Over 400 cattle, 150 pens of sheep and 46 pig pens have been entered to take part in the English Winter Fair at the Staffordshire County Showground on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th.
The show features pedigree and non-pedigree beef cattle judging, baby beef cattle judging, trade stands and more.
Richard Williams, chief executive of the Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society, which organises the winter fair, said they were delighted to see the strong level of interest in the event.
"With new bovine TB movement restrictions in place for cattle from the Low Risk Area, it would have been understandable to see numbers down on 2015, but that has not been the case. It shows that farmers see the English Winter Fair as a permanent fixture in their diaries."
"Alongside the live cattle, sheep and pig classes, the Sausage, Bacon and Pie Evaluation compliments the diverse programme of events we have at the English Winter Fair."
TB rules
Big visitor numbers are also expected, including 200 Young Farmers who are taking part in the judging shows.
Because of new TB rules, participation from farmers in the low risk area was in doubt before Defra granted the dispensation meaning their cattle will not be required to undergo post-show testing or remain on the holding for 60 days.
"It’s a great relief that the English Winter Fair has secured the temporary dispensation and we are now looking forward to another fantastic event," said Mr Williams in September.
In order to be granted this exemption cattle from the low risk area will not remain on the showground for more than 48 hours and will be segregated from cattle from high risk area.
New legislation, enforced from April 2016, require farmers in the Low Risk Area of England to arrange for post-movement testing of cattle coming from the rest of England and from Wales.
