More than 700 sheep have been entered for The Showcase, including good numbers of the traditional Bluefaced Leicester type The Royal Highland Showcase has revealed excellent livestock entry figures for its sheep, cattle and goat classes. More than 1100 entries have been confirmed for the innovative hybrid event, which is being held in partnership with Royal Bank of Scotland, when it takes place at Ingliston from the June 14 to 20. The showing and judging of the livestock will be livestreamed during The Showcase to the usual home-based audience, but also accessible globally in a free hook up to the internet, shining a spotlight on some of the best of the country’s livestock.
Flying sheep-breeding trade on cards if grass comes >More in
A cold, dry spring has subdued talk of a red-hot breeding sheep trade this summer.
National flock size, lamb prices, demand for cull sheep and ewe hogg numbers slaughtered this year have all fuelled expectations of a strong trade later this summer.
However, very limited grass growth across the UK has eroded confidence slightly.
AHDB Grasscheck shows growth on beef and sheep farms in early May was at 25kg DM/ha a day, about half the average for the previous two years.
Exeter
Strong prices for rams, hoggs and shearlings at Exeter’s recent Dorset May fair bode well for sheep breeders later in the summer.