AS always, the Royal Highland Show will showcase the UK's finest livestock, with thousands of animals gathering at the Ingliston Showground to compete for the honour of being the best of the best at this year's event.

Organisers of the event are preparing for what will be an exceptional exhibition, with very strong entry numbers across many sections of the show.

The Highland Hall will again be full to capacity as the largest collection of competition cattle in Europe, housing over 940 beef and dairy cattle, with Salers in particular recording their highest entries since 2007.

With 144 entries, the Aberdeen-Angus are set to dominate this year, especially as, for the first time in 40 years the Angus World Forum returns to the UK. The show, as a key part of the Forum, is taking the opportunity to celebrate one of our own native breeds.

The Limousins, which took top slot last year for breed numbers, have 104 entries, marginally down from 126 in 2016, but still an impressive number. And the Beef Breeder Classes, where breed statistics are a crucial factor, are also enjoying their highest entries this year with 90, up from 85 in 2016.

The numbers in the dairy section are up this year, maybe reflecting a more optimistic year in the industry, with 120 entries, up 10 from 2016. Highest entries are from the Holsteins with 44, up from 28 and the Ayrshire's have seen a resurgence from 18 in 2016 to 29. The Shorthorns see a fall in numbers this year; from 28 to 12, which was very much expected due to a major exhibitor dispersing their herd.

The show has increased the number of sheep entries again this year with an impressive 2031 animals involved making this the highest number of entries for over a decade.

Leading the way is the Beltex section with 216 entries, with the Texels close behind with 201, an increase from 148 in 2016. Elsewhere in the sheep sections, the Zwartbles have their highest number in 10 years with 131 entries (97 in 2016) - this was to be expected as the Zwartbles have classified the Highland as their National Show in 2017. The Berrichon section is also strong with 34 entries. The Young Handler competition has 60 entries, the highest since its introduction in 2013, giving us all great confidence in the future of the sheep sector. Blue Texels are a new for 2017 with 32 entries and the judge for 2017 is Mrs Elizabeth McAllister.

An exciting development in the horse section for 2017, is a new Horse of the Year Qualifier. Two new classes have been introduced and will see 52 juniors compete in the Junior M&M Ridden class for large and small ponies, all keen to secure two ‘golden tickets' as a HOYS Qualifier.

1635 entries have been received in the light horse section, with the HOYS qualifying Mountain and Moorland under saddle section again dominating with 192 entries.

The Heavy Horse section continues to have a strong presence, with a record 408 entries, with Shetlands and Highland females leading the way with 100 and 105 entries respectively.

And this year also sees the highest number of goat entries, up from 132 to 137, with milking goats seeing the highest increase from 30 to 35.

Royal Highland Show anager, David Jackson, said: "The Highland prides itself on showcasing the very best the livestock industry has to offer, and this year is no exception. We continue to increase numbers, and introduce new classes, with amazing support from our exhibitors. And with around £180,000 prize money at stake, we will see some fierce competition for a winning class placing.

"As an event, we continue to develop and remain true to our roots as an agricultural show and work hard to be truly relevant to all aspects of farming and rural life. The fact that we have a waiting list for beef and dairy cattle, sheep are at record breaking numbers and we have no less than 42 HOYS (Horse of the Year Show) qualifiers be to competed for this year, surely reflects how the Show is held in high regard and recognised as the foremost agriculture Show in the UK.

"The Grand Parade always proves to be a highlight of the Highland, and gives us a chance to celebrate the commitment and dedication of all our cattle and heavy horse exhibitors.

"The team look forward to welcoming them all, some travelling from as far north as the Orkneys, many from Northern Ireland and as far south as the South West of England.

"We are very grateful to all of our exhibitors for their continued support and wish them all the best of luck."

The entries:

Beef Cattle 985 (1013 last year)

Shorthorn 88 (114), Angus 144 (82), Galloway 30 (30), Belted Galloway 39 (44), Highland 77 (72), Hereford 47 (61), Charolais 61 (86), Simmental 85 (89), Limousin 104 (130), Blonde 35 (36), British Blue 54 (52), Salers 40 (28), Commercial 75 (84), Beef Breeder 90 (88), young handlers 16 (17).

Dairy Cattle 116 (110)

Ayrshire 29 (18), Red and White 19 (13), Holstein 41 (28), Jersey 15 (23), Dairy Shorthorn 12 (28).

Sheep 2031 (1842)

Blackface 100 (102), North Country Cheviot 79 (94), North Country Cheviot Hill Type 47 (50), Border Leicester 50 (31), Suffolk 90 (88), Cheviot 32 (41), Bluefaced Leicester traditional type 66 (70), Bluefaced Leicester crossing type 98 (71), Jacob 39 (45), Texels 201 (148), Ryeland 65 (64), Charollais 60 (60), Shetland 113 (102), Rouge 34 (37), Berrichon 34 (26), Scotch Mule 73 (61), Beltex 216 (218), Lleyn 63 (64), Hebridean 65 (66), Bleu Du Maine 48 (43), Hampshire Down 38 (41), Swaledale 52 (52), Commercial 85 (89), Zwartbles 131 (77), North Of England Mule 60 (53), young handlers 60 (49).

Goats 137 (132)

Dairy Adults 51 (51), Dairy Kids 24 (21), Milking 35 (30), Pygmy 8 (7), Boer 16 (14), young handlers 3 (9)

Heavy Horses 408 (377)

Clydesdale males 36 (30), Clydesdales female 65 (57), Highlands male 58 (43), Highlands female 105 (110), Shetlands 100 (117), ridden Clydesdales 24 (20), young handler 13.

Light Horses 1635 (1827)

Hunters in Hand 52 (54), Hunters under saddle 123 (134), Highland Ponies under saddle 79 (73), M and M Lead Rein and 1st Ridden 66 (75), M and M under saddle 192 (232), In hand riding ponies 32 (32), Hunter Pony breeding 10 (15), Eriskay 15 (19), M and M in hand (2012 excl connemaras) 42 (54), Welsh A 73 (86), Welsh B 26 (37), Welsh C 33 (34), Welsh D 46 (54), Arabs etc under saddle 39 (41), Arabs etc in hand 60 (59), ridden ponies 41 (38), lead rein and 1st ridden 13 (12), working hunter ponies 71 (140), open show hunter ponies 50 (79), riding horses 24 (38), coloureds 148 (179), side saddle 30 (22), donkeys 24 (20), sport horse 50 (51), M and M workers 144 (132), Connemara in-hand 35 (42), show hunter pony LR and 1st pony 21 (27), retraining of racehorses 19 (22), ridden part-bred 24 (26), junior M and M ridden 52 (new 2017).

Driving etc 171 (156)

Private driving 28 (34), heavy horse turnouts 104 (98), harness grooming and décor 39 (24)