New rules relating to the movement of cattle in TB restricted areas should not affect beef producers looking to exhibit at this year’s LiveScot event in November – unless the entries are from south of the Border.
The new rules mean that animals from a low-risk TB area travelling to a high risk area, for gatherings such as livestock shows, are required to carry out post-show testing and remain on the farm for 60 days. 
This effectively means that individual cattle can only be exhibited at one fatstock event in a high risk area and, of course, both the English and the Welsh Winter Fatstock Shows are staged in such locations and within a few weeks of each other.
It does, though, mean that Scottish producers who exhibit at either of the two events, will have to either sell their cattle down there, or bring them back home for a 60-day lock up and face post-show testing.
The good news is, the new rules are unlikely to affect this year’s LiveScot entries as there have been few, if any, cattle from high risk areas at recent events.
However, it is likely to cause a few problems in the south, with organisers of the English Winter Fair this week claiming the new bovine TB restrictions could hit entries at this year’s event in November.
“It is a big blow for us as it will be for other show organisers and what I expect to see is farmers from low risk TB areas having to choose to attend one show this winter rather than competing at a number of events,” pointed out English Winter Fair organiser, Richard Williams.
“So far, our livestock entries are good but we won’t know the true impact until they close at the end of October.”
All livestock shows across the UK are affected by the restrictions which, importantly, don’t impact on those animals going direct to slaughter from the event.
“We will probably see farmers from low-risk TB areas who want to take cattle to a number of shows splitting their showing team, sending some animals to one and some to another.
“Or, farmers will choose to attend one winter fair with stock which then won’t be able to travel to another.”
It’s a new challenge for the event, but Mr Williams is confident  the draw of the event will still be strong, despite the new rules.