THE HIGHLAND will cement its reputation as the best show of livestock in the UK, with almost 7000 head parading the famous show rings. 
Limited in some sections by available space, the show filters the cream of the crop for inspection at the show, where a line-up of some of the best-known faces in the industry both here and abroad will adjudicate.
Exhibitors from the length and breadth of Great Britain and an exceptionally strong contingent from Northern Ireland will settle their animals from Monday of show week, prior to the event opening to the public on Thursday.
For the first time in five years, the Highland Hall will be full to capacity, housing 1000 beef and dairy cattle, with the Limousin, Hereford and Belted Galloway sections all recording their highest entries since 2007.
Attracting 130 entries – an increase of 12 from 2015 and its highest recorded entry number – the Limousins dominate the numbers game. 
The Shorthorns, which enjoyed the lion’s share of entries in 2015, have 114 entries this year, a drop of 11 from last year. 
The Galloway and Belted Galloway sections have both seen a significant increase in numbers, up to 30 and 44, respectively, giving judges, Dennis Gall and Stuart Renton, some head-scratching to do in their selection processes.
Hardly surprisingly, given the economic problems in the dairy industry, the dairy section has taken a dip and is down 23 head to 110 (133). Ayrshire entries have suffered the most, being down to 18 from 31, last year, but their red and white counterparts have upped numbers by two to 13 in the show.
An impressive ‘flock’ of 1842 sheep will fill the four large marquees located in the north of the showground, which have been extended this year to allow for the increased numbers.
Splitting the Bluefaced Leicester into two sections for the first time this year has paid off. One for traditional Blues has 70 entries and the new one for crossing types has attracted 71 entries – six more than the one section last year.
Elsewhere in the sheep sections, the young handler competition has 49 entries, its highest since being introduced in 2013, and Lleyn, Rouge and Ryeland sections are all seeing the highest entry numbers in five years.
Reinforcing the Royal Highland Show’s positioning as Scotland’s largest equestrian event, 1827 entries have been received in the light horse section, with the HOYS-qualifying Mountain and Moorland under saddle section dominating with 232 entries, up by 30 on last year to set a record for this class.
The heavy horse section has also posted a record 377 entries, with Shetlands and Highland females leading the way on 110 and 117 entries, respectively.
Royal Highland show manager, David Jackson, is obviously delighted with the numbers entered, but also drew attention to the changed layout, which includes the new livestock flyover to reduce downtime for visitors while livestock moves in and out of the main ring.

The entries:
 

Beef cattle 1013 (932 last year)
Beef Shorthorn 114 (125), Angus 82 (91), Galloway 30 (21), Belted Galloway 44 (27), Highland 72 (75), Hereford 61 (36), Charolais 86 (62), Simmental 89 (91), Limousin 130 (118), Blonde 36 (30), British Blue 52 (61), Salers 28 (29), commercial 84 (75), Beef Breeder 88 (72), young handlers 17 (19).

Dairy cattle 110 (133) 
Ayrshire 18 (31), red and white 13 (11) Holstein 28 (37), Jersey 23 (27), Dairy Shorthorn 28 (27).

Sheep 1842 (1972)
Blackface 102 (119), NCC 94 (99), NCC hill 50 (59), Border Leicester 31 (43), Suffolk 88 (102), Cheviot 41 (50), Bluefaced Leicester crossing type 71 (-), Bluefaced Leicester traditional 70 (135) Jacob 45 (61), Texels 148 (199), Ryeland 64 (57), Charollais 60 (84), Shetland 102 (85), Rouge 37 (23), Berrichon 26 (29), Scotch Mule 61 (67), Beltex 218 (214), Lleyn 64 (47), Hebridean 66 (69), Bleu du Maine 43 (55), Hampshire Down 41 (45), Swaledale 52 (55), commercial 89 (87), Zwartbles 77 (88), North of England Mule 53 (61), young handlers 49 (39)

Dairy goats 132 (130) 
Adults 51 (50), kids 21 (27), milking 30 (30), pygmy 7 (12), Boer 14 (-), young handlers 9 (11),

Heavy horses 377 (372)
Clydesdale male 30 (34), Clydesdale female 57 (79), Highlands male 43 (46), Highland female 110 (92), Shetland 117 (94), ridden Clydesdale 20 (26).

Light horses 1827 (1881)
Hunters in-hand 54 (58), Hunters under-saddle 134 (154), Highland ponies under saddle 73 (75), M and M lead rein and first ridden 75 (71), M and M under saddle 232 (202), in-hand riding ponies 32 (35), hunter pony breeding 15 (15), Eriskay 19 (26), M and M in-hand (2012, excluding Connemaras) 54 (55), Welsh A 86 (76), Welsh B 37 (50), Welsh C 34(42), Welsh D 54 (58), Arabs under saddle 41 (47), Arabs in hand 59 (70), ridden ponies 38 (49), lead rein and first ridden 12 (27), working hunter ponies 140 (134), open show ponies 79 (70), riding horses 38 (58), coloureds 179 (160), side saddle 22 (23), donkeys 20 (23), sports horse 51 (53), M and M workers 132 (133), Connemara in-hand 42 (42), show hunter pony lead rein and first pony 27 (33), retraining of racehorses 22 (24), ridden p-b pony 26 (18)

Driving etc 156 (163)
Private driving 34 (34), heavy horse turnouts 98 (105), harness grooming and decor, 24 (24)

Others
Poultry 992 (661), dairy products 324 (302), honey 309 (211), farriery 137 (211), fleeces 49 (45).