By Dave Lord

CONFIRMATION OF a foot-and-mouth outbreak in the UK is set to have a devastating effect on Perth Show.

The flagship two-day event—one of the premier shows on Scotland's farming calendar—got under way yesterday.

Organisers were made aware of the outbreak late last night and officials admitted it left them in a “very difficult” position.

All livestock movements across the UK were immediately banned in the wake of the disease’s discovery in Surrey.

With heavy horse, cattle, sheep and goat categories all scheduled today, the show’s programme has been blown apart.

Only a tiny minority of the beasts due to take part are already in the area—and with animal movements banned it is clear today’s events will be a pale shadow of those planned.

Speaking late last night Perth Show chairman Ian Baxter admitted the event’s organisers were as shocked as anyone by the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

“It is very difficult to know how this will affect us and I really do not know what to say,” he told The Courier.

“We only know what we have seen and heard on the news but obviously this is going to have a very serious effect on the show.

“At this point in time the show continues as planned but it looks like it will be impossible to get the vast majority of the livestock to the site.”

Mr Baxter said he was being kept abreast of developments but that governmental restrictions were unambiguous.

“All livestock movements across the UK have been banned and that makes this a very unpleasant situation for us,” he continued.

“I am trying to speak to people about how this affects the show but I really cannot comment further at this stage.”

The Scottish National Charolais cattle show was to have been a part of Perth Show, with 100 entries already housed in a large marquee on the South Inch.

Charolais breed secretary David Benson is in Brecon, Wales, at a similar event, and speaking last night he said he thought it likely that cattle would first be tested and then allowed to return home.

Murray Lyle, international president of the Charolais Society, said he thought the cattle would be visually inspected before being allowed home and their individual farms quarantined until the cattle have been tested.

Meanwhile, all the sheep and cattle sections at today’s Dumfries and Lockerbie Show have been cancelled.

The horse sections and other attractions at the event at Park Farm, Dumfries, will go ahead.

Show secretary Esther Bicket said last night, “We just got confirmation of the outbreak at 9pm.

“We now have to try and inform the many exhibitors that the cattle and sheep sections have been cancelled. It’s going to be a long night.”

Mrs Bicket added, “It’s a great shame that we had to cancel these sections but we could not risk going through what we went through in 2001.”

The Perth Show regularly attracts more than 30,000 people, making it one of the largest events of its kind. Held on the South Inch, it traditionally brings together town and country, offering a truly festival atmosphere.

Along with livestock categories, numerous additional attractions were due to take place today, with various displays, a craft tent and children’s fun among the entertainment that should continue as planned.

A massive turnout of trade stands is still likely, with everything from agricultural machinery, motors and outdoor clothing on offer.

The SWRI and craft marquees are also on site.

Livestock entries for this year’s Perth Show—the 144th—stood at a record total of more than 1000.