Livestock

16 June 2000




HIGHLAND SHOW PREVIEW

Livestock

entries keep

on rising

ENTRIES in the cattle, sheep and horse classes at this years Highland Show are all up on 1999s event, with well over 4000 animals on show competing for prize money and trophies worth more than £1m.

Show manager David Dunsmuir says: "Spectators are guaranteed one of the best ever displays of stock at this years show. It is a credit to the enthusiasm of exhibitors that we have attracted such a large entry and it is obvious that livestock producers regard a Highland ticket as a prestigious prize."

The shows supreme award – the Queens Cup – will be presented this year to the best beef animal, with 714 entrants competing in the classes. Top breed is the Limousin with 99 animals forward. Two native breeds, the Aberdeen Angus and the Highland are close followers, with 88 and 74 animals respectively.

Almost 1400 sheep will take to the judging rings. The Texel breed is the most predominant with 259 entries, but more than 100 animals will be shown in each of the North Country Cheviot, Beltex, Suffolk and Blackface sections. New classes for the Lleyn breed have attracted 53 entries.

In the light horse section numbers are up about 200 on the year to 1231. Hunters under saddle have the largest entry with 156, but the largest increase is in the Mountain and Moorland ponies under saddle where entries have more than doubled to 140.

More than 350 heavy horses – always a favourite with the crowd – will be competing, as will 213 goats.

ORGANIC ANSWERS

A new attraction at this years Highland Show is an organic pavilion, providing information for farmers and the public on organic conversion, marketing and the products available.

Show organiser the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland believes that, love it or hate it, organic food cannot be ignored.

With organic wine tasting,

cookery demonstrations using organic produce, and "Ask the Expert" sessions to help answer any questions, the RHAS hopes this initiative will impress

even the most sceptical.


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