Prices, rain, TB worries hit Three Counties
15 June 2000
Prices, rain, TB worries hit Three Counties
By FWi staff
LOW milk prices, rain delayed silaging and worries about bovine tuberculosis have hit the Three Counties Show at Malvern, Worcestershire.
The last-minute withdrawal of several leading exhibitors forced show organisers to pull the plug on dairy classes due to be staged on Thursday (15 June).
It is regrettable, yet almost inevitable, that current market conditions should have such a devastating effect on dairy entries this year, said chief sectional steward Michael Hill.
Economics plus a cut in the number of registered dairy herds, the fall in the value of pedigree cattle and growing concerns about bovine TB had combined to reduce the number of herds investing in showing.
Delays to maize silage planting and forage conservation caused by bad weather had proved to be the last straw.
But beef cattle and sheep entries were 10% and 3% up on record 1999 levels, and equestrian entries had increased by 25%.