The Highland Hall will be full to capacity at this year’s Royal Highland show when it houses 1000 of the country’s best beef and dairy cattle during the event which runs from June 23-26.
Almost 7,000 livestock will be on the show ground and Limousin cattle will be out in force with 130 entries, an increase of 12 from 2015. The Shorthorns, which enjoyed the lion’s share of entries in 2015, have 114 entries, a drop of 11 from last year. The Galloway and Belted Galloway sections have both seen a significant increase in numbers, up to 30 and 44 respectively.
The economic plight of many milk producers has meant a dip in exhibitors in the dairy section which is down 23 to 110. Black and white numbers are up but the Ayrshire breed is down to only 18 entries from last years 31.
At 1842 entries, sheep numbers are booming. They will fill the four large extended marquees located in the north of the showground, which includes an extra livestock facility this year to allow for the increasing numbers of entries.
The Bluefaced Leicester crossing type section has attracted 71 entries, showing a demand for this new addition to the sheep competition. Elsewhere in the sheep sections, the Young Handler competition has 49 entries, the highest since its introduction in 2013, and Lleyn, Rouge and Ryeland sections are all seeing the highest entry numbers in five years.
Reinforcing the Royal Highland Show’s positioning as Scotland’s largest equestrian event, 1827 entries have been received in the light horse section. The Heavy Horse section has also posted a record 377 entries, with Shetlands and Highland females leading the way with 110 and 117 entries respectively.
Royal Highland Show manager David Jackson described the event as a “packed house”.
“With this level of entries there is bound to be some keen competition in the judging rings and the grand parades of prize winning cattle and horses will once again be one of the spectacular sights of the Show.” he said.
“We are very grateful to all of our exhibitors for their continued support and wish them well in their individual quests to win a prize ticket.”
