforced absence due to restrictions on movement of animals caused by both Foot and Mouth Disease and Blue Tongue.

The news will delight both exhibitors and visitors to the show. Royal County of Berkshire Show is the last major outdoor agricultural show in the calendar and has historically attracted exhibitors from across the country. The livestock section is one of the most popular features at the Royal County of Berkshire Show with crowds thronging the marquees to see the animals at close quarters and enjoying the unmistakeable buzz of the classes and grand parade of winners in the main ring.

Rosemary Balsdon, Chairman of the Royal County of Berkshire Show said: "The absence of livestock last year was very sad - the animal classes contribute enormously to the atmosphere of the show. They are a major part of the sights and sounds at a county event like this so we are delighted to have them back. The team at the show has been working hard behind the scenes in conjunction with DEFRA to ensure we comply with all the relevant regulations to be able to host the livestock classes and are to be congratulated for their efforts."

Judith Marcham, Chairman of the Royal County of Berkshire Show's Cattle Committee said: "Once the Blue Tongue protection zones were increased and vaccination brought in, it became much easier to move livestock more freely and we took the decision to go ahead. We are thrilled with the response from exhibitors. I thought if we reached about 200 entries in our first year back we would be doing well, but we have so far received 260 entries which is around 50% of our usual number.

"The major factor for people now is the cost of fuel - it is very expensive for people to travel long distances with their livestock, so the numbers do reflect that as well."
To mark the return of livestock, the show will be hosting a new breed of cattle for the first time - the beef-producing Australian Lowline derives from the Aberdeen Angus and is a compact breed aimed at smallholders. They will be competing in the continental beef class.

As well as cattle, the show looks set to host classes for pigs, sheep, goats and camelids. Nigel Wernham, chairman of the show's sheep committee, said: "It is great to see all the livestock back. Livestock farmers are having a tough time at the moment with rising costs not being reflected in market returns. It will be a boost for local exhibitors to get back competing against each other with their livestock for the prestige of winning at a major national show right on their doorstep."

Lucy Venables, chairman of the show's pig committee added: "We have gradually been increasing interest in the pig classes over the years and have got about 100 entries so far for this year's show. It is fantastic that people see the Royal County of Berkshire Show as somewhere they want to bring their animals to compete. We were devastated not to have been able to have any animal classes last year and it is great that everyone is turning out in force this year.

"Members of the public will be able to see some really traditional breeds on show. At one stage for instance the Berkshire pig had all but disappeared but thanks to increasing interest in the breed and the growth of organic producers, there will be a big entry of Berkshire pig show stock which is obviously always nice to see at the Berkshire Show."

Tickets have now gone on sale for the Royal County of Berkshire Show 2008. You can buy them at retail outlets across the area. For more information or to book on line see www.berkshireshow.co.uk or tel: 01635 247111

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