The first major agricultural show of the year in the South West - the Devon County Show in May - has published its competition schedules and entries have opened.
There are more than 600 livestock classes, including beef and dairy cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, alpacas and donkeys, at the three-day Show held on May 18-20 at Westpoint, Exeter.
In the equine section there are 170 classes and nine Horse of the Year Show qualifiers, which include Ridden Arabs for the first time. Classes and special awards for horses and ponies total more than 320, including a new breed class for New Forest and Connemara ponies and Show Hunter Ponies not exceeding 122 cms.
There are 134 classes for cattle, 232 for sheep, 83 for pigs and 25 for dairy goats, 14 for angora goats and 107 for alpacas.
Eleven beef and four dairy breeds are scheduled plus classes for commercial beef animals, 26 breeds of sheep and 12 breeds of pigs.
New for this year are the Pietrain classes in the Pig Section and Alpaca Performance Classes (agility) on Saturday.
Among the top judges is Elly Wentworth, finalist of BBC MasterChef The Professionals 2016, who will judge the Spring Sausage competition.
The winner of the Inter Breed Beef Champion will be awarded a £500 cash prize sponsored by Mole Valley Farmers, the winner of the Inter Breed Dairy Champion will pick up a top prize of £500, sponsored by Crediton Dairy Ltd, and JG Animal Health has donated vouchers for £30 for the Breed Champions in the cattle and sheep sections.
The most prestigious equine prize is the Cuddy Qualifier which takes the winner into the Cuddy Championship at the Horse of the Year Show. The largest show jumping cash prize of £2,500 goes to the winner of the British Showjumping Business Partnership ‘International Stairway’ class.
Interest is expected to be intense in the Dog Show schedule following the announcement that Louis Kruger from South Africa, who is also a top handler and breeder, will be a judge.
Feature competition schedules are also available including floral art, dairy produce, shoeing, metalwork and honey.
For schedules and to enter competitions online visit the Devon County Show website www.devoncountyshow.co.uk
