ORGANISERS of Scotland’s largest two-day agricultural event have confirmed high numbers of livestock entries for the Turriff Show’s 1554 classes which range from best cattle, sheep, and horses, through to dogs, rabbits and cavies.
Celebrating the best of the region’s farming, food and heritage, Turriff Show, which last year attracted more than 24,000 visitors to view in excess of 300 exhibitor stands alongside livestock and equestrian classes, will take place on July 30 and 31, 2023.
The event will host not one but two National Shows this year. The Aberdeen Angus Summer National Show and The Scottish National Ryeland Show.
Robert Gilchrist, chief executive officer of The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society said: “The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society is delighted to hold once again our Summer National at the Turriff Show, we always get a great welcome at the Haughs. We are looking forward to a great entry from some of the top herds in both the area and indeed the country.”
The Aberdeen-Angus Show has 73 entries and will be judged by Angus Stovold of the Rosemary Herd in Surrey and the Scottish National Ryeland Show has 86 entries and will be judged by Tom Redmayne from near Carlisle.
“Exhibiting the Ryeland’s at Turriff Show is always a pleasure. It is such a well organised show with brilliant facilities for exhibitors and their livestock. This year’s national show will be a great chance to showcase the Ryeland breed in the Northeast,” said Northeast representative for the Ryeland’s Society Raymond Aitken.
Other cattle classes at the show which are an equally compelling draw include Limousin (23) Beef Shorthorn (40), Highland (39), British Charolais (13), Simmental (12), British Blue (12) and cross bred beef cattle (48).
Due to the ongoing Avian Influenza restrictions, there will be no poultry classes. However, there will be a section for eggs and pigeons.
Following on from the individual breed judging, exhibitors will have the chance to compete in the groups, pairs and young bull interbreed, which will be judged by Sarah-Jane Jessop from Stirling.
Overall winner and pairs will be judged on the Monday by Mr Dougie McBeath from Stirling.
On Sunday 30, the carcase cattle and butchery lamb classes will take place at the Woodhead Brothers stand. As always it has proven to be very popular with 30 carcase cattle and 23 lambs entered from commercial breeders and finishers from across the north east.
Sheep class entries sit at 706. Following closely behind with 47 entries is the Texels with other popular categories including Beltex (35), Suffolk (20) and Charollais (35).
The illustrious role of judging the champion of champions in the main ring on Monday, July 31, sits in the competent hands of Mrs Mary McCall-Smith from Crieff. This will include the champions from the beef, sheep, ridden pony, in-hand pony and Clydesdale sections.
As well as the traditional livestock classes, Turriff Show is a popular event for exhibitors in some more unique categories, including pigeons, rabbits and cavies; however, due to the ongoing issue with Avian Bird flu, organisers have cancelled the poultry section again for this year.
Commenting on this year’s entries, show president, Kevin Gray, who farms at Tillyfar, Turriff, said: “It is an honour to be president of Turriff Show. It is an event I have attended all my years and I have been on the committee, in various roles, since 1995. It is a show that takes folks back to their roots. The atmosphere of community spirit is alive, and a lot of hard work comes from all that are involved in creating the two-day event.
“As always, a big attraction for the farming community is the outstanding show of livestock. Last year we had a phenomenal turn out of entries, including the National Highland Cattle Show, which was a wonderful outcome after COVID-19. We hope to have just as many this year with the addition of more agri-trade stands. There is something for everyone, whether you are buying a hammer for fixing fences, or a new combine harvester – it’s all here.”
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